Serial Port External Loopback FAILED

[atessadri]

Hello everybody,
   I've just tested with PC Doctor the RS-232 serial port of my Lenovo Think Center 9702-7VG and I discovered that the External Loopback fails.
I made an external loopback plug according to the specs I found here http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/3450
The loopback works fine with another Lenovo desktop, so I am sure the cable wiring is correct.

May I assume that there is an hardware problem ?
Do you have any idea if changing the bios settings I can have my serial port working ?

Here is the configuration of my desktop

Thank you in advance to anybody who can give me a feedback
Sincerely

  Andrea

******************** RISORSE DI SISTEMA ********************
Versione di Windows: Windows 5.1 Service Pack 3 (Build 2600)
Proprietario registrato: admin
Organizzazione registrata:
Nome computer: PC-TECNICO
Tipo computer: AT/AT COMPATIBLE
Versione BIOS di sistema: LENOVO - 20090506
Data del BIOS di sistema: 05/06/09
Tipo microprocessore: x86 Family 6 Model 23 Stepping 6
Fornitore del processore: GenuineIntel
Numero di processori: 2
Memoria fisica: 2039 MB
******************** DISK DRIVE INFO ********************
Unità C:
Tipo: Unità disco rigido
Spazio totale: 316.311.334.912 byte
Spazio disponibile: 294.022.905.856 byte
Testine: 255
Cilindri: 38913
Settori per traccia: 63
Byte per settore: 512
******************** IRQ SUMMARY ********************
Rapporto utilizzo IRQ:
(ISA) 0 Timer di sistema
(ISA) 4 Porta di comunicazione (COM1)
(PCI) 5 Intel(R) N10/ICH7 Family SMBus Controller - 27DA
(ISA) 8 Orologio di sistema CMOS a tempo reale
(ISA) 9 Sistema compatibile ACPI Microsoft
(ISA) 13 Coprocessore matematico
(ISA) 14 Canale primario IDE
(ISA) 15 Canale secondario IDE
(PCI) 16 Intel(R) G33/G31 Express Chipset Family
(PCI) 16 Driver bus UAA Microsoft per High Definition Audio
(PCI) 16 Intel(R) N10/ICH7 Family PCI Express Root Port - 27D0
(PCI) 16 Intel(R) N10/ICH7 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 27CB
(PCI) 17 Intel(R) N10/ICH7 Family PCI Express Root Port - 27D2
(PCI) 17 Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
(PCI) 18 Intel(R) N10/ICH7 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 27CA
(PCI) 19 Intel(R) N10/ICH7 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 27C9
(PCI) 19 Intel(R) N10/ICH7 Family Serial ATA Storage Controller - 27C0
(PCI) 23 Intel(R) N10/ICH7 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 27C8
(PCI) 23 Intel(R) N10/ICH7 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 27CC
 

[fwilson]

atessadri,

For the serial loopback test you must either use the PC-Doctor loopback dongle that came with your kit or make one according to these specs:
http://www.pc-doctor.com/loopback_diagrams.php?group=default

Please make one that matches the specs in the referenced diagram and retest.  You should have much better luck.

-Fred

[atessadri]

Hi Fred,
  thanks for the link with the wiring description.
I did it and the result is the same, Serial Port External Loopback FAILED.
On another Lenovo computer the test is successful with the same loopback plug.

I am really wondering if is an hardware problem or if changing the BIOS settings would be enough to solve. Unfortunately my computer has the warranty expired, that means no support from Lenovo.

Any suggestion ?
Sincerely

  Andrea

[fwilson]

atessadri,

Go into the BIOS and make sure the port is enabled.  It is possible for it to be disabled in BIOS but enough of it still active for PC-Doctor to enumerate it and attempt to test it.

-Fred