Craig, if you or any one has thing to add, or CHANGE, pleas do. I don’t stand by the info in this thread. I didn’t test all of the things listed, they where suggested to me. Use this info at your at your discretion. Don’t yell at me if you smoke something.

1) Check the CMOS on your computer and make sure COM1 is enabled correctly.
The best way to do this seems to be to go into setup and choose to set defaults, then disable all the other ports to eliminate a that it is a possible conflict. Just remember that you did this what your printer will not print. You cane also test the COM port using Hyper-Terminal. With you circuit plugged into the back of the computer and the car go into Hyper-Terminal. I would call the file ALDL. Set “connect using” to COM1, bits per second to 9600, data bits=8, and flow control to Xon/Xoff. Then start typing and if you see the characters on the screen thing there are working.

2) Restart your computer in MS-DOS or make a BOOT Disk.
To make a boot disk, go into Add-Remove Programs and select “Start Disk”. By the way, you should have room left on this boot disk to also put Craig’s program. This will keep the disks laying around to a minimal.

3) Quadruple-check your circuit.
Make sure your transistors are a 2N2222 or good sub, (MSP2222 from Radio Shack) like an ECG123a. Make sure you use a 1N4148 or good sub, (1N914 at Radio Shack) or ECG519. If you have added any thing to the circuit, like an LED, take it out. Once you get the circuit and program working you can try to put it back in the circuit (we all like blinking lights).

4) Make sure all of the wires are as shot as possible.
This type of setup is sensitive to RFI. It is also a good idea to turn or heater/ac controls OFF.

5) See if you can get a friend to lone you their laptop.
This part will go easier if you don’t tell then what you are doing with it.

6) Make sure your laptop has a full charge.
Some people have noted that they will not link or stay linked if there laptop battery gose lower then 50%. Or even better run an extention cord and try pugging the thing in, see if that clears up the problem. If this works get a power inverter of your car and run the laptop off of that.

7) Try adding +5V to DSR pin of the RS232 port.
The DSR is pin 6 on the 9 inr RS232 port. It has been noted that this is helpful if you are not getting a flickering 00 to FC in the “last bit from COM port’ field.

Well it’s not a TOP 10 list but it is seven thing that where discoused when I was having trouble getting the program to link up. I help this will help some one. I got a lot of help from this bord in tring got get this up and running. Thanks.





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Now I HAVE_A_Z
89 IROC 350 TPI