Put HyperTerminal on Windows 7
By Stephen Bucaro
In the early days of computers all the applications and data was stored on large
computers called "main frames". Users accessed the applications and data through
dumb devices that consisted of basically a keyboard and monitor. These devices
were called "terminals".
Nowadays, even the most primitive personal computer is way more powerful
than the old main frames. At one time it was thought that there was no need
for a centralized computer to serve up applications and data. The applications and
data could be distributed across a network of PCs. However this created an
administration and security nightmare. So again, the applications and data are
stored on powerful computers, this time called "servers".
Today there are still network devices with interfaces that communicate via the
old main frame commands, and a PC can log on and communicate with them
using a terminal emulation program. The terminal emulation program used
with the Windows operating system is HyperTerminal.
HyperTerminal was included with all versions of Windows up to Windows XP.
HyperTerminal was not included with Windows Vista or Windows 7. If your
operating system is newer than Windows XP, one option is to use a third-party
terminal emulation program.
One of the most popular third-party terminal emulation programs is PuTTY.
PuTTY is a free, open-source, terminal emulator, serial console and network file
transfer application. It supports several network protocols, including SCP, SSH,
Telnet, rlogin, and raw socket connection. It can also connect to a serial port.
PuTTY can be downloaded from here:
PuTTY Download Page
In alternative to a third party terminal emulation program, you can copy
Hyperterminal from a Windows XP system. To put HyperTerminal on Windows
Vista or later, create a folder under C:\Program Files (x86)\HyperTerminal.
From a Windows XP system copy the following 3 files, which should be in the
C:\Windows\System32 folder, to that folder:
C:\Program Files\Windows NT\hypertrm.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hypertrm.dll
C:\WINDOWS\Help\hypertrm.chm
Then run hypertrm.exe. To have HyperTerminal on your Start Menu, create a shortcut to
hypertrm.exe and place it in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs.
When you go to Start Menu | All Programs, HyperTerminal will be there.
More Windows Administration Information: • Hands-On Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Administration • How to Audit Security Permissions and Access Rights in Active Directory • A Handful of Useful Run Commands: calc, notepad, wordpad, voice recorder, control • Understanding Windows 7 Security Center • NTFS Permissions • Hard Disk Management • A Day in the Life of a System Administrator • Configure Vista's Data Execution Prevention • To Protect Your PC Disable the Windows Scripting Host • Put HyperTerminal on Windows 7
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