"Ports (COM & LPT)" Not Listed In Device Manager

[Keith W. McCammon]

All right. I'll pay a shiny nickel to anyone who can figure this out, as
I've exhausted my options on Google, the KB, etc.

Background: I'm trying to install and use a Sprint PCS wireless modem
(Novatel) on a Dell Latitude 5100 running Windows XP Pro, SP1, with all
patches installed. The install appears to work just fine, and I can see a
signal, etc. However, when I try to actually dial a connection to the
Internet, I get the error:

"There was a hardware failure in the modem (or other connecting device)"

Let me preface the rest by point out that the PCMCIA port on the laptop
works. The wireless card works (in ten+ other Windows XP laptops). And I
have a built-in modem that works.

So, in trying to troubleshoot this error, I found myself looking for the
Ports (COM & LPT) in the Device Manager. But this isn't an option. The
modem and status ports are assigned to COM4 and COM5, respectively. But I
can't see the COM ports in the device manager.

Every other Windows XP system that I have lists the Ports in the DM, with
the exception of this one.

Any takers?

 

[Servo]

All right. I'll pay a shiny nickel to anyone who can figure this out, as
I've exhausted my options on Google, the KB, etc.

Background: I'm trying to install and use a Sprint PCS wireless modem
(Novatel) on a Dell Latitude 5100 running Windows XP Pro, SP1, with all
patches installed. The install appears to work just fine, and I can see a
signal, etc. However, when I try to actually dial a connection to the
Internet, I get the error:

"There was a hardware failure in the modem (or other connecting device)"

Let me preface the rest by point out that the PCMCIA port on the laptop
works. The wireless card works (in ten+ other Windows XP laptops). And I
have a built-in modem that works.

So, in trying to troubleshoot this error, I found myself looking for the
Ports (COM & LPT) in the Device Manager. But this isn't an option. The
modem and status ports are assigned to COM4 and COM5, respectively. But I
can't see the COM ports in the device manager.

Every other Windows XP system that I have lists the Ports in the DM, with
the exception of this one.

Any takers?

Check your BIOS...make sure they aren't disabled.

--
Servo

"Shop smart! Shop S-Mart!"

tservo100 at
ameritech dot net

Slow, fiery death to all spammers!

 

[Guest]

Wireless Modem? so.. Wireless dial-up? kinda odd, but ok.

1st.

Com ports are not listed in the device manager, because
they are "virtual". they are just memory addresses that
turn on and off 1's and 0's on the mother board, which
directs data to and from a device (modem).

2nd

If the device came with any software, install it. wireless
devices are very troublesome and OFTEN require the
software to be installed FIRST before any hardware is
connected.

Causes:

The modem is turned off or malfunctioning.
If you have an external modem, the serial cable is
incorrectly wired.
If you have an external modem, the serial cable is not
securely connected or has open connections.
The serial port or multiport adapter on the RAS server or
client is malfunctioning.
The handshaking options for the modem are incorrectly
configured.
The modem is unsupported, or the chosen emulation may be
incorrect.
The modem .inf files become corrupted or the modem driver
becomes corrupted.


All I can suggest is:

Reset your modem. Consult the documentation for
information about how to reset the modem.
If you have an external modem, make sure that you are
using the correct serial cable. For more information about
requirements for proper cabling.
If you have an external modem, make sure that the serial
cable is connected securely.
If you are using a pin adapter to connect your external
modem to your serial port, make sure that the pin adapter
is wired properly for modem communication. For example, a
9- to 25-pin adapter for a mouse does not work properly
with an RAS serial setup.
Test the serial port or multiport adapter, and replace the
adapter if necessary.
Make sure that the handshaking options for the modem are
configured properly. Consult the documentation for
information about the different handshaking options that
are available for your modem.
Contact the modem manufacturer to see if any setup and
initialization information is available for your modem.
Also, check the latest Windows hardware compatibility list
(HCL) to make sure that your modem is supported.
Use Device Manager to remove the modem. You can do this in
safe mode or in normal mode. Restart the computer in
normal mode. Windows XP will redetect the modem and
reinstall the correct drivers.

 

[Keith W. McCammon]

Check your BIOS...make sure they aren't disabled.

I did that, but there wasn't any related option. I did, however, upgrade
the BIOS, and that corrected the modem error.

Thanks

Keith

 

[D.Currie]

All right. I'll pay a shiny nickel to anyone who can figure this out, as
I've exhausted my options on Google, the KB, etc.

Background: I'm trying to install and use a Sprint PCS wireless modem
(Novatel) on a Dell Latitude 5100 running Windows XP Pro, SP1, with all
patches installed. The install appears to work just fine, and I can see a
signal, etc. However, when I try to actually dial a connection to the
Internet, I get the error:

"There was a hardware failure in the modem (or other connecting device)"

Let me preface the rest by point out that the PCMCIA port on the laptop
works. The wireless card works (in ten+ other Windows XP laptops). And I
have a built-in modem that works.

So, in trying to troubleshoot this error, I found myself looking for the
Ports (COM & LPT) in the Device Manager. But this isn't an option. The
modem and status ports are assigned to COM4 and COM5, respectively. But I
can't see the COM ports in the device manager.

Every other Windows XP system that I have lists the Ports in the DM, with
the exception of this one.

Any takers?

Odd, because EVERY XP system I've looked at (and I do this for a living so I
see a lot of them) does NOT list the modem's port under the Ports section of
the device manager. The ones listed are the physical ports on the computer;
the modem or other devices have their own sections of the device manager. In
fact, if you force a port number under Ports in the Device Manager, that
number becomes unavailable to the modem or other device you're trying to
install.

You might want to try starting up in safe mode and deleting the ports that
exist as well as whatever communication devices you're trying to install,
Then reboot and let XP sort out the resources.