Loss of Com Ports

[Guest]

I have a Presario 2100 laptop which has a Com 1 serial port. This port was
working fine until I did some upgrades like installing SP2, using a cell
phone on the USB port and a wireless device in the pcmcia slot. Anyway, the
Com 1 port stopped working even after I uninstalled all the above upgrades.
I did notice that the USB (SP2) drivers were not uninstalled so I think that
the loss of the port could be caused by these. A lot of the newer laptops do
not have external serial ports other than the USB. I am wondering if support
for this port is being dropped in SP2. Does anyone have any ideas on this
or how I can restore Com 1 operation? BTW, the Com 1 port shows up ok in the
device manager and under system information. It also tests ok using the
online HP hardware test.

 

[Philip Herlihy]

Just hitching a ride here: I know what I can and cannot plug in to a serial
connector on the back of a machine, but I've only the foggiest notion of
what a "Com port" really (really) is. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

COMmunication PORT.. a reference to the 9pin and 25pin D type connections
found on pc backplates.. mainly used for serial mouse and external modems by
home users.. PS/2 and subsequently USB have taken over..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user

 

[Philip Herlihy]

Thanks - that's always been my understanding, but it's seemed to me that COM
ports have some sort of software manifestation which has a life of its own:
one socket can have two COM ports associated with it (eg COM1 & COM3) and
I've been offered the opportunity to create a new one in the past, which has
always struck me as odd. As the OP suggests, there does seem to be some
sort of interaction between COM ports and USB connections too. I'm sure I'm
missing something.

Apologies to the OP for hijacking this thread!

 

[Guest]

I am now thinking this problem could be caused by 1) A hardware fault, 2) A
new driver problem that eliminates the capability of external com ports with
USB ports, or 3) A operating system problem caused by SP2. It would help to
know if anyone else is able to use the external com port on a Compaq Presario
2100 with SP2.

 

[Philip Herlihy]

You'll have gathered I'm no expert on this topic, but I can tell you that
I'm using a standard serial port on my machine running SP2 and coexisting
with USB ports.

I believe that a COM port is really a software "thing" which can be
associated with either a standard serial port or with a USB (S is for
Serial) port. I get occasional (confusing) error messages from my
PocketPC's software (ActiveSync) about COM woes. My guess is your COM1 has
now become tied to a USB port, which is why the standard serial port no
longer works when software addresses it as COM1. You may have some luck
with the relevant application (you haven't specified what that is) if you
try to get it to work with some other COM port (try COM2) which may now be
bound to the physical port you need.

All guesswork, of course...

 

[Henry]

You'll have gathered I'm no expert on this topic, but I can tell you that
I'm using a standard serial port on my machine running SP2 and coexisting
with USB ports. ....
All guesswork, of course...

Anybody out there who had this problem, and found a way to get their COM port
working?

I have this problem, and can't find any way to use my "COMM connected" devices.
It keeps saying that the comm port is in use, and I just can't figure out what
is using it.
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Henry

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[Si Ballenger]

Anybody out there who had this problem, and found a way to get their COM port
working?

I have this problem, and can't find any way to use my "COMM connected" devices.
It keeps saying that the comm port is in use, and I just can't figure out what
is using it.

Are you using a hardware com port or some serial device using a
USB port? There are various "hotsync" types of programs that will
grab the com port on boot up and cause these types of problems.

 

[John Coode]

Anybody out there who had this problem, and found a way to get their COM port
working?

I have this problem, and can't find any way to use my "COMM connected" devices.
It keeps saying that the comm port is in use, and I just can't figure out what
is using it.
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Henry

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[to reply, delete the AT]

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http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315539
Should allow you to see what 'ghosted' devices are hogging
the COM ports and uninstall them.

 

[Henry]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315539
Should allow you to see what 'ghosted' devices are hogging
the COM ports and uninstall them.

I went to that web page, set the environment variable, and sure enough I see
more devices.

Unfortunately, the entries under Port (COM & LPT) are unchanged - I see
Communications Port (COM2) and ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

FWIW, I have Active Sync 3.8 which I used for my PPC - I sync through the
wireless network, and under Active sync Connection Settings..., I have the
Network box checked, and both serial cable and USB unchecked. Although serial
cable is unchecked, it shows the status of COM2 as "COM port is not available"

I want to use the COM port to connect a Palm PDA, GPS, pen scanner, etc.
------------------------------

Henry

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[Henry]

Are you using a hardware com port or some serial device using a
USB port? There are various "hotsync" types of programs that will
grab the com port on boot up and cause these types of problems.

It's a "native" com port on the back of the Dell PC - NOT an add in card.

FWIW, I have Active Sync 3.8 which I used for my PPC - I sync through the
wireless network, and under Active sync Connection Settings..., I have the
Network box checked, and both serial cable and USB unchecked. Although serial
cable is unchecked, it shows the status of COM2 as "COM port is not available"

I want to use the COM port to connect a Palm PDA, GPS, pen scanner, etc.
------------------------------

Henry

Posted Using Agent 2.0
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Si Ballenger]

It's a "native" com port on the back of the Dell PC - NOT an add in card.

FWIW, I have Active Sync 3.8 which I used for my PPC - I sync through the
wireless network, and under Active sync Connection Settings..., I have the
Network box checked, and both serial cable and USB unchecked. Although serial
cable is unchecked, it shows the status of COM2 as "COM port is not available"

I want to use the COM port to connect a Palm PDA, GPS, pen scanner, etc.

I'd try shutting down the active sync and then see if the com
port is released. You might also as a test set the active sync to
use some non existant com port to see if it will then allow com2
to be available. You might also consider getting a USB serial
adapter like below (don't get the ones that have the thumb screws
on the DB9 connector end!) if you have an available USB port.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41995&item=6782214672&rd=1

 

[Chris Kusmierz]

Check under device manager for serial pointing devices. If found right click
and choose disable. XP often thinks serial data is a ball pointing device or
such and takes over the port, especially during the boot sequence.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315539
Should allow you to see what 'ghosted' devices are hogging
the COM ports and uninstall them.

I went to that web page, set the environment variable, and sure enough I see
more devices.

Unfortunately, the entries under Port (COM & LPT) are unchanged - I see
Communications Port (COM2) and ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

FWIW, I have Active Sync 3.8 which I used for my PPC - I sync through the
wireless network, and under Active sync Connection Settings..., I have the
Network box checked, and both serial cable and USB unchecked. Although serial
cable is unchecked, it shows the status of COM2 as "COM port is not available"

I want to use the COM port to connect a Palm PDA, GPS, pen scanner, etc.
------------------------------

Henry

Posted Using Agent 2.0
[to reply, delete the AT]

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