Com 2 not usable

I have an IBM Aptiva E5D with Win 98. Somehow
my Com 2 has been taken over by some program
that won't release it, or share it. Two other
programs that use Com 2 will not work because
they say Com 2 is not available. I have no idea
of how to get Com 2 working again or finding
the program that is stealing it. How can I
find what program is hogging Com 2 and end it.

Thanks, Jerry

 

Jerry try this, download and install AIDA32 from here . Download the Enterprise edition, self install exe file. Run AIDA32 then look in the Devices>Windows Devices section for the address of your COM2 (Should be 02F8-02FF). Then look in the Devices>Device Resourses section for the com port address and see what is listed next to it under the "Device Description" column.

 

John I did not do the download yet, but I did
find another program that uses com 2 and it is
working. I uninstalled the program and tired
com 2 again on the 2 programs that are not able
to communicate using com 2 and they still don't
work. Com 2 does work on the program I deleted.
Is it possible that I may have a physical
problem in my computer such as one or more pins of the serial port have somehow become disconnected and these pins are needed by the
programs not able to communicate??? How does
the enterprize download help me find the
problem.

Thanks, Jerry

 

AIDA will not help you find the problem it analyzes your computer and gives you info on what all is on it. In your particular problem it "may" identify what is using COM2. If nothing is shown as using it you will have to dig deeper to find out what the problem is. Have you checked in the BIOS to see if COM2 is enabled? Your thought about bent or loose pins is also worth looking at.