Let's see if I understand correctly.
You want to run a loopback test through the serial port, and you are trying to read back the values using Hyperterminal.
You are correct, there is no option to add Hyperterminal in the Add/Remove Windows Componenets option. If I remember well, it is automatically installed with Win-XP.
You probably know where to find it in the START menu. But here goes:
To open HyperTerminal, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Communications, and then click HyperTerminal.
If it is not there, then something went wrong during the installation. It comes with the basic tools in Accessories.
What do you mean by "serial port leave disconnected during test"?
When running the test, I assume that
the loopback is part of a Built-In Self-Test of some sort and you want to send values to the port, read them back and compare. You do have to attach the serial port to something, either the PC or a loopback cable.
If the test is carried out by the product and you only have 1 serial port (on the product), then it makes sense to connect it to the PC.
Opening HyperTerminal during the tests, will permit you to see any data displayed. However, you cannot leave it open while another program accesses the COM port. If you carry out the test using LV over the serial port, you can wire an indicator and display the data just as you would using HyperTerminal. As a matter of fact the only useful purpose of HyperTerminal is to verify that you can "reliably" communicate through the serial port. Otherwise, you can use the VISA-Serial Port vi's from LV to accomplish the same.
For instructions on how to do that, do a search on serial communication or serial port, or even COM port.
Rega
rds,
JLV
