Troubleshooters.Com Presents

Tools and Diagnostics

These tools have helped me solve many problems, but the lawyers insist I say I didn't write them, and can take no responsibility for the results you get.

The CommInfo Diagnostic Tools

Computer Telecommunication Systems, Inc. is a company which specializes in tools which hit the hardware directly, thus avoiding the "mapping" of the operating system. Win95 users simply boot and hit F8, then choose Command Prompt Only before using the diagnostics. You can download these CommInfo tools right from Troubleshooters.Com: PortInfo, IRQInfo, SwapIRQ, and PortFix.

PortInfo and the CTS Serial Port Utilities(TM) [Download Zip File]

CTS SERIAL PORT UTILITIES: Featuring "PortInfo" and "PortMaster"
- Detect/Fix modem & comm problems. Detect Com ports, IRQs used and IRQ
problems. A dozen supporting utilities including: BIOS_FIX fixes many
BIOS comm problems; RESETMODEM & HANGUP solve many modem problems.

Run PortMaster (PortMast.EXE) from DOS to ID modem installation & setup
problems. PortMaster runs PortInfo to provide detailed messages
describing the problem and the most likely solution. All Com ports with
working modems are clearly identified; PortInfo also identifies Rockwell
RPI (TM) modems and reports the modem speed.

For the support professional, PortInfo provides lots of details on port
use: the actual IRQ used by each port; the current IRQ status; DOS port
assignments; which ports have modems or FAXmodems connected, which FAX
and Voice classes are supported by the modem(s), UART Identification for
8250, 8250A/16450, 16550, 16550A, 16650, 16750, ESP, HSSP, the T/Port,
and some "emulated UARTs". All programmable port parameters: speed,
format, FIFO status, parity & current RTS and DTR settings; and (Whew!)
the current status of the modem lines: RI, CD, CTS, & DSR with
indication of when the lines are tied together (looped back).

PortInfo runs best in DOS or in the "DOS mode" (boot/F8/Command Prompt Only) of Win95. PortInfo can be used in a Windows or OS/2 "DOS box" to provide a quick summary of port
use. Additional Windows setup tests are included for registered users.

Download PortInfo and the CTS Serial Port Utilities (ctsspu.zip)

CTS IRQInfo(TM) [Download Zip File]

IRQInfo is the one of the most accurate software IRQ mapping utilities available
anywhere. By including several different types of testing and detection,
IRQInfo detects hard and floppy disk drives, networks, sound cards, Com
ports, printers, modems, scanners, SCSI...just about everything that
uses an IRQ.

IRQInfo is simple to use & presents an easy to read chart which shows
how each IRQ is normally used and how it is used in this computer. The
last column shows whether the IRQ is available, used or in conflict with
another device.

IRQInfo PRO includes tests for additional devices, a full color
interactive display and an integrated TSR module that finds IRQs in use
by devices that cannot be detected directly.
Download IRQInfo (irqinfo.zip)

CTS SwapIRQ(TM) [Download Zip File]

CTS SwapIRQ is a tiny DOS TSR that lets DOS software use any IRQ by
redirecting the interrupts (IRQs) from your modem, sound card or any
other device.

SwapIRQ can be used with some game software that requires a specific IRQ
for the sound card, or with communications software that does not
support non-standard IRQs.

SwapIRQ lets any DOS application use IRQs 2-7, 9-12, 14 and 15, and
works in DOS, or in a DOS session under Windows, Win95 (boot/F8/Command Prompt Only) or OS/2. SwapIRQ
uses less than 800 bytes of memory (RAM), and supports high-speed
performance needed for modems.

System requirements: IBM or 100% compatible PC, XT, AT, 286, 386 or
better using DOS versions 2.1 or higher.

Download CTS SwapIRQ (swapirq.zip)

CTS PortFix(TM) [Download Zip File]

PortFix is a tiny DOS Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) utility
designed to correct the serial port lockups DOS users of some "486"
and "Pentium" computers manufactured in late 1993 and 1994. These
systems include a serial port chip from SMC that requires special
handling to avoid a lockup condition. While other utilities are
available that help with the problem, they require that you run the
program each time you run an application that uses the serial port.
PortFix is a "TSR watchdog" that eliminates this requirement for
all but a few applications. PortFix runs constantly in the
background, watching to see when your Com ports are about ready to
"lock up". When PortFix detects this condition, it immediately
resets the ports to prevent the lockup condition.

Download CTS PortFix (portfix.zip)

[ Visit Computer Telecommunication Systems, Inc.'s Site ]

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