XP SP2 missing com ports

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gman
  • Start date Start date
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Gman

This seems to be a common problem that has been posted on various boards.

In device manager, all of my com ports except for com1 have disappeared.
This prevents me from using the built in modem on my notebook. When I
attempt to activate the modem, windows displays a message that the port
cannot be opened evn though the port does not show as active. Microsoft has
a tool called COMDisable which is supposed to display the avaialable com
ports and lets you activate or deactivate the ports without having to
manually editing the registry. This tool is supposed to run on XP, but it
does not run on my system and from reading numerous posts others have the
same issue. The tool will start and then immediately shut down.

A search of MS knowlege base does not turn up any solutions to the missing
com port issue other than to run COMDisable and there is no solution posted
as to why it will not run on certain machines.

If anyone has answers they will be greatly appreciated.
 
On Dec 19, 12:25 pm, "Gman" <unt78756-n...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> This seems to be a common problem that has been posted on various boards.
>
> In device manager, all of my com ports except for com1 have disappeared.
> This prevents me from using the built in modem on my notebook. When I
> attempt to activate the modem, windows displays a message that the port
> cannot be opened evn though the port does not show as active. Microsoft has
> a tool called COMDisable which is supposed to display the avaialable com
> ports and lets you activate or deactivate the ports without having to
> manually editing the registry. This tool is supposed to run on XP, but it
> does not run on my system and from reading numerous posts others have the
> same issue. The tool will start and then immediately shut down.
>
> A search of MS knowlege base does not turn up any solutions to the missing
> com port issue other than to run COMDisable and there is no solution posted
> as to why it will not run on certain machines.
>
> If anyone has answers they will be greatly appreciated.

The COM port setting for most internal (built-in) do not get listed
under the Ports section. These built-in internal modems are listed
under the Modems section. You may have to re-install the correct
drivers.
 
The port that the modem used to use was previously listed in device manager
in the Ports section. When the listing disappeared the modem stopped
working.

I have reinstalled the modem driver several times to no avail.

When I try to activate or query the modem Windows reports that the port
cannot be opened. My understanding of how XP handles port assignments is
that even after a device is removed/uninstalled the original port assignment
is kept track of by XP and XP will then assign the next available port when
a new device is added.

The previously mentioned COMDisable tool is supposed to allow seeing the
active ports and deactivate them, or to activate an unassigned port. This
would probably solve my problem except that the tool will not run. It
starts then immediately shuts down. This behavious seems to be common and I
haven't been able to find an answer as to why.

My alternative is to find the section in the registry that the tool eidts
and do some manual editing -- the problem is I have no idea where to start
looking in the registry.

"smlunatick" <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:dadcb4b7-43d5-49f0-84f8-22d1c674579a@i72g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 19, 12:25 pm, "Gman" <unt78756-n...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> This seems to be a common problem that has been posted on various boards.
>>
>> In device manager, all of my com ports except for com1 have disappeared.
>> This prevents me from using the built in modem on my notebook. When I
>> attempt to activate the modem, windows displays a message that the port
>> cannot be opened evn though the port does not show as active. Microsoft
>> has
>> a tool called COMDisable which is supposed to display the avaialable com
>> ports and lets you activate or deactivate the ports without having to
>> manually editing the registry. This tool is supposed to run on XP, but
>> it
>> does not run on my system and from reading numerous posts others have the
>> same issue. The tool will start and then immediately shut down.
>>
>> A search of MS knowlege base does not turn up any solutions to the
>> missing
>> com port issue other than to run COMDisable and there is no solution
>> posted
>> as to why it will not run on certain machines.
>>
>> If anyone has answers they will be greatly appreciated.
>
> The COM port setting for most internal (built-in) do not get listed
> under the Ports section. These built-in internal modems are listed
> under the Modems section. You may have to re-install the correct
> drivers.
>
 
XP doesn't show Phantom/Unpowered-Connected Plug-&-Play devices
even with "Show Hidden Files" enabled. To view 100% of the devices in
Device Manager you have to add a System Environment Variable:
DevMgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices
and set it's value = 1. Once applied, you can see all your non-active ports.


