How to check what uses COM ports

[pjs2004]

Does anyone know of a way (or a utility) in Windows XP that
tells you what com ports (virtual com ports incuded) are in
use and what software/hardware is using them?

Here is backgound info for my question...kinda long:

I have a Windows XP Professional SP1 laptop that I am
trying to configure for bluetooth so that I can use
Activesync with my Ipaq pocket pc. I have searched for and
found out how to set this up, so I know the exact
procedure. However, in following the procedure, I need to
set my Activesync software to the com port that the
bluetooth device is using. The problem is that the
bluetooth device is using virtual com port 38 (shown in the
bluetooth software) and the Activesync software requires
that it use a com port in the 1 - 9 range. All this is well
known to be the way it has to be set up, so I don't have an
issue with that. I just need to be able to get the
bluetooth device on a com port in the 1 - 9 range. The only
way to do that is to uninstall whatever is taking up the
other com ports and then reinstall the bluetooth device.

The only way I can determine what com ports are in use, is
to go to my modem properties and look at the port
configuration. The drop down list shows all the com ports
(hardware and virtual) from 1 - 256. Every port, except 2
and 3, from 1 - 37 is "in use." For some reason, the
bluetooth device will only use a virtual com port because
it will not use 2 or 3. It always uses the next virtual
port that is not "in use" -- in this case, 38.

Sorry for the long explanation. The problem comes down to
being able to uninstall whatever is using all those com
ports (1 - 37, except 2 and 3). If I am able to do this and
then reinstall the bluetooth device, the bluetooth device
will take one that I can use with Activesync (1 - 9). I
have tried uninstalling various things in device manager,
but I have no way of knowing if any of the things I am
uninstalling is using a com port, except for the modem, of
course.

I cannot find out what is using all these com ports, and I
could not find any utility that would identify what is
using the com ports that are "in use." If I knew that, I
could simply unistall that hardware/software.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Mike D]

Try this:
Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information >
Components > Ports > Serial.

 

[Si Ballenger]

Does anyone know of a way (or a utility) in Windows XP that
tells you what com ports (virtual com ports incuded) are in
use and what software/hardware is using them?

Here is backgound info for my question...kinda long:

I have a Windows XP Professional SP1 laptop that I am
trying to configure for bluetooth so that I can use
Activesync with my Ipaq pocket pc. I have searched for and
found out how to set this up, so I know the exact
procedure. However, in following the procedure, I need to
set my Activesync software to the com port that the
bluetooth device is using. The problem is that the
bluetooth device is using virtual com port 38 (shown in the
bluetooth software) and the Activesync software requires
that it use a com port in the 1 - 9 range. All this is well
known to be the way it has to be set up, so I don't have an
issue with that. I just need to be able to get the
bluetooth device on a com port in the 1 - 9 range. The only
way to do that is to uninstall whatever is taking up the
other com ports and then reinstall the bluetooth device.

The only way I can determine what com ports are in use, is
to go to my modem properties and look at the port
configuration. The drop down list shows all the com ports
(hardware and virtual) from 1 - 256. Every port, except 2
and 3, from 1 - 37 is "in use." For some reason, the
bluetooth device will only use a virtual com port because
it will not use 2 or 3. It always uses the next virtual
port that is not "in use" -- in this case, 38.

Sorry for the long explanation. The problem comes down to
being able to uninstall whatever is using all those com
ports (1 - 37, except 2 and 3). If I am able to do this and
then reinstall the bluetooth device, the bluetooth device
will take one that I can use with Activesync (1 - 9). I
have tried uninstalling various things in device manager,
but I have no way of knowing if any of the things I am
uninstalling is using a com port, except for the modem, of
course.

I cannot find out what is using all these com ports, and I
could not find any utility that would identify what is
using the com ports that are "in use." If I knew that, I
could simply unistall that hardware/software.

Any help is much appreciated.

Nothing may be using the comports. XP has a problem with
assigning a next higher comport to devices like a USB to serial
adapter every time they are plugged in. Try changing the port
from 38 to 9. XP will say the port is in use by another
application, but tell it to use the port anyway. I had to do this
with my USB to serial adapter. If xp ever assigns a port to a
device, it thinks from then on that that device is using the port
wether or not is actually being used.