Com ports and Bluetooth? TIA.

[Lisa]

Hi,

Hope someone can help and thanks in advance!

1. Is there a simple software/prog out there that can help me identify what
com ports are in use and what programs are using them? I am trying to use a
GPS receiver and windows keep assigning it to port 26 but that one is way to
high for the software to use! It says that com port should be from port 1 to
10. Tried to change the port # manually but it says nothing available below
26!

2. What can I do to stop windows XP from installing the Bluetooth drivers
automatically every time I plug in my USB adapter? I want to use the Widcomm
drivers that came with it.

Thanks again and have a good one!

Lisa

 

[John Coode]

Hi,

Hope someone can help and thanks in advance!

1. Is there a simple software/prog out there that can help me identify what
com ports are in use and what programs are using them? I am trying to use a
GPS receiver and windows keep assigning it to port 26 but that one is way to
high for the software to use! It says that com port should be from port 1 to
10. Tried to change the port # manually but it says nothing available below
26!

2. What can I do to stop windows XP from installing the Bluetooth drivers
automatically every time I plug in my USB adapter? I want to use the Widcomm
drivers that came with it.

Thanks again and have a good one!

Lisa

1. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315539
Use this method to reveal hidden and 'ghosted' devices and uninstall them.

2. Look at the documentation that came with your device. It may be that
you have to install the drivers before plugging in the device.

 

[mac]

1. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315539
Use this method to reveal hidden and 'ghosted' devices and uninstall them.

2. Look at the documentation that came with your device. It may be that
you have to install the drivers before plugging in the device.

Thanks John!

On the Bluetooth issue, it is an old adapter that my sister gave to me! I
only have the CD and the manual in there says nothing about XP drivers
taking over! It does state that I should not plug the adapter until asked to
do so by the installation program. But, once I plug it in midway through the
installation XP takes over and installs its drivers. I want to stop XP from
doing so, it should be a way to do so! Thanks again.

 

[John Coode]

Thanks John!

On the Bluetooth issue, it is an old adapter that my sister gave to me! I
only have the CD and the manual in there says nothing about XP drivers
taking over! It does state that I should not plug the adapter until asked to
do so by the installation program. But, once I plug it in midway through the
installation XP takes over and installs its drivers. I want to stop XP from
doing so, it should be a way to do so! Thanks again.

I don't use Bluetooth myself so can't speak from experience but this
page looks useful:
http://www.windowsdevcenter.com/pub/a/windows/2005/07/05/bluetooth.html?page=1
I would follow the advice to search for the latest driver on the
Broadcom site.

 

[Si Ballenger]

Hi,

Hope someone can help and thanks in advance!

1. Is there a simple software/prog out there that can help me identify what
com ports are in use and what programs are using them? I am trying to use a
GPS receiver and windows keep assigning it to port 26 but that one is way to
high for the software to use! It says that com port should be from port 1 to
10. Tried to change the port # manually but it says nothing available below
26!

XP has a bug associated with assigning com port addresses to USB
devices. Every time the device is connected, it is assigned a
higher com port number. In the advanced section of the com port
setup in device manager when the device is connected, you can
just reassign the port number for the device to a lower port
number that you know is not in use, and ignore the windows
warning. I've done this with my USB/serial port adapter and XP
seems to remember the assigned com port after that. Check the
link below for some info.

http://www.modemsite.com/56k/xptip.asp