More COM Port issues with new Lap Top

LarrySC · #1 (**permalink**) 05-28-2006, 05:41 PM

I know this had been covered before, BUT. On my new laptop I installed R/S 26-183 cable and Butel software. Shows COM4. Everything worked OK. Got several 780 and 796 PGM's saved. THEN I installed 20-047 for PRO series. Cant get it to fly. All of the standard error msg's. My COM1 is to router and I dont have a clue which is the mouse. Even with it unpluged I cant get 2,3, or 4 to work. Once it did time out looking for the header. Checked device manager. Worked myself into a circle. Seems both drivers installed. While I was trying to keep up with scanners I got left in the computer dust. My desktop PC has never had any issues. HELP.

VintageJon · #2 (**permalink**) 05-28-2006, 07:11 PM

Just a thought- compare lap-top and Desk-top COM settings...

(You probably did already...)

73's
Jon

fmon · #3 (**permalink**) 05-28-2006, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarrySC

Checked device manager.

Did you open device manager with both cables plugged in?

VintageJon · #4 (**permalink**) 05-28-2006, 10:24 PM

Excellent Frank!
Most modern WIndows does an auto-install for "new hardware..."

(This assumes our friend Larry is running Windows 2000 or the like...)

73's
Jon

MacombMonitor · #5 (**permalink**) 05-28-2006, 11:40 PM

Windows usually will not automatically recognize USB devices until the appropriate driver for that USB device has been installed. In addition, connecting the USB hardware, prior to installing the correct software driver, will cause Windows to attempt to recognize the USB device, and more often than not, incorrectly.

Try disconnecting all these USB-to-Serial adapters. Then un-install any, and all of the drivers/software related to them. Then re-boot your computer. Now install the software drivers that came with the new 20-047 USB adapter. Then re-boot the computer again, and attach the 20-047 adapter. Hopefully this will allow Windows to sort out all the confusion, and properly recognize the new adapter.

LarrySC · #6 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:12 AM

Thanks for all the answers. I wonder if the two USB to serial drivers are the same. I'm running XP but after running 98SE for 10 years I have to learn all over again. I'll dump it all and start over. Thanks, Larry

RISC777 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 09:20 AM

Just a side thought, most of the USB device drivers regardless of type with XP need to be loaded prior to connecting the device / hardware. As Macomb said, it's not a bad idea to remove it all and re-install. I don't know how many times I've heard it said and said it myself, "Have you re-installed the software yet?"