On the Options screen, we find that, for the best results, your Speed should be set at 1-9600. This can be accomplished by clicking the arrow at the end of the Speed line, which gives you a drop-down box, and selecting 1-9600:
The speed can be adjusted higher later, if desired. The next step is to determine which COM port is to be used. Clicking the arrow at the end of the Port line will give you a drop-down box which will allow you to select COM1:
Once you have done so, click the OK button on this screen only! You will receive a popup box asking you to unplug and replug the power to the Magic Box:
BE SURE to unplug and replug the power to the Magic Box before you click OK on this box, or else the changes will not take effect. Once you have done so, one of three things will happen:
1. If COM1 is the port you need to use, no error messages will come up, the red light on your Magic Box will begin to flash, and the letters will light up under Load Card and Write Card corresponding to whichever slot your Magic Card is in, or...
2. You may receive an error message, saying there is no such COM Port available:
3. You may receive an error message, saying the COM Port is already in use:
If the first line happens, you are ready to start using your Magic Box. If either the second or third line happens, click OK on the error message, return to the top of this screen and follow the directions again, selecting each of the remaining COM Ports, in order, until you find one that works, and allows you to receive what is described in Line #1.
If you cycle through all the COM ports and none of them work, something else may be happening on your computer:
1. Your COM Ports may not have been activated by your computer manufacturer when the computer was purchased. You will need to call your manufacturer and ask them to take you through what is called the BIOS to activate all of your COM ports. If you are using a laptop computer, also ask them to disable your Infrared ports. After this is done, you will need to follow the steps on this page and check each of the COM ports again.
2. Another program may be holding your COM ports open. Palm Pilot and Digital Camera software are two programs that are most often the cause of this. You will need to call your computer manufacturer for assistance in shutting down any programs running on startup that are not needed to run Windows.
3. If neither of the above suggestions fixes the problem, the cause may lie with the Magic Box itself, or the serial cable. You will need to take the Magic Box, serial and power cables up to your dealer for testing. If they determine one or more parts are damaged, they will let you know how to get it repaired or replaced.
4. If the Magic Box and cables test out fine, the problem may lie in the physical serial port on the back of your computer. You will need to have it looked at by a computer professional, and once the problem is found, follow the steps on this page to determine which COM port is to be used.