If you don't mind me looking at it - I could probably change it for you.

No worries - if its as officialy secret as you say then there may still not be a problem (I'm sure Sean would be able to tell you who I work for)

Usually a simple binary hex editor (FRHED is a good one) would be enough to search and replace the COM1 with COM2 messages. That is if they are stored in text format - if they are binary versions then you end up changing values to point to the correct address.

Alternatively I take it you've tried doing a "NAMEOFPROGRAM /?" in case the programmer left in a "which port to run on" function from the command line.

No worries - if its as officialy secret as you say then there may still not be a problem (I'm sure Sean would be able to tell you who I work for)

If I tell him, do I get to kill him afterwards Dack?

@daveeb
Use this program eXeScope to modify the .exe file
http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA003525/Eindex.htm


Do you want to customize an application ?  For example,
     Change font,
     Change menu,
     Change size or layout of dialog,
     Change Icon,
     etc.,
   but do you think that it is impossible because you have not source files ?
   eXeScope is a resource editor which can edit executable files directly.
   It can analyze and rewrite resources of EXE, DLL, OCX, etc. without source
   files. Almost all resources, that is, Menu, Dialog, String, MessageTable,
   Icon, Cursor, Bitmap, Accelerator, VersionInfo, Delphi Form, WAVE, MIDI,
   AVI, GIF, HTML, JPEG, ToolBar are supported.
   Moreover, eXeScope can analyze and display exported/imported functions
   and TypeLibrary in DLL, OCX, etc.

Brian

as i told dack, we've temporarily solved the problem with a different pc that has a fully functioning com1 port, however its a very temporary measure so i might well resurrect this one again soon.  thanks for all the interest and input chaps and chapesses.