Windows 95 Laptop, Serial port adapter

There are no networking areas to check (surprisingly), so it is only necessary to check the ‘Devices’ on ‘My computer’.

Checking My Computer ‘Devices’

Right clicking on 'My computer' brings up a small menu. Click on ‘Properties’ to inspect the devices. You need to check 3 things:

1. Device manager shows an 'infrared' device. The infra-red device has one lower level entry (click on the + sign to see it), 'MA600' in my case, but generally some identification of the IR device. Inspecting the properties of that Infra Red communication device reveal no settable options, but a list of the driver files and version numbers is available on the second tab.
2. The IrDA system provides an emulated 3-wire or 9-wire serial port. The main communication is via the emulated serial or parallel ports, serial in the case of access to a mobile phone. These can be found under the 'Ports (COM & LPT)'. Clicking on the + sign reveals several entries, but two are relevant to IrDA. I've got an 'Infra Red Serial (COM) connection port', and an Infrared Printing (LPT) port. I have not bothered checking the LPT port, but the properties on the IR COM port are unexciting, simply saying it is working properly and listing the driver files and versions on the second tab.
3. If a GSM phone IR modem has been installed at this stage, it should be listed here under 'Modem'. Check its properties to ensure any GSM IR phone modem is linked to the ‘virtual Infra Red Com port’ under the ‘modem’ tab.

There is no 'Network Adapter' under W95 using the MA600 serial port adapter. But other adapters may include an entry for a network adapter.

'Network neighbourhood' properties

Because there is no Network Adapter under W95 with the MA600 adapter, there are no network settings to check.

(contents) (other settings)