Answers Database

HW-130: Can't find programmer or system crash problem on Toshiba laptops


Record #1144

Product Family:  Hardware

Product Line:  Programmers

Problem Title:
HW-130: Can't find programmer or system crash problem on Toshiba laptops


Problem Description:
The Power Manager Driver on the Toshiba Satellite Pro 400CDT laptops
for DOS and Windows 3.X has a bug which causes communications software to
FAIL when talking to the COM ports.  The Power Manager Driver problem
affects the HW-130 software as well because the HW-130 software
also communicates with COM ports.

Depending on your system setup, you might find that the software cannot
find the programmer.  The Windows 3.x version of the HW-130 software may
actually crash.


Solution 1:

Xilinx is currently working with Toshiba on this
problem, but meanwhile you can try the following workaround:

Running the Windows version:
----------------------------

The Windows version needs to point to COM1.

1. Open your 'system.ini' file using any text editor.
   The file is located in the '\WINDOWS' directory.
2. Remove or comment out the line 'device=vpowerd.386'
   by typing a ';' at the start of the line.  This can
   be found in the [386Enh] section.
3. Add the line 'COMIrqSharing=False' to the [386Enh]
   section.  The order is not important. Note that it is
   case sensitive.
4. Restart Windows and run the HW-130 Windows software.
5. If the software still does not work, make sure your
   Serial Port points to COM1 (not 2,3 or 4) in the CMOS
   Setup (see below for instructions on setting the serial port) and try
   again.

Running the DOS version:
------------------------

The DOS version may work if you point to COM2.

   Follow the instructions below to set the 'Serial Port' to point to
   COM2(IRQ3/2F8H).




Setting the Serial Port on the Toshiba Satellite Pro 400CDT laptop
------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Reboot the Laptop and enter the CMOS Setup by pressing
   'Escape' right after the testing of the memory.  Then
   press the 'F1' key.
2. Under I/O Ports, change the 'Serial Port' to point to the
   desired port.  Save and Exit the CMOS Setup.



End of Record #1144