Microsoft KB Archive/112300

{| = WG1001: Updated SERIAL.386 Driver for WFWG =
 * width="100%"|

Last reviewed: May 1, 1997

Article ID: Q112300 3.11 WINDOWS kbfile kbappnote The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

Microsoft has an Application Note, "WG1001: Updated SERIAL.386 Driver for Windows for Workgroups.

When you use Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 with serial communications software, you may experience the following problems:


 * If you are using a Pentium-based machine with a 16550 UART chip, your system stops responding (hangs) if there is data in the chip when the serial communications application attempts to open the communications port.
 * When you are using communications software, you may be able to make one connection after starting Windows for Workgroups, but any subsequent connections fail and may hang your system.

The WG1001 disk included with this Application Note contains an updated SERIAL.386 driver that corrects both of these problems. You can obtain this Application Note from the following sources:


 * Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet
 * The Internet (Microsoft anonymous ftp server)
 * Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)
 * Microsoft FastTips Technical Library
 * Microsoft Product Support Services

For complete information, see the "To Obtain This Application Note" section at the end of this article.

THE TEXT OF WG1001
Microsoft(R) Product Support Services Application Note (Text File) WG1001: UPDATED SERIAL.386 DRIVER FOR WINDOWS(TM) FOR WORKGROUPS Revision Date: 9/96 1 Disk Included The following information applies to Microsoft Windows for Workgroups, version 3.11. | The disk and software contained on it, including any accompanying  |
 * documentation (the "Software"), are provided to you at no          |
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 * and interest to the software. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS-IS,"    |
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 * IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. IF YOU ARE NOT A PREMIER CUSTOMER, MICROSOFT  |
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 * trademark of Microsoft Corporation.                                |
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 * trademark of Microsoft Corporation.                                |
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 * Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation                        |

Introduction
When you use Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 with serial communications software, you may experience the following problems:

 If you are using a Pentium(TM)-based machine with a 16550 UART chip, your system stops responding (hangs) if there is data in the chip when the serial communications application attempts to open the communications port. A problem with the 16550 UART implementation causes the chip to become trapped in a mode in which data is always detected in its FIFO buffer.  When you are using communications software, you may be able to make one connection after starting Windows for Workgroups, but any subsequent connections fail and may hang your system. This problem occurs when SERIAL.386 sends an extra NUL character through the port when the communications software calls the CloseComm application program interface (API) function. While this does not normally cause problems, your second connection may fail with some modems. 

The WG1001 disk included with this Application Note contains an updated SERIAL.386 driver that corrects both of these problems.

To install the updated SERIAL.386 file
 Quit Windows for Workgroups.  Make a backup copy of the currently installed SERIAL.386 file by typing the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then pressing ENTER ren : \serial.386 serial.old where : is the location of your Windows SYSTEM subdirectory. For example, if your Windows directory is called WINDOWS and is on drive C, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER: ren c:\windows\system\serial.386 serial.old  Insert the enclosed WG1001 disk in the appropriate floppy disk drive.  To copy the file to the Windows SYSTEM subdirectory, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER copy :\serial.386 where is the floppy disk drive containing the WG1001 disk and is the drive and directory of your Windows SYSTEM subdirectory. For example, if the WG1001 disk is in drive A and your Windows directory is called WINDOWS and is on drive C, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER: copy a:\serial.386 c:\windows\system 

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

TO OBTAIN THIS APPLICATION NOTE
You can find WG1001.EXE (size: 23600 bytes) , a self-extracting file, on the following services:   Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet On the www.microsoft.com home page, click the Support icon. Click Knowledge Base, and select the product. Enter kbfile #|WG1001.EXE (size: 23600 bytes), and click GO! Open the article, and click the button to download the file. </li>  Internet (anonymous FTP) ftp ftp.microsoft.com Change to the Softlib/Mslfiles folder. Get WG1001.EXE (size: 23600 bytes) </li>  Microsoft Download Service (MSDL) Dial (425) 936-6735 to connect to MSDL Download WG1001.EXE (size: 23600 bytes) </li></ul>

For additional information about downloading, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: ARTICLE-ID: Q119591 TITLE    : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services You can have this Application Note mailed to you from the automated Microsoft FastTips Technical Library, which you can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (800) 936-4200. NOTE: The FastTips Technical Library is available only to customers within the U.S. and Canada. If you are unable to access the source(s) listed above, you can have this Application Note mailed to you by calling Microsoft Product Support Services Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Pacific time at (425) 637-7098. If you are outside the United States, contact the Microsoft subsidiary for your area.
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