Windows NT Terminal May Disable a COM Port for all VDMs

 Last reviewed: May 9, 1997
Article ID: Q103476

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

A Windows NT Virtual MS-DOS machine (VDM) cannot open or use a COM port that has the error character enabled. Windows NT Terminal sets an error character and the COM port settings maintain settings across opens, so a VDM can't use any COM ports used by Terminal unless another program has turned off the error character.

RESOLUTION

To enable a COM port used by Terminal for use with a VDM, log off and then log on again, or from Command Prompt, type NET STOP SERIAL followed by NET START SERIAL. Both of these actions will reset the COM ports.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. This problem was corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces): 

   S E R V P A C K

Additional query words: prodnt
Keywords : kbbug3.10 kbtool ntdosap ntutil
Version : 3.1
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: May 9, 1997
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