COM1 Port Problems

I have an intermittant problem with my COM1 Port. I use
it to HotSync a PalmPilot. Sometimes it works fine.
Other times an error message box with a Yellow Triangle
with an "!" pops up with:

"The selected port, COM1, is not available at this time.
HotSync Manager will open the port when it becomes
available."

The times I get HotSync to run seem random, Although I
did run hyperterm.exe to COM1. I got a messege the port
was being used by another device, and the HotSync worked.

I shut down, and booted up and the HotSync didn't work,
and the hyperterm.exe failed to prod the port.

Any help is very much appreciated!
Marty