COM ports

[support]

I am having problems with the Palm HotSync manager on my laptop. It
reports that COM1 is not available and that HotSync manager will open
the port when it becomes available.

However, I do not have any printers, faxes or other external devices
attached to this computer. How can I determine what is using the COM1
port so that I can disable it?

Linda

 

[support]

I also have ActiveSync installed and in it's setup, it also mentions
that the COM port is not available. So, this is probably a Windows XP
issue as I thought.

By the way, I just downloaded the most recent version of the Palm
Desktop and HotSync manager and installed it since I had an earlier
version. I am still getting the same COM1 port is not available
message.

Any help will be apprciated.

Linda

 

[Steve N.]

I also have ActiveSync installed and in it's setup, it also mentions
that the COM port is not available. So, this is probably a Windows XP
issue as I thought.

By the way, I just downloaded the most recent version of the Palm
Desktop and HotSync manager and installed it since I had an earlier
version. I am still getting the same COM1 port is not available
message.

Any help will be apprciated.

Linda

Check the Baud rate for the com1 port and make sure it matches that of
the Palm.

Steve

 

[support]

How do I check the Baud rate?

Linda

 

[Steve N.]

How do I check the Baud rate?

Linda

Right click My Computer, Hardware tab, click on Device Manager, Ports,
right click on Communications Port 1, Properties, Port Settings tab,
Bits per second entry. Chack the manual for the Palm device for its
default port settings and make it match, as well as the Data bits
Parity, Stop bits, and Flow control (but usually the defaults for those
are ok).

Steve N.

 

[GTS]

Is the palm cradle connected by a serial cable or a USB cable (with a
virtualized COM port)?

If it is a serial connection, the COM 1 port shown as working correctly in
Device Manger? If not, check that it is enabled in the BIOS.

(Disregard the misleading post re. "Baud rate." If the HotSync manager
reports the port isn't available, it has nothing to do with the port data
rate. The HotSync software configures the port in any case.)

 

[anmldr]

Is the palm cradle connected by a serial cable or a USB cable (with a
virtualized COM port)?

It is connected via USB. But, it really doesn't have anything to do
with this as far as I can tell. When HotSync manager starts, I get the
error message not when I try to perform a hotsync. It is when the
HotSync Manager app loads...for instance when the computer is booted
up.

If it is a serial connection, the COM 1 port shown as working correctly in
Device Manger? If not, check that it is enabled in the BIOS.

(Disregard the misleading post re. "Baud rate." If the HotSync manager
reports the port isn't available, it has nothing to do with the port data
rate. The HotSync software configures the port in any case.)

It is strange anyway on this laptop. In device manager, there is no
reference to COM Ports or Communications Ports or anthing similar. I
am using Windows XP.

To me, if I can find out a way to manage my COM ports, I could find out
what app is utilizing the COM1 and shut it down. Otherwise, I have no
idea what is using the port. I don't have a fax attached. My mouse is
a USB mouse. I do have DSL that uses an external modem. When I use
Dial-up intenet access, in the SysTray, it reports that the modem for
dial-up is using COM3.

Thank you,
Linda

 

[GTS]

The Palm Synch software creates a virtual COM port mapped to the USB
connection. Therefore you won't see it in device manager. By default,
COM1 and COM3 use the same interrupt. If the Palm synch program is set to
use COM1 and you have a telephony modem on COM3, that is most likely the
problem. If the Palm software allows changing the port set it to use COM2.
If not, change the port on the modem to COM2. Control Panel / Phones and
Modems / Modems - select yours and click Properties / Advanced Tab /
Advanced Port Settings button / COM Port Number....
--

 

[anmldr]

I get to this point in the Advanced Tab "Advanced Port Settings button"
and this button does not exist. I had hopes that you had found the
answer for me.

Any other way to change the port used?

Thanks,
Linda