Serial port connection needs to be configure to com 1 or 2

Kipperhell

I have a device that uses some old software that insists on using com port 1 or 2. The device uses a serial port to connect so I have to use a USB serial port connecting wire. The problem is the USB drivers gives the com port to be other than 1 or 2. This means the software can't communicate with the device. Is there a way to either emulate or actually make the usb cable be com 1/2?

I am trying vista but also have access to an XP machine too.

Brando_ie

I had to do something similar with a USB -> Serial port thing for XP and it involved going into the device manager (Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device manager ) selecting the USB device from the Ports (COM & LPT) and clicking the 'advanced' button in the PORTS tab. There is an option to manually select the port assigned to the USB thing there. I found in my case that the legacy software had already opened the port (my case was port 3) so it was marked as 'in use' but when I tried on a restart without the program running it was an available port. Not sure if ports 1 or 2 for your case might be a little harder to swap over if they are assigned to the standard hardware ports but it might work?

Kipperhell

Thanks Brando that worked on the XP machine couldn't figure it out on vista

cpu-dude

Kipperhell wrote: »

Thanks Brando that worked on the XP machine couldn't figure it out on vista

I've tried 5 different USB to Serial converters on Vista and they have never worked for me.

Brando_ie

I rarely use vista but recall being able to open the vista device manager by typing devmgmt.msc into the search thing once you click the vista start button. From there it should be roughly the same process as for XP?

Mr. Presentable

cpu-dude wrote: »

I've tried 5 different USB to Serial converters on Vista and they have never worked for me.

Out of curiosity, would a PCI serial board work with Vista?

cpu-dude

nipplenuts wrote: »

Out of curiosity, would a PCI serial board work with Vista?

I don't see why not, it's just those USB-Serial converters that have problems.

Kipperhell

cpu-dude wrote: »

I don't see why not, it's just those USB-Serial converters that have problems.

I got it to work with Vista too. Just needed the device on and followed the same path as mentioned above. My doorbell now can be connected to my computer to upload wav files.

Gadgetman496

START Orbe
Right Click "COMPUTER"
Choose "MANAGE"
In the resulting window, click on "DEVICE MANAGER"
In the right hand pane, click on the little plus sign beside "PORTS" in the right hand pane.
Right click on the USB Adapter (Should be something like "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm. Port (COM#)
Choose "Properties"
Click on "PORT SETTINGS" TAB
Click on "ADVANCED"
Then you will see the COM Port Number Box. You should be able to change it there using the drop down box.
Try to set it to COM2
Restart Windows

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