DOS applications

[jrougeux]

Having just installed VM Workstation, I created a DOS virtual machine. The program I need to run uses the serial port. I have gotten the software to use the proper port but it seems that VMWare is not letting the DOS application use the port correctly as I get a communication error anytime I try and use the serial port. Is there some way to get VMWare to properly handle the serial port with older DOS programs?

Thanks,

Jerry

[asatoran]

The question came up a few days ago. My response was to ask if your DOS program is RS-232 compatible or is trying to directly manipulate the serial port? Many older DOS control programs would try to directly manipulate the serial port since all PCs at the time had 8250 or 16550 UARTs. Virtual machines do not directly talk to the serial port hardware. So for the most part, only programs that use RS-232 or similar will work with the virtual serial port. (e.g.: standard modem communications program.)