"Gman" <unt78756-news@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:VGfaj.33695$Pv2.13544@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net...
> The port that the modem used to use was previously listed in device
> manager in the Ports section. When the listing disappeared the modem
> stopped working.
>
> I have reinstalled the modem driver several times to no avail.
>
> When I try to activate or query the modem Windows reports that the port
> cannot be opened. My understanding of how XP handles port assignments is
> that even after a device is removed/uninstalled the original port
> assignment is kept track of by XP and XP will then assign the next
> available port when a new device is added.
>
> The previously mentioned COMDisable tool is supposed to allow seeing the
> active ports and deactivate them, or to activate an unassigned port. This
> would probably solve my problem except that the tool will not run. It
> starts then immediately shuts down. This behavious seems to be common and
> I haven't been able to find an answer as to why.
>
> My alternative is to find the section in the registry that the tool eidts
> and do some manual editing -- the problem is I have no idea where to start
> looking in the registry.
>
> "smlunatick" <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:dadcb4b7-43d5-49f0-84f8-22d1c674579a@i72g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
>> On Dec 19, 12:25 pm, "Gman" <unt78756-n...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> This seems to be a common problem that has been posted on various
>>> boards.
>>>
>>> In device manager, all of my com ports except for com1 have disappeared.
>>> This prevents me from using the built in modem on my notebook. When I
>>> attempt to activate the modem, windows displays a message that the port
>>> cannot be opened evn though the port does not show as active. Microsoft
>>> has
>>> a tool called COMDisable which is supposed to display the avaialable com
>>> ports and lets you activate or deactivate the ports without having to
>>> manually editing the registry. This tool is supposed to run on XP, but
>>> it
>>> does not run on my system and from reading numerous posts others have
>>> the
>>> same issue. The tool will start and then immediately shut down.
>>>
>>> A search of MS knowlege base does not turn up any solutions to the
>>> missing
>>> com port issue other than to run COMDisable and there is no solution
>>> posted
>>> as to why it will not run on certain machines.
>>>
>>> If anyone has answers they will be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> The COM port setting for most internal (built-in) do not get listed
>> under the Ports section. These built-in internal modems are listed
>> under the Modems section. You may have to re-install the correct
>> drivers.
>>
>
>
 
Thank you for the tip.
I assume this is inserted in the registry? If so, can you tell me where it
should go? If not in the registry, how do I apply the variable?

Thanks

"R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSpam_@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:ulSs5QoQIHA.536@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> XP doesn't show Phantom/Unpowered-Connected Plug-&-Play devices
> even with "Show Hidden Files" enabled. To view 100% of the devices in
> Device Manager you have to add a System Environment Variable:
> DevMgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices
> and set it's value = 1. Once applied, you can see all your non-active
> ports.
>
>
> "Gman" <unt78756-news@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:VGfaj.33695$Pv2.13544@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net...
>> The port that the modem used to use was previously listed in device
>> manager in the Ports section. When the listing disappeared the modem
>> stopped working.
>>
>> I have reinstalled the modem driver several times to no avail.
>>
>> When I try to activate or query the modem Windows reports that the port
>> cannot be opened. My understanding of how XP handles port assignments is
>> that even after a device is removed/uninstalled the original port
>> assignment is kept track of by XP and XP will then assign the next
>> available port when a new device is added.
>>
>> The previously mentioned COMDisable tool is supposed to allow seeing the
>> active ports and deactivate them, or to activate an unassigned port.
>> This would probably solve my problem except that the tool will not run.
>> It starts then immediately shuts down. This behavious seems to be common
>> and I haven't been able to find an answer as to why.
>>
>> My alternative is to find the section in the registry that the tool eidts
>> and do some manual editing -- the problem is I have no idea where to
>> start looking in the registry.
>>
>> "smlunatick" <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:dadcb4b7-43d5-49f0-84f8-22d1c674579a@i72g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
>>> On Dec 19, 12:25 pm, "Gman" <unt78756-n...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>> This seems to be a common problem that has been posted on various
>>>> boards.
>>>>
>>>> In device manager, all of my com ports except for com1 have
>>>> disappeared.
>>>> This prevents me from using the built in modem on my notebook. When I
>>>> attempt to activate the modem, windows displays a message that the port
>>>> cannot be opened evn though the port does not show as active.
>>>> Microsoft has
>>>> a tool called COMDisable which is supposed to display the avaialable
>>>> com
>>>> ports and lets you activate or deactivate the ports without having to
>>>> manually editing the registry. This tool is supposed to run on XP, but
>>>> it
>>>> does not run on my system and from reading numerous posts others have
>>>> the
>>>> same issue. The tool will start and then immediately shut down.
>>>>
>>>> A search of MS knowlege base does not turn up any solutions to the
>>>> missing
>>>> com port issue other than to run COMDisable and there is no solution
>>>> posted
>>>> as to why it will not run on certain machines.
>>>>
>>>> If anyone has answers they will be greatly appreciated.
>>>
>>> The COM port setting for most internal (built-in) do not get listed
>>> under the Ports section. These built-in internal modems are listed
>>> under the Modems section. You may have to re-install the correct
>>> drivers.
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
 
