If anyone needs to check their comms [null modem] cable, USB>9D or any other type really, it can be done reasonably easily, giving you the confidence that the cable is talking to the box
You'll need a 9 way D socket loads on eBay etc
D-Socket, 9way, Sub-Miniature, FEMALE, RS232 (Pack of 4) | eBay
You'll need to make it into a loopback plug by shorting out pins 2&3, 4&6 and 7&8
This is mine, 'cuse the abysmal soldering, I had some broken fingers when I did it.
Hyperterminal or some other Telnet client
Hyperterminal was removed from Windows builds after XP but you can still use it if you copy across hypertrm.exe and hypertrm.dll from the i386 folder on a XP disc or from the system folders of a XP box
I'll put them in the downloads to save anyone looking for them
Just put them in any folder, it doesn't matter as long as you know where they are.
Create a txt file with a few words in it and call it something memorable - save it where you can find it again
Pop the loopback plug onto the end of your comms cable and run hypertrm.exe - just click through the warnings
You'll then get a pop up that'll ask you details of your phone numbers etc. - just OK it without entering anything extra
Followed by a box asking you for a name for the connection, put anything in it and click OK
Next you'll get a box asking about how you want to connect, make sure you select the correct com port, the rest can just be left as it is.
If you don't get this box and simply get one asking for host address and port number, you do not have a comms port set up on you PC or the USB cable isn't plugged into it
Re-install the USB converter and check in device manager that there is in fact a comms port active.
The next box will ask you about the connection parameters, you can just accept the default or set it to what you want, it doesn't matter for this test - click OK
You'll then be faced with the Hyperterminal shell
Click on
Transfer then
Send Text File and browse to the test text file you made earlier
You should now see the text from the file echoed on the Hyperterminal screen - this proves that the text left the PC and was looped back to it.
If you get that, you can be sure your cable is working as it should - if you don't, you need to sort that problem first before getting frustrated because you can't make the recovery program work.
I don't think I've missed anything out
It really is quite simple even though there appears to be loads of steps above.
