Notes on infrared usage

All mobile phones of the Nokia 61xx series (in Germany) have an integrated infrared interface. This one is IrDA compatible. Because no hardware modem was integrated in the phone, additional software is indispensable, in order to be able to make a data link (e.g. Internet acces). Nokia for this reason offer their Cellular Data Suite (NCDS). Both the NCDS, and the other programs described under software require a serial IR port. Windows 95 addresses the infrared interface as a generic ir serial port, but Windows 98 addresses it as a network adaptor.

In order to be able to use the described programs with IR under Win98 a generic ir serial port must be installed again. I recommend to create a new hardware profile because all IR entries in the device manager must be deleted.

I wrote this installation guide with greatest attention; however nevertheless I can give any guaratee this will work on each conceivable hardware configuration. If you test the described processes you do this on your own danger! I do not take over any adhesion.

As described on NCDS-Ir page the Generic Ir Serial Port will be installed. Here once again the procedure step by step:

  1. Activate IR interface in the BIOS (if you have the choice between normal and fast IR select normal mode)
  2. First backup the file msports.inf (located in \windows\inf) and then edit it with notepad.exe: using the find-function search for "PNP0510". With the first found entry remove the semicolon and all blanks at the beginning of the line. Press F3 twice. With the third found entry remove the semicolon again.

    The modified lines should look something like that:
    [Std]
    %*PNP0400.DeviceDesc% = LptPort, *PNP0400; Printer Port
    %*PNP0401.DeviceDesc% = EcpPort, *PNP0401; ECP Printer Port
    %*PNP0500.DeviceDesc% = ComPort, *PNP0500; Communications Port
    %*PNP0501.DeviceDesc% = ComPort, *PNP0501; Communications Port
    ; No; *PNP051x devices are now supported in IRMINI.INF
    %*PNP0510.DeviceDesc% = InfraredComPort, *PNP0510; IR Communications Port used byr IrDA stack
    %*PNP0511.DeviceDesc% = InfraredComPort, *PNP0511; IR Communications Port used byr IrDA stack

    [Strings]
    MS = "Microsoft" Std = "(Standardanschlusstypen)"
    PortsClassName = "Anschlüsse (COM und LPT)"
    *PNP0400.DeviceDesc = "Printer Port"
    *PNP0401.DeviceDesc = "ECP Printer Port"
    *PNP0500.DeviceDesc = "COM-Anschluss"
    *PNP0501.DeviceDesc = "COM-Anschluss"
    *PNP0510.DeviceDesc = "Generic Ir Serial Port"
    *PNP0511.DeviceDesc = "Generic Ir Serial Port"

    Save file

  3. Create new hardware profile
  4. Reboot your computer with the new hardware profile
  5. Remove ALL IR devices for this profile using the device manager
  6. Do NOT reboot!
  7. Start hardware manager; click Next twice; select No,...; select No, Hardware...; select Anschlüsse; in the next window select Generic IR Serial Port
  8. reboot with the new hardware profile
  9. now you should find a Generic Ir Serial Port in the device manager under Anschlüsse
Now the software may be used via infrared.

Note: this procedure does not function with many Toshiba notebooks, because these have a PCI based IR interface; it probably concerns the following models:
Libretto 100CT, Satellite 3xx series including 300/305, 310/315, 320/325, 330/335, Satellite 2505, 4000 series, Satellite Pro 490/490X, Portege 320, 7000/7010 series, Tecra 550, 750, 780, Tecra 8000 Serie or newer.
If you have a solution, please email me.

© Bernd Ruisinger