System Properties, Advanced (TAB), Environment Variables, System
[ Bottom Section ], New

"Gman" <unt78756-news@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:vilaj.25199$4V6.7608@newssvr14.news.prodigy.net...
> Thank you for the tip.
> I assume this is inserted in the registry? If so, can you tell me where
> it should go? If not in the registry, how do I apply the variable?
>
> Thanks
>
> "R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSpam_@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:ulSs5QoQIHA.536@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> XP doesn't show Phantom/Unpowered-Connected Plug-&-Play devices
>> even with "Show Hidden Files" enabled. To view 100% of the devices in
>> Device Manager you have to add a System Environment Variable:
>> DevMgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices
>> and set it's value = 1. Once applied, you can see all your non-active
>> ports.
>>
>>
>> "Gman" <unt78756-news@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:VGfaj.33695$Pv2.13544@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net...
>>> The port that the modem used to use was previously listed in device
>>> manager in the Ports section. When the listing disappeared the modem
>>> stopped working.
>>>
>>> I have reinstalled the modem driver several times to no avail.
>>>
>>> When I try to activate or query the modem Windows reports that the port
>>> cannot be opened. My understanding of how XP handles port assignments
>>> is that even after a device is removed/uninstalled the original port
>>> assignment is kept track of by XP and XP will then assign the next
>>> available port when a new device is added.
>>>
>>> The previously mentioned COMDisable tool is supposed to allow seeing the
>>> active ports and deactivate them, or to activate an unassigned port.
>>> This would probably solve my problem except that the tool will not run.
>>> It starts then immediately shuts down. This behavious seems to be
>>> common and I haven't been able to find an answer as to why.
>>>
>>> My alternative is to find the section in the registry that the tool
>>> eidts and do some manual editing -- the problem is I have no idea where
>>> to start looking in the registry.
>>>
>>> "smlunatick" <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:dadcb4b7-43d5-49f0-84f8-22d1c674579a@i72g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
>>>> On Dec 19, 12:25 pm, "Gman" <unt78756-n...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>> This seems to be a common problem that has been posted on various
>>>>> boards.
>>>>>
>>>>> In device manager, all of my com ports except for com1 have
>>>>> disappeared.
>>>>> This prevents me from using the built in modem on my notebook. When I
>>>>> attempt to activate the modem, windows displays a message that the
>>>>> port
>>>>> cannot be opened evn though the port does not show as active.
>>>>> Microsoft has
>>>>> a tool called COMDisable which is supposed to display the avaialable
>>>>> com
>>>>> ports and lets you activate or deactivate the ports without having to
>>>>> manually editing the registry. This tool is supposed to run on XP,
>>>>> but it
>>>>> does not run on my system and from reading numerous posts others have
>>>>> the
>>>>> same issue. The tool will start and then immediately shut down.
>>>>>
>>>>> A search of MS knowlege base does not turn up any solutions to the
>>>>> missing
>>>>> com port issue other than to run COMDisable and there is no solution
>>>>> posted
>>>>> as to why it will not run on certain machines.
>>>>>
>>>>> If anyone has answers they will be greatly appreciated.
>>>>
>>>> The COM port setting for most internal (built-in) do not get listed
>>>> under the Ports section. These built-in internal modems are listed
>>>> under the Modems section. You may have to re-install the correct
>>>> drivers.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
 
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