Port Hyperterminal to Windows 7

Well I upgraded my PC after decades (From PIV and Windows XP (Yes that is right)).

The New OS I installed is Microsoft Windows 7 (Win7)

As I am an engineer and electronics hobyist I need the com port a lot. Almost all the gadgets i build or use need it.

I have been using Hilgreave hyperterminal (a free software distributed with Microsoft Windows upto XP) for many years for this purpose.

But when I needed it (for a little project) Win7 did not have it. although CMD.exe can be used for sending to com ports I searched for the good old hyperterminal.

Then I turned to the web only to find that it is no more available with newer Windows installations. (Funny).

So I tried the hilgreave website (www.hilgraeve.com/) but they were selling it for a price of $65. I find that quite high.

I had the Win XP CD backed up in my HDD. So I had Access to copressed version of the Hyperterminal.

Please note: Owning the Win-XP makes me the legitimate owner of it

I decompressed the required files and TADA... I had "Hyperterminal" up and running. Following Steps will Tell you how it is done.

A running copy of Windows XP or its installation( may be on CD or HDD).

Alternatively I have shared the required files in this instructable (No warranty of safety).

There are four files for the hyperterminal

1. Hypertrm.exe (The portable executable application)
2. Hypertrm.dll (The library file for the app)
3. Hypertrm.hlp ( The help file for older versions of windows - no longer supported by microsoft)
4. Hypertrm.chm (the newer format help file for the hyperterminal)

I have created an rar file to share with you here it is.

Well if you are using an installed Windows XP Just Search for hypertrm.* (mind the spelling) on the C drive.

it is normally distributed between two places.

1. The EXE and help files are in Program files folder
2. The DLL is in the Windows\system32 folder

You can copy these to a folder of your choice and you are done.

For people having a windows XP installation CD or its backup lying around you will find the files in the I386 subfolder as shown in the picture. Enter the folder to find the treasure. ;-)

You will need 5 files

1. EXPAND.EXE (microsoft expand utility for compressed files)
2. HYPERTRM.CH_ (compressed version of hypertrm.chm)
3. HYPERTRM.EX_ (compressed version of hypertrm.exe)
4. HYPERTRM.DL_ (compressed version of hypertrm.dll)
5. HYPERTRM.HL_ (compressed version of hypertrm.hlp)

Just copy all these in the newly created folder just for them (mine was "h:\hyperterminal")

Now in the start button search bar type CMD and press enter

It will run the command prompt .

Change directory to where you just copied the expand and hyperterminal files

for my example it is h:\hyperterminal so I do this ..

h:_ENTER_ (where _ENTER_ denotes pressing of the enter key on the keyboard) gives me the H:\> prompt

H:\>cd hyperterminal_ENTER_

Now actual expanding can take place. Type in

1. expand hypertrm.ex_ hpertrm.exe

   _ENTER_

   . (tells the OS to expand from hypertrm.ex_ to hypertrm.exe).
2. wait for completion of previous command then type expand hypertrm.dl_ hpertrm.dll_ENTER_
3. wait for completion of previous command then type expand hypertrm.ch_ hpertrm.chm_ENTER_
4. wait for completion of previous command then type expand hypertrm.hl_ hpertrm.hlp_ENTER_

you would have nine files in the folder now.

We have the required files, so we shall remove the unneccessary files

These are the five files copied from the win XP installation folder (I386). so delete

1. EXPAND.EXE
2. HYPERTRM.EX_
3. HYPERTRM.DL_
4. HYPERTRM.CH_
5. HYPERTRM.HL_

Just Click on the application's (Hypertrm.exe) icon and Tada... The computer will ask you your area code etc (keeps it somwhere may be in the registry so next time it won't ask) and to name your connection. I named it "test".

Just do the settings as required by you and happy using the terminal software.