weird problem with COm port...

chili · 12-20-2007, 04:20 PM

I have one com port and it stopped working. I found a work-around, but it is a pain in the ass. Basically, I have to go into the hardware manager, disable the port, then enable it; then it works. I have to do this every time I re-boot.

Any ideas on how to fix this problem?

I have Pentium 4 with XP pro.

PapaZ · 12-20-2007, 04:57 PM

Sounds like your BIOS is set up to have Windows manage you IRQ assignments. Go into your BIOS setup and see if that's the case. You may have to turn that off and let the mobo run the show, making sure you enable your com ports.

chili · 12-21-2007, 03:35 PM

I will try that today. It is something that just started happening - I had not installed new software or hardware or anything. I am decent at troubleshooting and know a bit about computers, but this one has me baffled.

thanks for your suggestion.

chili · 12-27-2007, 03:13 PM

That didn't do anything. I tried several tweaks, but the same problem still exists.

PapaZ · 12-27-2007, 04:02 PM

If you have the driver backed up, like it's probably on the restore disk or you copy of XP, then go into Device Manager, uninstall the device, then reboot the machine. When Windows comes back on it should find the device and want to install a driver for it. Windows may find the driver in it's cashe or ask for it on disk. Hopefully, when it's re-installed the port will stay. If not them you may have an issue with the mobo. Also, if it's an older mobo, and you haven't done this already, you might have to change the battery.

chili · 12-28-2007, 03:39 PM

Thanks, Papfat.
I already tried uninstalling the port and re-booting. The first reboot, there was nothing, then on a second reboot it re-installed the driver. I still had the issue, though.
I might try the battery thing, but I have never replaced one before. I build my own PCs, so I can't imagine it's that hard.

thanks for your help. I will report back if I get it fixed.

morph000 · 01-03-2008, 07:01 AM

It could be a flaky hardware issue. Why not just disable it permanently and stick in a cheap 4 port com card or similar ? $20 is cheaper than hours of stuffing around..

PapaZ · 01-03-2008, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morph000

It could be a flaky hardware issue. Why not just disable it permanently and stick in a cheap 4 port com card or similar ? $20 is cheaper than hours of stuffing around..

I thought of recommending that, too, but I've had problems doing something similar. I wanted more USB ports so I bought a card with four more ports but could not get it to work. When I pulled it out I found out the my original USB ports were no longer working.

So just beware that bad more bad things can happen.

12-20-2007, 04:20 PM	#1
chili Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 74 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	weird problem with COm port... I have one com port and it stopped working. I found a work-around, but it is a pain in the ass. Basically, I have to go into the hardware manager, disable the port, then enable it; then it works. I have to do this every time I re-boot. Any ideas on how to fix this problem? I have Pentium 4 with XP pro.

12-20-2007, 04:57 PM	#2
PapaZ New and Improved Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 15,573 Thanks: 251 Thanked 52 Times in 20 Posts	Sounds like your BIOS is set up to have Windows manage you IRQ assignments. Go into your BIOS setup and see if that's the case. You may have to turn that off and let the mobo run the show, making sure you enable your com ports. __________________ If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.

12-27-2007, 04:02 PM	#5
PapaZ New and Improved Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 15,573 Thanks: 251 Thanked 52 Times in 20 Posts	If you have the driver backed up, like it's probably on the restore disk or you copy of XP, then go into Device Manager, uninstall the device, then reboot the machine. When Windows comes back on it should find the device and want to install a driver for it. Windows may find the driver in it's cashe or ask for it on disk. Hopefully, when it's re-installed the port will stay. If not them you may have an issue with the mobo. Also, if it's an older mobo, and you haven't done this already, you might have to change the battery. __________________ If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.

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12-21-2007, 03:35 PM	#3
chili Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 74 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I will try that today. It is something that just started happening - I had not installed new software or hardware or anything. I am decent at troubleshooting and know a bit about computers, but this one has me baffled. thanks for your suggestion.

12-27-2007, 03:13 PM	#4
chili Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 74 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	That didn't do anything. I tried several tweaks, but the same problem still exists.

12-28-2007, 03:39 PM	#6
chili Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 74 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks, Papfat. I already tried uninstalling the port and re-booting. The first reboot, there was nothing, then on a second reboot it re-installed the driver. I still had the issue, though. I might try the battery thing, but I have never replaced one before. I build my own PCs, so I can't imagine it's that hard. thanks for your help. I will report back if I get it fixed.

01-03-2008, 07:01 AM	#7
morph000 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,207 Thanks: 1 Thanked 23 Times in 19 Posts	It could be a flaky hardware issue. Why not just disable it permanently and stick in a cheap 4 port com card or similar ? $20 is cheaper than hours of stuffing around..