Device Conflict (Code 12) with 5 ports...

[Uko]

OS: Windows XP
My computer has 4 COM ports and 1 LPT port.
The device manager show "!" for COM1 and COM3, saying that
there are not enough resources for both of them (code 12).
Both of the COM ports have the same IRQ setting (IRQ 04),
whereas the LPT port, COM2 and COM4 are working fine.
Uninstalling and reinstalling all devices didn't help
(plug&play).
Ideally, I'd like to use all 5 ports simultaneously, without
having different hardware profiles. At least I need 3 of 4
COM ports.
My question:
1)If I wanted to change the resource settings manually, how
would I choose the "Settings based on..." options? Besides
"current setting", options are "basic configuration 0000",
...., "basic configuration 0008".
2)If changing the resource settings is tricky, are there
easier ways how to permanetly disable one COM port?

 

[Uko]

I've just uninstalled one COM port - and remains
uninstalled after a reboot...
Could anybody tell me how to enable all 4 COM ports
properly - without the resource sharing problem? Many thanks.

 

[Chuck]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314068
This article is a start, and is not very encouraging.
Actually, You will need to see if the BIOS can set up the ports with
available address blocks and IRQ's before you get into windows. Serial ports
are "Legacy" interfaces, as is the parallel port. By convention, Two com
ports share one IRQ. This is because the original PC & XT systems had a
limited number of IRQ's available. Earlier versions of windows did have a
method of setting up 4 com ports with hardware jumpers for different IRQ's.
I have no idea if it still works, or will work with a PCI based serial port.
At one time, multiport serial cards used 3d party drivers to allow them to
work in windows environments.