XP Pro com port reallocating?

  • Thread starter Thread starter intruder1
  • Start date Start date
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intruder1

Hi everyone,

My laptop only has 1 com port listed ( COM 3 ) which is tied to the
onboard modem. However I'm running an app that needs to use this port,
and whilst the modem is tied to it it can't.

IN true bodging fashion, I was able to get the modem to "let go" of COM
3 which let the app pick it up and it was running happily, but then in
my infinite wisdom realised I needed to send a fax. Now I'm totally
lost on how to remove the modem from COM 3 to let the app pick this up
again!

I've tried many ways that I thought I did it last time, but no luck so
far!!!

Can anyone put me out of my misery? How do I move the modem from COM 3
to allow this app to use it?

Many thanks in advance.
 
You might be able to change the COM port used by the internal modem in the
BIOS. Change it to 2 or 4 if so, not COM 1 as that uses the same default
interrupt as COM 3. It would be better if you gave more detail about the
problem. Is this an app that uses an external serial port? Are you sure
it's locked to COM 3? That's unusual these days.
 
GTS said:
You might be able to change the COM port used by the internal modem in the
BIOS. Change it to 2 or 4 if so, not COM 1 as that uses the same default
interrupt as COM 3.
Click to expand...

Hi there,

My laptop ( Fujitsu Siemens Amilo D P1200 UK ) only lists one LPT port
in Device Manager, and again in the BIOS. No mention of COM ports
there, should there be?

In Device Manager, as I say, it shows under COM & LPT Ports only 1 LPT
Port. Under Modems, it shows the modem as Lucent Win Modem originally
on COM 3, now on COM 1 after I'd amended it manually. However the app
that I'm running is looking for COM 3, and is configured for COM 3, but
when the machine boots it comes up with FATAL ERROR - CAN'T OPEN COM
PORT, which I'd think suggests a conflict.

As I said in my OP, I did in fact have this working OK until I had to
reinstate my modem to fax, and I'll be danged if I can remember what
I'd done originally to take the modem off COM 3 to let the app see it.


It would be better if you gave more detail about the
problem. Is this an app that uses an external serial port? Are you sure
it's locked to COM 3? That's unusual these days.
Click to expand...

The app I'm using is one that looks to any COM port that's free, as
long as the corresponding .ini file matches that. Again, it was working
beautifully before I had to reinstall the fax which seems to have
grabbed COM 3 again. In saying that, Control Panel shows MODEM as
looking to COM 1as does Modems under Dev Mgr.

Hmm. More frustrating is the fact that I did have it working! Darn
these fingers, why must they always interfere!!

I had hoped to do a quick system restore to bring it back to before I
installed the fax software, but of course Sys Res is turned off.....!!
 
If you do not have a real serial port on the computer there would be no COM
ports shown in the BIOS. Win Modems create their own virtual COM port. I
wish you would have clarified what this application does. If it's something
for serial communications and you don't have a real serial port, I'm not
surprised it's a problem. That being said, here's something you might try.
Open "Phone and Modem Options" in Control Panel. Modems Tab / Modem
Properties / Advance Tab / Advance Port Settings Button / You will see a
drop down there that can change the COM port for the Lucent. Change it to
either COM 2 or COM 4 and then see what happens.
--
 
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