Communications Port (COM4) problem

[randolindso]

I don't seem to be having any hardware issues but in the Device Manager it
says there is a problem with COM4. When I look at the properties for that
port under the "General" tab it says "Windows cannot determine the settings
for this device. Consult the documentation that came with this device and
use the Resource tab to set the configuration. (Code 34)." The "Driver" tab,
when viewed, indicates Driver Version 5.1.2600.0 and the "Driver Details"
button says the file version is 5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2108). I've tried
updating the driver- The updater says no better updates available. My
question is how do I determine what device is connected to this port and,
actually, what should I do about this? As I initially said, there appears to
me to be no problems, but obviously Windows sees it differently.

 

[Bob I]

Perhaps you are missing an "on-board" modem. (And windows used it's
default driver to identify it as a com port) Did you install all the
drivers for your motherboard?

 

[smlunatick]

I don't seem to be having any hardware issues but in the Device Manager it
says there is a problem with COM4.  When I look at the properties for that
port under the "General" tab it says "Windows cannot determine the settings
for this device.  Consult the documentation that came with this device and
use the Resource tab to set the configuration. (Code 34)."  The "Driver" tab,
when viewed, indicates Driver Version 5.1.2600.0 and the "Driver Details"
button says the file version is 5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2108).  I'vetried
updating the driver- The updater says no better updates available.   My
question is how do I determine what device is connected to this port and,
actually, what should I do about this?  As I initially said, there appears to
me to be no problems, but obviously Windows sees it differently.

It seems that you may have a configuration problem, Most PCs can have
two standard COM ports, usually set to COM1 and COM2. Anytime you add
an internal modem, it may show up as COM3.

 

[randolindso]

I installed all the "recommended" drivers for the motherboard...Gigabyte
Model 8I945P-G. Should I look for updated drivers for it?

 

[randolindso]

I haven't added any modems. What type of configuration problems should I
look for? And how?

 

[Bob I]

Perhaps just r-click it and remove/uninstal it then.

 

[randolindso]

I think I'll do that. I've had it disabled for some time now with no ill
effects. I guess I don't get it how something got installed on COM4 in the
first place. It's my understanding that whatever it was should have
installed on COM3 first before COM4. Is that correct? Do you recommend any
sites/references I can read to further understand how the COM ports work?

 

[Bob I]

A "COM Port" is what the computer labels a Serial port which is to be
used to connect hardware that communicates using a serial data stream.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_port