How do I find out if a device has a "real" RS-232 port and no hidden Adapter?

Sometimes I stumble across devices requiring a "real" RS-232 Com Port.
by that I mean, these devices do not work with a USB-RS232 Adapter, even good FTDI ones.
These also have sometimes problems with PCMCIA-RS232 Adapters, even though not that often.

How do I find out if a specific device has a "real" RS-232 port and not a hidden USB-RS232 port?
(A device that I already have access to and devices that are to be bought)

What options of connecting a RS-232 Com Port to the system are there?
Certainly a direct connection to the system bus, via PCMCIA card, via USB, are there more options?

This question is regarding all devices, PC and laptop.

 

Same is true of some devices requiring a true LPT port as well. Most of thee devices were run from the old ISA bus. I had a dell running a C2D and Windows 7 that had the ports natively. I used it for a lap counter on a four lane HO track setup.

As far as modern setup's I do not think there are any native systems any more. maybe some aftermarket cards or possible doc's?

Edit; The main issue usually with the outside devices is the software requires the IRQ's from the computer that are the lower ones associated to the ports and ISA bus.

 

Yes but the problem with a lot of them is they are not true ports. Original com ports used the lower IRQ's from the ISA bus. The newer chipsets without the ISA bus mimics the com ports IRQ's using ones normally from the USB interface. Some, especially older devices, require the direct hard IRQ's from the ISA to operate properly.