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BoozyBabe · 24-04-2007, 10:50

Wondering if any of ye have come across this.

I've two PCs:- one's XP & the other W2k.

One has a modem attached to one of its comm ports, the other PC has a label printer attached to it.

Problem on both PCs:-
When the PCs are rebooted for whatever reason, you can not use either of the attached devices on either PC.

It's more or less telling you the comm port is already in use, even though it's not.

The PC with the modem is critical as it needs to source data from various sources each night. If for some reason the PC gets rebooted, the modem is unable to make calls.

The only way to get around this at present is to uninstall the comm port in device mgr & then scan for devices again & reinstall it. Then the comm port is free & everything works again.

Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
BB

ressem · 24-04-2007, 22:12

Since there's nothing wrong with the serial port settings, then I guess that there is something that is trying to use the serial port at startup, even if there's no other device connected.
Was there UPS , palm pilot, mobile phone connectivity software by any chance?

Easiest way to check I guess, would be if you are allowed to do some debugging on the XP machine.

Start> Run > MSConfig

Choose Selective Startup from the General Tab,
Deselect "Load Startup Items", and see whether the serial port is available on startup.

If your modem works at startup, then you can selectively enable startup items until you find the problem program.

You can copy the msconfig.exe to the windows 2000 machine to repeat the procedure. It isn't there by default.

niallb · 24-04-2007, 23:16

I had this problem a long time back with a win2k machine and a serial port clock in/out system.

Turned out windows was running a mouse driver on it just in case you plugged in a serial mouse.
When it started, it didn't recognise the bodet clock system, and silently installed the driver it thought most likely to work - the serial mouse driver.

Check your drivers, and if you still have one, plug in a serial mouse.
If it works, that's your problem! There's a fix possible for win2k anyway.

It might be simpler to buy two USB to serial port adapters though,
and use them for the modem and the label printer.
You never know when an update will break the fix you've put in place
even if you manage it.

The msconfig route is an excellent place to start.

24-04-2007, 10:50	#1
BoozyBabe Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,667 Adverts \| Friends	Comm Ports problem Wondering if any of ye have come across this. I've two PCs:- one's XP & the other W2k. One has a modem attached to one of its comm ports, the other PC has a label printer attached to it. Problem on both PCs:- When the PCs are rebooted for whatever reason, you can not use either of the attached devices on either PC. It's more or less telling you the comm port is already in use, even though it's not. The PC with the modem is critical as it needs to source data from various sources each night. If for some reason the PC gets rebooted, the modem is unable to make calls. The only way to get around this at present is to uninstall the comm port in device mgr & then scan for devices again & reinstall it. Then the comm port is free & everything works again. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks, BB

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24-04-2007, 22:12	#2
ressem Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,619 Adverts \| Friends	Since there's nothing wrong with the serial port settings, then I guess that there is something that is trying to use the serial port at startup, even if there's no other device connected. Was there UPS , palm pilot, mobile phone connectivity software by any chance? Easiest way to check I guess, would be if you are allowed to do some debugging on the XP machine. Start> Run > MSConfig Choose Selective Startup from the General Tab, Deselect "Load Startup Items", and see whether the serial port is available on startup. If your modem works at startup, then you can selectively enable startup items until you find the problem program. You can copy the msconfig.exe to the windows 2000 machine to repeat the procedure. It isn't there by default.

24-04-2007, 23:16	#3
niallb Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Darkest Dunsany Posts: 1,537 Adverts \| Friends	I had this problem a long time back with a win2k machine and a serial port clock in/out system. Turned out windows was running a mouse driver on it just in case you plugged in a serial mouse. When it started, it didn't recognise the bodet clock system, and silently installed the driver it thought most likely to work - the serial mouse driver. Check your drivers, and if you still have one, plug in a serial mouse. If it works, that's your problem! There's a fix possible for win2k anyway. It might be simpler to buy two USB to serial port adapters though, and use them for the modem and the label printer. You never know when an update will break the fix you've put in place even if you manage it. The msconfig route is an excellent place to start.