Windows XP - Serial (RS-232) Port Emulator

Again my friend have requested my help to solve yet another communication port issue and this time its a RS-232 (COM) port or mostly known as COM1 or COM2 ports.

The problems arises when a software always detect the availability of the port each time it starts which if failed will return an error message. To avoid this annoying message the workaround is to install a COM1 port (which the software detects) and sadly Windows doesn't allows that.

Although you may be able to install the port (manually), Windows will try to detect the physical port availability and if failed it will give you a "bang sign" (exclamation mark) in your device manager.

The simplest workaround is to emulate the port hence the word "Emulator", I've found a FREE program that just works the magic.

Download the program here courtesy of HW-Group.

The installations is very easy and depending on the operating environment, you need to select accordingly, mine is "Standalone Application".

After installation complete, just run the application and configure accordingly, as I need it to emulate "COM1" port the following was my settings.

Note : the "IP Address" was a loopback address, this is to avoid any IP Address conflict in the network.

Now you might want the emulator to start automatically each time the computer startup and also each time the program start it automatically create the port for you.

Select "Settings" tab --> Select (tick) --> "Create VSP Port when HW VSP Start-up" option.

Now you also need to add it into "Startup" folder for the program to auto launch each time :-

1. Create a shortcut of the program.

2. Move it to :-
--> For Windows XP = "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" folder.
--> For Windows 7 = "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" folder.

3. Now Right-click on the shortcut --> Select "Properties" --> at the "Shortcut" tab --> under "Run" dropdown box --> Select "Minimized" --> Click "OK" button.

Note : This is to ensure the program doesn't pop-up / displayed during start.

Of course this small utility have more capabilities but mostly are designed to work with its own products from HW-Group. There are many virtual port emulator available and with tons of features and functions, but I just need to emulate the port to avoid the error message thus a simple yet easy to configure utility is the main objective.

Happy Computing !