Ocean Isle Software ReachOut May Fail Under Windows 3.1

 Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
Article ID: Q86024
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

ReachOut, by Ocean Isle Software, lets you remotely control (via modem) a PC running MS-DOS or Windows. However, if you use ReachOut with Microsoft Windows version 3.1, you may not be able to remotely control a PC running Windows.

RESOLUTION

According to Ocean Isle, you can correct this problem by remarking out all references to COM ports in the [386 Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file. This can be done by placing a semicolon (;) at the beginning of each COMx= line, as in the following example: 

   [386Enh]
   ;COM1Base=03F8
   ;Com1AutoAssign=2
   ;COM1Irq=4

MORE INFORMATION

Unlike Windows 3.0, Windows 3.1 will add ComxBase= and ComxIrq= lines to the SYSTEM.INI file with the appropriate default COM port values if you choose the OK button when exiting from the Advanced Settings dialog box. As a result, when Windows 3.1 is started, it will re-initialize the specified port. Re-initializing the port when starting Windows will break the connection to the modem and ReachOut.

To change the advanced port settings:

  1. Run Control Panel.

  2. Choose the Ports icon.

  3. Choose the Settings button.

  4. Choose the Advanced button.

Choosing the OK button will update the SYSTEM.INI file. If the ComxBase= and ComxIrq= lines are not already in the [386 Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file, they will be added, even if you do not change the port settings from Default.

The products included here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

KBCategory: kb3rdparty kbprb
KBSubcategory: win31
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.11 3rdparty

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Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
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