Getting Haltech DOS programs to run on your Laptop!
 

Hello all, just thought i'd post here, i have actually been playing with DOSBox recently and it really works very well, and its a lot easier to setup than Virtual PC is and you have access to the hard drive as opposed to VPC where you cant.

If anybody needs DOSBox here's what you have to do:

1. Download DOSBox from here:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/d...r.exe?download

2. Install the application.

3. After you've installed the application, go to the Program Files folder, and in the D-Box folder you will find a file called dosbox.conf, open it with notepad.

4. Scroll down to the bottom and find the Serial settings it will say:

serial1=disabled
serial2=disabled
serial3=disabled
serial4=disabled

Type the following:

serial1=directserial realport:com1
serial2=disabled
serial3=disabled
serial4=disabled

Make sure that your COMM port is set to COM1 on both the Haltech software and in the Device Manager. If you are using a USB to serial adapter make sure to set it to COM1 before doing all this. Or you wont be able to go online.

5. After you've done this scroll to the very bottom where it says [autoexec], type the following:

mount c c:\Haldos
C:\

6. Now, save the file and close notepad.

7. Make a folder with all your DOS Haltech programs and maps and put it in the root directory, C:, and call it 'Haldos'.

8. After you've done this you can now double click the DOSBox icon in the desktop. When it runs it will enable the use of the serial port and have as the C:\ directory your Haldos folder, type "DIR" to view all the files saved there.

9. You're done, you may now use Haltech DOS software with XP (and possibly Vista).

I have not tried to go online on Vista yet, you're more than welcomed to do so. And post if it works.

Once DOSBox is running you will be able to improve the speed of it by pressing Ctrl + F12 around 6 or 7 times. After you're done using the software and wish to close it, type Ctrl + Q from the haltech program to quit, then type EXIT and hit Enter and DOSBox will close.

Enjoy, good luck. Can this be made into a Sticky???

I've used DosBox for a while. I do like it a lot better than VPC. +1 for sticky.

Great info!

Can we get a list of all the compatible USB to DB9 adapters?
I know...I'm too lazy to go search for the info myself, but if we're going to get this stickies, might as well dump that info in this thread too?

I would LOVE to get my VAIO running in the car instead of the clunky IBM 770Z!


-Ted

I'm running a keyspan adaptor. Took three 3 trips to future shop trying different ones that didn't work until I took Clauido's advice and bit the bullet for the Keyspan.

BTW thanks for the info!

Yeah guys, there is no better adapter that i've found than the keyspan, i have have been recommending and using that one for years and its never let me down. There are a few "Prolific" ones out there (i actually have one that works good too) that work, but its a gamble, the radioshack one almost always doesnt work. Oh, and just for the record, with my nice centrino powered pavilion with no serial ports and winXP i have ZERO comm problems, using a keyspan adapter.

There are other ebay/generic types that may work, but most of the time they dont. I tell it straight, the keyspan ISNT the cheapest one by far, but its sure the best alternative.

I also know for a fact that the PCMCI adapters also work perfectly too.

So, you can start your list with these:

Keyspan - Works every time
Radio Shack - Nope
Prolific - Most of the time (they are usually blue ones)
PCMCI - Yes! (but definitely on the expensive side)

Oh! Also, something worth mentioning, in recent months i have NEVER EVER seen or had SOOO many calls related to "Comm" problems, now, i am not 100% sure on this, but i think that we can thank microsoft for that, there might have been some recently released updates to WinXP that might be causing some havoc with comunications, its the same sort of deal that keeps people from using DOS software directly from within XP that nobody can figure out how to fix. Again, i am not 100% sure on that, but i CAN tell you that with my current laptop, HP Pavilion DV1000, brand new, bought in FEB-2007, no serial ports, i updated it to XP Pro, since it came with home and thats a nigthmare to run DOS or VPC on, and for some darn reason when i tried going online with any Haltech ECU it would only let me go online once, after i'd disconnected and tried going on again it wouldnt, it happened to me with 3 different ECUs, and it turned out to be that i needed to do a complete battery of updates that you always have to do when you first install XP Pro onto a machine, i had to download about 100+ megs of updates from the MS site, as well as doing full update CD that i had upto that point.

Soooo, in conclusion, i definitely think we need to kidnap one of MS software engineers and put them in a room with no windows and a computer and a haltech ECU to get them to find where in the hell inside XP do you change what ever to make it communicate with DOS. :D Just my 2 cents.

Dosbox is too slow for me. I think I need to add some nitrous to the turbo boost to bring it up to my speed! :lol:

Thank you Claudio, DOSBox worked perfectly

Using: XP w/ tripp lite serial>usb

STICKY this !!!!

yep this is what i have been using for a good bit. Vpc fucking sucks!!!! haha

dosbox allows me to datalog and tune on the road for hours since it literally uses like 1% of my ram :)

Show off! :lol:

Hit Ctrl + F12 a few times till you increase the response time to your liking. I normally hit it about 6-8 times, and it gets a whole lot better.

I have been using the IOGear unit
http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product&Item=GUC232A

It has been giving me problems with vista, should I move to the Keyspan unit will that clear it up?

Also is Haltech working on a USB connection for their ecu's? You can't buy a laptop with a serial anymore and Vista is basically standard on all computers.

Well, think about this, you could get a used laptop that costs you less than 400 bucks, there are plenty on ebay, buy your self a keyspan, and a brand new copy of Windows XP Pro and install it and update it fully, and you've got a stable system to work with.

I have a 2006 model HP Pavilion DV1000, no serial port, keyspan adapter, WinXP Pro SP2, and i really really really never have problems. I have recently seen a dramatic increase of "comm issues" with people all over the place and i think its partly attributed to using both an incompatible USB adapter as well as not having a properly updated WinXP operating system. I keep mine 100% updated and always try to monitor and clean spam/spyware, and avoid installing too much junk on it. In retrospect i have taken other people's laptops, perform a full format of their hard drive, reinstalled XP Pro XP2, updated it COMPLETELY and problem stop occuring after that.

Oh, ive also seen that Windows XP Home tends to be problematic too when it comes to serial communications, VPC doesnt work correctly on it, but im sure that DOSBox could be made to work properly on XP Home. But i have yet to test it.

Ive been using a PCMCI adapter again, and it works great, and i saw a whole bunch of them on Ebay and their price has DRAMATICALLY dropped these days, you can get one for about 15-25 dollars these days and those also work great.

i installed dos but how do i know its working with my ecu

Um, going online? :D

Is there a way to use the 2.5 internal bar sensor using DOS?

Nope, its not in there. In the case of modern E6X's with internal map sensors i dont recommend using DOS software, only with older first version E6Xs with old labels.

Damn I was afraid of that, but oh well at least it runs now.
I guess ill have to pick up a keyspan serial->usb to get it to work in windows.
thanx claudio

Yeah, DOS software was discontinued before the E6X got their internal map sensor, so thats why its not in there.

to use my pcmci adapter on other softwares i have to set the com to com4. with this dos software i don't have the option of going to com4. what can i do to make this connection work?

Simple, go to your Comm port settings in the Task Manager and set it to comm1, and thats it.

Claudio u DA MAN!!!! These instructions were clear and concise, got the programs to run with no problems. THANX.

This thread deserves to be stickied.

Thanks!!! :D

If anyone is looking for a new laptop with serial, my fairly new dell D830 latitude work computer (circa late 2007) has onboard serial, an a nice widescreen that makes tuning easy

The Dell D6xx series of laptops are available with serial ports as well and can be found for very good prices on ebay.