confused

[fowardbias]

I was sending serial info from a PIC to a LCD display and to the laptop via the MCS serial output screen, everything works great. What has happened is that the new laptop has no serial port. What is the best way to get the info back to the display? A serial to USB interface? Moving to chips with built in USB? The manual is says to study the USB interface first. This is next. thanks RC

[mackrackit]

If you go with a USB to serial converter I have found that U209-00-R works well.
Seems to convert to near RS232 levels and works with Win7.

My Belkin F5U409 fails on both accounts.

[fowardbias]

OK, that sounds good, I assume the drivers are included with the device or avail on line? I'm using W7(usually it loads/finds drivers). Also does this mean everything would be as before (seamless through the MCS) or will another editor be necessary, notepad or ?

[mackrackit]

I got the drivers on-line.
Just check "device manager" to find out the port number assigned, then it works as a regular com port.