Uninstall obsolete COM ports/devices

[Guest]

Hi,

How do I uninstall a non visible COM port device/driver?

Whenever I plug in a USB2serial converter a new virtual port is created and
the COM port number increases. Every new combination of converter type and
USB connector used gives a new increasing number.

The Device Manager only lists - and allows uninstalling - devices currently
in use/connected. Is there a way to uninstall the device formerly called
e.g. COM37 without having access to the hardware used when the device was
installed.

Thanks.

 

[RalfG]

In Device Manager, try ticking the option " show hidden devices" under View.
Usually the unattached devices will become visible in their relevent
categories and you can uninstall them. Not familiar with those converters so
you might find entries to remove in both the USB and Ports sections.

 

[Guest]

Nope,

Neither under Ports, nor USB. Only found some root hubs and universal host
controllers.

G.

 

[Guest]

I think(which is dangerous in itself) that in the MB bios under USB config.
That there in an option could be USB legacy2. That if you enable this it will
disregard any USB ports not being used even though they may have been used in
the past. Which in turn the OS will no longer see them.

 

[M.I.5¾]

In Device Manager, try ticking the option " show hidden devices" under
View. Usually the unattached devices will become visible in their relevent
categories and you can uninstall them. ...

Not so. That only shows the devices that are normally hidden to the user.

If you want to show all the devices that are not currently connected then
you need to set an environment variable first.

Easiest way is from a command prompt window. Enter:

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

then:

start devmgmt.msc

Selecting 'show hidden devices' should now list every device that has ever
been connected.

 

[Guest]

Great!

This solves it.
Thanks!

Not so. That only shows the devices that are normally hidden to the user.

If you want to show all the devices that are not currently connected then
you need to set an environment variable first.

Easiest way is from a command prompt window. Enter:

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

then:

start devmgmt.msc

Selecting 'show hidden devices' should now list every device that has ever
been connected.

 

[RalfG]

Just checked and somewhere along the line I had set that environment
variable and forgotten about it meanwhile.