COM 1 Unavailable

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XP Pro - When I attempt to syncronize my hand held Palm with Palm program on
my PC I get - "COM 1 Unavailable"...?
Each time I start up the PC I get the same message....
I have checked, no viruses, or adware issues...
I downloaded (from Microsoft) - Autorun & Portmon utilities...
Hopeing they would identify and fix the problem...no such luck.
The utilities assume you what to look for.....I know just enough about PC's
to get into trouble...Can someone please help..thank you
 
41db14 said:
XP Pro - When I attempt to syncronize my hand held Palm with Palm program on
my PC I get - "COM 1 Unavailable"...?
Each time I start up the PC I get the same message....
I have checked, no viruses, or adware issues...
I downloaded (from Microsoft) - Autorun & Portmon utilities...
Hopeing they would identify and fix the problem...no such luck.
The utilities assume you what to look for.....I know just enough about PC's
to get into trouble...Can someone please help..thank you
Click to expand...

Look at the manual for the computer and see if there is a Serial Port
connector. If it exists, then physically locate it on the computer itself.
Most of the time, this serial port is known as SerialPort1 or COM1. But
not all computers may have such a serial port, with USB becoming more
popular and common.

If there is SerialPort1 or COM1, make sure that it is active. This is
done by checking the bios setup. SerialPort1 or COM1 should be enabled.

One piece of equipment that might interfere with COM1 is a modem that is
also configured for COM1. Snce the Palm wants COM1, then the modem will
need to be configured and set up for COM2.

Complicated? Sure. If not sure on what to do, find a professional.
 
How do you have your cable or cradle hooked to your system? If you don't
have it physically hooked to the serial port but you have it plugged into
your USB port on your system, you should NOT have the check mark next to
either Modem or Local Serial in the HotSync setup. Left click on the
HotSync Icon on the system tray (when the Palm program is running) and
remove checkmarks on these two items.

If you are plugged into the Serial port, you need to change the com port
setting in Palm Program, HotSync, Setup, Local Serial, Com port setting.

Let us know if this solves your issue.
 
Com1 and Com3 share the same irq... if you have a modem or other device
on com3 and software is (or has) accessed it, com1 will be "unavailable"

Also, any other software (check systray) which "may" use com1 or com3
such as cellphone utilities will keep com1 and com3 unavailable to other
applications.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
 
Palm Cradle is pluged directly into the back if the PC's Serial port.
Local & modem are checked, Local USB & Network are unchecked.
Setup both local and modem are defaulted to COM1. dropdown..but I can't
change it. Modem tab shows Us Robotics witha setup string....
Not sure how you redirect the modem to look at COM2 if I recall in device
manager I saw COM2 but it had a ( ! )
If I attempt to check or uncheck I get a Hotsync message that COM1 is
unavailable Not sync manager will open the port when it become available...
 
41db14 said:
Palm Cradle is pluged directly into the back if the PC's Serial port.
Local & modem are checked, Local USB & Network are unchecked.
Setup both local and modem are defaulted to COM1. dropdown..but I can't
change it. Modem tab shows Us Robotics witha setup string....
Not sure how you redirect the modem to look at COM2 if I recall in device
manager I saw COM2 but it had a ( ! )
If I attempt to check or uncheck I get a Hotsync message that COM1 is
unavailable Not sync manager will open the port when it become available...
Click to expand...

Getting this sorted is going to take a little bit of work. Remember
what Ghostrider had written earlier. That information is going to be
needed.

First, remove the US Robotics modem and all of its associated software.
After rebooting the computer but before Windows start, go into bios
setup and re-enable COM1 for SerialPort1. This is where the Palm Cradle
plugs into the computer. Start Windows and install the Palm Cradle and
all of its associated software per instructions. It should be hooked up
to COM1. Re-boot the computer and re-start Windows to make sure that
the installation has taken. (The reason for removing the modem is to
give priority to allow SerialPort1 to activate under give the Palm
access to it under COM1).

Turn off computer. Re-install the US Robotics modem card and re-start
the computer. The modem will be detected by Windows as new hardware.
Follow the instructions for installing this new hardware and when asked
for the port to connect it, select COM2 (although it might choose it or
COM3 automatically). (The Palm might need to connected and on to keep
COM1 bookec). The installation and/or modem setup should take care of
the rest. If COM2 is rejected, then make sure that the alternate choice
is COM3. The modem will be happy being on either COM2 or COM3. (COM1 and
COM4 share the IRQ4 while COM2 and COM3 share IRQ3.)

This should work unless there are some quirks about the particular make
of motherboard.
 
Thanks to you all..for your help
I stand corrected...the COM Port with the (!) was COM4. I also noticed the
dropdown (palm setup) that defaults to COM1 was only when I was connected to
the internet. When I'm not connected the dropdown shows COM1 & COM3.
Palm setup - changed local & modem from COM1 to COM3.....was not able to
dialup...!
In anycase it looks like I need to do the remove modem card routine....Up
until recently the palm syncro worked fine I have not added any new
hardware..seems it just lost its connection??...could it have been some new
software or MS update...?
 
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