Hi Simran,

Formatting won't eliminate all viruses. Boot sector viruses will survive reformatting--the format will destroy everything on the drive except the virus.

Also, you still haven't explained whether you've checked the ports by booting from live CD and tryed to access them from there. You can download live CD ISO images for free (google "ubuntu live cd").

Bottom line: you need to check the hardware with a completely clean boot.


Torben

 

Try booting from a linux CD (the kind that run completely from the CD)
This will eliminate the Windows OS and its virus or whatever from the problem. You can then test with any linux terminal program.
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=cd

__________________
Bill
Smart Kits build Smart People
http://www.blueroomelectronics.com

 

Hi again,
Uh, Simran, if I read your comment correctly then maybe the loopback test you described would not completely prove that the hardware was ok, because you said you only connected pins 2 and 3, and turned off the flow control. So what if somehow it was just the flow control pins that were at fault? I'm not sure if it's possible for that to happen, or for that matter for some virus etc to grab just one pin of a port- it sounds somehow unlikely, but the whole situation sounds kinda weird anyway The loopback circuit shown on the page Eric linked would be more complete.

And, if you can access the serial ports from hyperterminal, which is just a Windows program like any other, then this also implies that Windows can use the serial ports??? So in what way do the ports "not work"?

Can you maybe tell us what you use all your serial ports for in your company? What software do you NORMALLY use to communicate with what hardware, or is that like some sort of a secret?

(BTW, I would still agree that the Linux LiveCD approach to testing the serial ports is a good idea, BUT you would need someone who has enough experience of using Linux to do that It isn't the same as using Windows)

Finally, as for proving that there can't be viruses or malware on the systems because they have been formatted: REMEMBER! Not only is Torben's comment about "boot-sector" viruses a possibility, but also maybe some of the software you reinstalled after formatting is "malware" already: IE, some programs are "trojan horse" programs that companies give away free because they will install other stuff on your computer at the same time, like dialers and spyware.

Free software in general isn't all a bad thing- many ordinary people (eg, me!) write programs just because they want to! But you have to worry when a company seems to only exist to give you something at no cost, because they might be up to no good. You see the difference, yes? Perhaps you don't have any software like that there, though.

 

(very OT following what I'd just said: There are obviously also good reasons for companies to give away software too: In some cases the software is like "added value" to make an informative website even better, so they can get more money from advertising; in other cases it might be as a "loss leader" to make something else they actually sell more valuable to people, like where Microchip give away software for programming PICs. So it's not all bad! But it's still something to be careful of, and it's a good idea for Windows users to have malware scanners)

 

Hi Simran,

I would ask you these same points as Tomble wants to know about?

__________________
Eric
"Good enough is Perfect"

PIC tutorials:
Gramo's: www.digital-diy.net/
Bill's: www.blueroomelectronics.com/

 

Hi Tomble!

I read his last post a little differently--I think Simran was saying that the pin 2-to-3 thing would show (at least minimally) that the com port was working--and that they'd tried this and couldn't get any echo off it. If you read it right and I read it wrong, then I'm totally with you on this. I can't think of any reason for a virus to just grab the flow control pins either.

Simran, you must explain exactly (and not just with these little 6-line replies) what you've tried and what exactly isn't working. Are you getting gibberish on the ports? Are you just getting nothing? Does Hyperterminal report that the ports are in use? Have you tried a Linux live CD? If not, then *why not*?

Throw us a bone here!


Torben

 

Hi,
How do I find my particular's COM port address in my PC ?
And one more i wish to use USB as my COM port in my laptop.what should i do inorder to convert from RS232 to USB ?

THanks

 

hi,
Why are you asking for COM address?

You need a USB to RS232 adaptor.

EDITED:

__________________
Eric
"Good enough is Perfect"

PIC tutorials:
Gramo's: www.digital-diy.net/
Bill's: www.blueroomelectronics.com/

 

Hi Flemmard!

You should really start a new thread for a new topic, instead of hijacking someone else's. That said, this link might help you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COM_%28...e_interface%29.

The RS-232 to USB converter is more complicated and you should start a new thread for that one. Googling for 'rs-232 to usb converter' might help too.


Torben