COM1 COM2 or COM3

I have Windows XP on my computer. How can I tell whether I have COM1, COM2 or COM3 on my computer? Thank you very much. abm

 

Check for Serial port connectors. They have 9 pins. If you have one Serial port, it will be set to use COM1. If you have 2, they will be COM1 and COM2. If you don't have Serial ports, they will be "virtual ", when you set up drivers and software for a device that uses a communications port (COM), Windows should set a COM port for it.

Physical (Serial) ports will be listed Device Manager under Ports (COM & LPT).

I am just thinking back to my days working on Winmodems (PCI dial-up modems), they required a virtual COM port, like COM3 or COM4. After installation they might take a physical port, then you needed to reboot for Windows to set it on a virtual COM port.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Com_port

Matt

 

Hi ABM, if you have anything connected to your computer i.e. a Printer, go Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > Right click on Icon with tick in box > Properties and the page should show along the top- Port, click on that and you will see a list of ports and the one that your printer/s are connected to. The connectors may be Serial as Matt said but they can also be USB. Hope this helps a little or am I on the wrong course. Neil.