Serial Interface Device

If I connect a device to my serial port should windows XP find the device and install it? Should it show up in device manager? And finally, if I can't see the device how can I tell what com port it is using? I purchased a serial interface to use with my Active Home System that controls my home electrial devices, but I can't communicate with the interface. The software may be the problem, but I need to know what com port the interface is using, but I can't find it in device manager. Can anyone help?

 

Generally, your choices are Com1,2,3 or 4

Isn't it ?

COMM 1 or COMM 2 using IRQ 1,2,3,4

At least that is what just showed in the BIOS of a machine I just checked.

bmartin

I would bet 10 to 1 that the problem is an IRQ conflict.

By some chance have the COMM ( serial ) ports been disabled in the BIOS ?

BillyBob

 

BillyBob, my device manager shows Com2 & Com3 ready with not conflicts. Com4 is being used for by my modem. Don't see Com1 anywhere. Is the reason I am seeing 2 & 3 telling me that they are not being used by any device but are available? My problem is that I can't find the interface device plugged into the serial port. I will check the BIOS next started to see that the serial port is on, but I have no reason to believe it's off. In fact, I have never used it until now.

 

I have not run across an machine that had a COMM3 or 4.

Device Manager on this machine with XP only shows COMM 1 using IRQ 4.

On the other machine with 98SE it shows COMM1 using IRQ4 and COMM2 using IRQ3.

I also checked the BIOS on each machine and the COMM Ports are set to AUTO.

BillyBob

 

This is all good information, but let me go back to my original questions: If I connect a device to my serial port should windows XP find the device and install it? Should it show up in device manager?

 

Hi bmartin,

Possibly this, from 'help' applies:

Suggest you open explorer and see if the connection appears in the left pane.
Also,

 

You haven't said, but drivers have been supplied for the interface and you have installed them.

After that you could run the Add New Hardware wizard. If it does not automatically detect the interface, you could try installing it from the "list ".

Motherboards used to have 2 physical COM ports, a lot only have one now, so 2, 3 and 4 on this type would be "virtual" COM ports set up by Windows for (as you see) the modem. If the motherboard has only one physical serial connector and COM 1 is missing (which should be the one for this) then it looks like Windows has not detected it. You may be able to install it through the Add New Hardware Wizard, but the first thing I would try is getting the latest motherboard/chipset drivers and installing those. It may well show up then.

Matt

 

Hi Matt

Your reply makes sense to me. At least it is something to think about.

In Device Manager I only have COMM 1 and an ECP Printer Port (LPT1 )

I agree. COMM 3 & 4 are Virtual.

BillyBob

 

Hi BB, sometimes the things floating around in my head make sense. It's explaining them without causing total confusion that's the problem . Have to keep up with my explaining lessons.

Matt

 

I didn't explain myself well there either

Virtual COM ports: I've picked up bits and pieces from installing internal modems. I can't remember if was from installation information or from the internet. I think my interpretation should be pretty close.

You can see it when you install an internal modem. After installing the drivers and rebooting, the extra COM ports appear and the modem has been switched over to one of them. Edit: That is for a first time installation. On subsequent installations (say you change internal modems), you are able to select which port to install it to. When Windows reads the resource information for the card it may automatically change ports, so even if you have selected COM 4, it may possibly be reinstalled to COM 3, for example (maybe to avoid resource allocation problems or the card is set to be allocated to that COM port, which you had to do with non plug and play cards).

Matt