Procomm Plus Windows 11 May 2026

The Short Answer: Procomm Plus is not natively compatible with Windows 11.

Symantec discontinued Procomm Plus years ago (the final version, 4.8, was released in the late 1990s/early 2000s). It is a 16-bit/32-bit application designed for Windows 95/98/XP. Because Windows 11 has dropped support for many legacy architectures, installing it directly usually results in errors or crashes.

proc main
  set com 1 19200 n 8 1
  set flow hardware
  transmit "AT" 13
  waitfor "OK" 2
endproc

(Would fail under OTVDM but pass under DOSBox-X)

Would you like this expanded into a full 5-page paper, or adapted into a shorter technical note for a magazine like Retro Computing or The Vintage Coder?

Running Procomm Plus on Windows 11 is possible, though it requires specific workarounds because the software was originally designed for older versions like Windows 98 or XP How to Install Procomm Plus on Windows 11

Since Windows 11's security for "Program Files" can block this legacy software, a manual installation approach is often more successful: Prepare the Files

: Copy the entire contents of your Procomm Plus installation CD or ISO to a folder on your drive, such as C:\ProcommInstallCD Create a Target Folder

: Create a dedicated installation folder outside of standard system directories, like C:\ProcommInstall Run Setup as Admin : Launch the from your source folder by right-clicking and selecting Run as Administrator Perform a Custom Install : During installation, choose a Custom Install

and uncheck options like "FTP," "News," and "Web," which are known to cause issues on modern systems. Set Compatibility : After installing, right-click the Procomm shortcut, go to Properties > Compatibility , and set it to run in Compatibility mode for Windows XP (Service Pack 3) Key Considerations 64-bit Limitations procomm plus windows 11

: Users have reported that while Procomm Plus 4.8 may install on 64-bit systems, disconnecting via a modem can sometimes cause system stability issues. Terminal Emulation

: Basic terminal emulations like VT100 typically work fine even if advanced graphics or specialized ANSI specs occasionally struggle. ASPECT Scripting : Procomm remains popular primarily for its ASPECT scripting

capabilities, which still function well for automation on dedicated serial or RS232 connections. Modern Alternatives

If Procomm Plus proves too unstable for your workflow, consider these modern terminal emulators that support similar protocols:

To "make paper" or configure custom paper sizes for Procomm Plus Windows 11

, you must set up the paper size at the system level first. Because Procomm Plus is legacy software (dating back to Windows 95/98), it relies on the Windows print spooler and printer drivers for its formatting. 1. Create a Custom Paper Size in Windows 11

Since Windows 11 handles printer properties differently than older versions, follow these steps to add a new "form" (paper size): Open Print Server Properties

: Search for "Printers & scanners" in the Start menu. Scroll down to Related settings and select Print Server Properties Define the New Form Check the box for Create a new form (e.g., "Procomm_Special"). Paper Size The Short Answer: Procomm Plus is not natively

(Width and Height). Note: It is often best to set the Width smaller than the Height and use Landscape settings later if needed. 2. Configure Procomm Plus to Use the Paper Size

Once the size is created in Windows, you must tell Procomm Plus to use it: Printer Setup : In Procomm Plus, go to the menu and select Printer Setup Select Printer : Choose the specific printer you are using. Set Properties Properties (or Setup). Under the Paper/Quality tab, find the Paper Size

dropdown and select the custom name you created (e.g., "Procomm_Special"). Save Settings 3. Scripting Paper/Printing Tasks (Optional)

If you are trying to "make paper" via automation, you can use the script language included with Procomm Plus: Print Capture : Use the command printcapture on

within a script to automatically send incoming data directly to the printer. Printing Files

: To print a specific log or file from a script, you can use a system command like dos "print " within your Sine Systems Important Compatibility Tip

Procomm Plus may struggle with modern "Program Files" security. If printing fails, try installing the software to a custom folder like C:\ProcommPlus

instead of the default directory to avoid permission issues. Are you trying to print incoming terminal data in real-time, or are you looking to print a saved log file from a past session? Windows 11 and Procomm Plus | Tek-Tips 22 Mar 2024 — (Would fail under OTVDM but pass under DOSBox-X)

Running Procomm Plus on Windows 11 is technically challenging because the software was discontinued by Symantec (now Broadcom) decades ago. While not officially supported, users have developed workarounds to keep it functional for legacy serial connections and ASPECT scripts. How to Run Procomm Plus on Windows 11

Modern Windows security features, specifically protected directories, are the primary barrier to installation.

Avoid "Program Files": Do not install to the default C:\Program Files (x86) directory. Instead, create a custom folder like C:\ProcommPlus to avoid permission issues.

Custom Installation: During setup, choose a Custom Install and uncheck components like FTP, News, and Web options, which often trigger crashes on modern systems.

Administrative Privileges: Right-click the PW4.exe executable, select Properties, and set it to Run as Administrator.

Compatibility Mode: In the same Properties menu, set the compatibility mode to Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or 3).

Full Control Permissions: Ensure the user group "Everyone" has Full Control over the installation folder to allow the program to write log and script files. Known Risks and Limitations Windows 11 and Procomm Plus | Tek-Tips

| Method | Tool(s) | Configuration | |--------|---------|----------------| | Native | Windows 11 Pro (22H2+), Procomm 4.8 | Direct execution of PPLUS.EXE | | Compatibility layer | OTVDM (WineVDM) | 16-bit emulation via thunking | | Virtual Machine | DOSBox-X 0.83+ | Serial port mapping to host COM port | | VM (heavy) | VirtualBox 7.0 + MS-DOS 6.22 | Bridged to USB serial adapter |

Hardware: USB-to-RS232 adapter (FTDI chip), null modem cable, loopback test (COM port echo), and a simulated BBS (Mystic BBS on Raspberry Pi).