Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!jarthur!nntp-server.caltech.edu!josephc
From: josephc@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Simplelogic (Joseph))
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Communications & mouse into one serial port
Message-ID: <1991Apr12.145048.19643@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
Date: 12 Apr 91 14:50:48 GMT
References: <1264@sol.deakin.OZ.AU> <1991Apr12.130903.13304@cbnewsk.att.com>
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Lines: 41

jfv@cbnewsk.att.com (j.f.van valkenburg) writes:

>In article <1264@sol.deakin.OZ.AU>, carterp@deakin.OZ.AU (Phil Carter) writes:
>> I have a PC with one serial port which I use for both communications
>> and the mouse (obviously not both at the same time).
>> 
>> Whenever I need to switch from communications to the mouse, or vice versa,
>> I have to switch off the PC, swap cables to the serial port and reboot.
>> 
>> QUESTION.  Is there any way of avoiding the reboot? Is there any software
>> that might help?
>> 
>> --
>>   Phil Carter		  Computing Services Centre,   
>>   Academic Programmer  	  Deakin University, Warrnambool campus          
>I share my comm port between two serial printers with a simple A/B switch.
>The common RS232 goes to the comm port - I haven't had any problems except 

Well, with a mouse, the situation is a bit different - your mouse drive software
should have a way to disable itself.  If not, and if you don't use the 2nd
COM port, you can set your mouse driver to respond to IRQ 3 (COM2) instead of
IRQ 4 (COM1) so that it won't process your serial communication on COM1.

Personally, I'd just go out and buy a second serial port (if you don't already
have one, that is [as is the case of the original poster].)

Clone serial cards can be had for about $30...

>------------------------
>James F. Van Valkenburg         a.k.a.  "van"
>AT&T 				Attmail: !jfv               jfv@cbnewsk.att.com
>Atlanta, GA.			Voice  404-873-7920
>===============================================================================

>   ---- Standard Disclaimers included -- Just another grunt at AT&T ----

>===============================================================================
-- 
Joseph I. Chiu, Department of Computer Science, Calif. Inst. of Technology
1-57 Fleming House, Caltech, Pasadena 91126.   (818) 585-0393
josephc@coil.caltech.edu                     ...I don't know what I don't know