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Free HyperTerminal for Windows 7

If you are looking for a free hyperterminal software for Windows 7, read our recommendations after the break. The best way is to run the XP mode or install some of the free alternatives.

The HyperTerminal program is intended to be used for communication and modem troubleshooting.

Pro Tip: You can use the Windows XP mode or install a Virtual PC to use Hyperterminal on Windows 7

Alternatives:
Tera Term is an open source terminal emulator program and SSH module, which supports SSH 1 & 2, Telnet, file transfer protocols, IPv6, and serial port connections. Another free option for Windows 7 is PuTTY, which offers free Telnet and SSH implementation.

What is HyperTerminal?

A company known as Hilgraeve created a number of computer communications software, including one program called HyperACCESS. In 1995, a low end version of HyperACCESS, called HyperTerminal, was licensed to Miscrosoft. Microsoft incorporated the program into their communications utilities for the Windows 95 operating system. HyperTerminal continued to be an important part of the next few Windows releases, up to and including Windows XP. However, Windows Vista and Windows 7 do not come preloaded with HyperTerminal.

What Does HyperTerminal Do?

HyperTerminal is intended primarily for communication, but it has a number of other uses as well. It can be used to connect a computer to BBSs (bulletin board systems), Telnet sites, host computers, online services, and of course, other computers. The program can use an Ethernet connection, a modem, or a null modem cable. HyperTerminal also records all communication and messages, which makes it a handy tool for troubleshooting modems and other connections. It can debug source code from a remote terminal and it is also compatible with character-based computers.

What’s the Alternative?

There is no free HyperTerminal for Windows 7 that comes integrated into the operating system, but Windows 7 does have a variety of tools to make up for that loss. Users who want remote shell access can use WinRS. Help with WinRS can be obtained by typing winrs /? at the command prompt. Phone and Modem Options (found under Hardware and Sound in the Control Panel) can be used to troubleshoot modems. Be aware that the modem settings often require users to enter location information.

Other Programs to Download

Tera Term is an open source terminal emulator program and SSH module, which supports SSH 1 & 2, Telnet, file transfer protocols, IPv6, and serial port connections. Another free option for Windows 7 is PuTTY, which offers free Telnet and SSH implementation. The program works similarly to Tera Term and has many of the same features. It supports SSH, Telnet, rlogin, and raw TCP computing protocols. PuTTY Portable allows users to place a PuTTY app on their USB stick or other removable device, which can then be used on any computer without leaving any personal information behind.

Using HyperTerminal in Windows 7

There are those who greatly prefer HyperTerminal and claim that no other program can measure up. For such individuals, Hilgraeve offers HyperTerminal Private Edition, which features a 30 day free trial and is available to purchase for about $60. The only way to get a free HyperTerminal for Windows 7 is to extract the necessary files from an older computer, such as one running Windows XP, and importing them to Windows 7.

If you’re looking for a free HyperTerminal for Windows 7, you have a number of options. You can take advantage of the capabilities that Windows 7 is built with, such as WinRS and Phone and Modem Options, or you can choose to download an alternative like Tera Term or PuTTY. There is a paid version of HyperTerminal available and you can also extract the HyperTerminal files from an old computer.