Windows 98SE on a desktop using
a serial port adapter
There are two areas to check.
First check the ‘Devices’ on
‘My computer’, and then check the ‘Networking’
arrangements under ‘Network neighbourhood’.
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 4 things:
- Device manager shows an 'infrared'
device. The infra-red device has one lower level entry (click
on the + sign to see it), 'Infrared communication device'.
Inspecting the properties of that Infra Red communication
device reveal no settable options.
- 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 and LPT)'. Clicking on the + sign reveals
several entries, but two are relevant to IrDA. There
should be a Virtual Infra Red COM port, and a Virtual
Infrared LPT port. I have not bothered checking the LPT
port, but the properties on the Virtual IR COM port are
unexciting, simply saying it is working properly.
- Inspection of 'network adapters'
should reveal an entry such as 'Mobile Action MA600'.
Check to ensure it has no conflicts.
- If a GSM phone IR modem has been
installed at this stage, it too 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.
Checking 'Network neighbourhood' properties
Select Network Neighbourhood, and examine
its ‘Properties’. (Right clicking will bring up a small
menu.)
There is a networking ‘wizard’
displaying various settings for ‘Adapters’ and ‘Protocols’.
You should find:
Adapter
- A 'Mobile Action MA600', whose
properties show it bound to Fast Infrared Protocol
Protocol
- Fast Infrared Protocol, should be
installed, with no bindings at all. The applications
expect this to be present.
Checking the driver
set
The drivers loaded can be checked by right
clicking 'My Computer', then selecting 'Properties', and device
manager. Select the Infra red device, then click 'Properties',
then 'Drivers'.
Here is a list of drivers on my Windows98SE
machine:
irshell.dll
irxfer.exe
irmon.exe
infrared.cpl (this is the control panel applet)
infrared.cnt (and its help screen)
infrared.hlp (....)
irmini.sys
irlapfrm.vxd
fastir.vxd (this may have come from my MA600)
wsirda.vxd (not sure what this is)
irlamp.vxd
irenum.vxd
ircomm.vxd (this gives you virtual com ports)
vmm32.vxd (vcomm) (this is not ir specific, and is used by
many things)
(contents) (other settings)