LOST COM PORTS...

[SMA]

Computer says it cannot find any com ports when I try to
install my Pocket PC on this new computer. I've done
"enable" in Networks, "enable" in BIOS, even downloaded and
tried to use the "ComDisable". They all say that they
can't find any com ports on my computer. Or, another
message is that something else is using the com ports, and
to disable "something else".

I suspect MSN Gaming Zone. I uninstalled MSN, but the
Gaming Zone remains. I've tried to erase the Gaming Zone,
but it magically pops back into life at every delete. Or,
it says it is currently being used -- but I'm not playing
any games.

Another clue to the mystery of the missing com ports:
awhile ago, I got one of those "catastrophic error"
messages. Windows tried to send the details to MS, but
couldn't -- no com ports!

Since I really need to sync with this computer, any help at
all would be appreciated.

Peace,

SMA

 

[Willit]

You'll be hard pressed to get a answer in here. This is
what I know. Look in the advanced port settings to see
whats assigned.

Com 1 and Com 2 are physical ports and have IRQ assignments
From there the ports are virtual There 256 of them. The
problem is once they are assigned they cannot be deleted,
but they can be un-installed there a trick to do. I had a
laptop that I was having issues with and had gone up to
port 16, from failed installs. The program would not
recognize anything above port 5. When you install
something it is automatically assigned the first open
port, but it goes to the higher # ( if 5,6,7 are open and
8,9 are (in use) it will assign port 10 you install
something, thus the problem.

How I corrected it was to take a USB modem and keep
installing it and go into the device manager and change it
to a port that showed (in Use) that I knew was not, then
when that port is accepted go back in and uninstall it.
Keep doing it over and over till you get them all out.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for attempting a reply. When I go to "Device
Manager" and look under com ports, it only has LPT1 listed.
Am I supposed to look somewhere else?

I understand your "fix", but my problem is that I can't
install anything, since it says I don't have any com ports
at all. Is "advanced port settings" somewhere other than
Device Manager?

Your information makes sense... it is my computer that's
not making sense!