Cannot Get Serial Port Access via Wine v10 on Linux Mint Cinnamon: A Tech Support Guide

Title: Connecting Serial Port on Linux Mint Cinnamon 21.1 with Wine using TTL-to-USB Converter (Prolific PL2303)

In this guide, we will discuss how to connect a serial port on Linux Mint Cinnamon 21.1 using Wine with a TTL-to-USB converter, specifically the Prolific PL2303. We will follow an old Superuser thread as a reference.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure that you have the following:

1. A Linux Mint Cinnamon 21.1 system
2. Wine version 10 or higher installed
3. A TTL-to-USB converter, such as the Prolific PL2303
4. The device appears as /dev/ttyUSB0 under Linux

Installation

To use the serial port with Wine, you'll need a wrapper called wineSerial.dll. You can find it in the WineHQ forums:

1. Visit the following link: https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=25686
2. Download the latest version of wineSerial.dll
3. Save the file in the Wine directory (usually located at ~/.wine/drive_c/Windows/System32/)

Configuration

Now that you have the wrapper installed, you can configure your application to use the serial port.

1. Open the application you want to use with the serial port using Wine.

2. In the application settings or code, find the section related to the serial port.

3. Configure the serial port settings as follows:

   • Port: COM1 (or any available COM port)
   • Baud rate: Depends on your device and application. Common baud rates are 9600, 19200, and 115200.
   • Data bits: 8
   • Stop bits: 1
   • Parity: None (N)

Testing

To test if the serial port is working correctly, you can use a simple serial communication application like minicom.

1. Install minicom using the following command:

   sudo apt-get install minicom
   

2. Open minicom with the following command:

   minicom -s
   

3. In the settings, configure the serial port as follows:

   • Serial device: /dev/ttyUSB0 (or your device's path)
   • Baud rate: Depends on your device and application. Common baud rates are 9600, 19200, and 115200.
   • Flow control: None

4. Press Enter to save the settings and start minicom. You should now be able to communicate with your device through the serial port.

References

1. Wine Serial Port Wrapper: https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=25686
2. Installing minicom: https://linuxize.com/post/how-to-install-minicom-on-ubuntu-20-04/

This guide should help you connect a serial port on Linux Mint Cinnamon 21.1 using Wine with a TTL-to-USB converter, specifically the Prolific PL2303. If you encounter any issues, feel free to ask for help in the comments section.