How to add a com Port ?

Emile · Feb 28, 2005, 01:54 AM

Hello,
I want to sync my Palm V with the Palm desktop program installed on my PC. There for I did acquire a "Palm Connect USB kit" this allows to connect the Palm crandle to a USB instead of a serial port.
BUT I need to create (add) a new Com Port to the ones I already have for my Bluetooth device.
I did search a lot with the XP help BUT I do not find : how to add a com port in the device manager

Any suggestions
Thanks in advance

Tipstaff · Feb 28, 2005, 02:02 AM

Try this:

Goto Control Panel, Add Hardware, let it search, then choose 'yes you have added deivce', and hit next. In the next window scroll through the list, and choose 'communitcations port'. The port number that shows will be the new one. It will only show the next available port number, so if you want a port 4 you would have to have ports 1-3 installed first. Hope that helps.

- Tip

IvanV · Feb 28, 2005, 03:59 AM

That's the logical thing to do, but it doesn,t always work. I've got a similar situation (only COM1 listed, trying to add COM2), and when I did that I got myself a COM14 (?!) for which there were no available resources.

PangingJr · Feb 28, 2005, 06:07 AM

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...palmtops.pilot

Palm Connect USB kit..
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...rch+this+group

Emile · Feb 28, 2005, 06:45 AM

Hello Tipstaff,
My add Hardware Wizard shows the ports that are alredy allocated to my Bluetooth device BUT not the NEXT available.

Emile · Mar 2, 2005, 03:16 AM

Hello,
I did create the "new" com3 port BUT now when i look at the Device Manager window there is a yellow "!" on it and in the properties of this Com3 there is : "This device cannot start (code 10)

What should I do to progress ?
Any recommendations?

I did try to upload a screen shot but the max size allowed is 1 Byte !! and my file is 272 Kb

Tipstaff · Mar 2, 2005, 04:28 AM

Most likely it's using the same IO address as another com port. Go into Device Manager, and click the properties of the new com port. Hit the Resources tab, uncheck the Use Auto Settings box, and change the 'Settings based on' configuration to something at or above 0004. The port will still use the same IRQ, but it will have a different IO address. If you want to change the IRQ you will need to do that in the bios. Any changes to Serial Port 1 will affect 1 and 3, and any change to serial 2 will affect 2 and 4.

- Tip

Emile · Mar 3, 2005, 02:41 AM

Hello,
Is this action safe? What are the risks?
If I take a restore point can I go back to previous configuration in case of? In case of what?

Sorry but I an a bit afraid of that kind of modification..

Thanks

Tipstaff · Mar 3, 2005, 03:12 AM

Back in the day modems and other serial devices all had to work with the same IRQs: 3 & 4. To extend that manufacturers started assigning IO (Input/Output) ports to destinguish between each device. That way you could have a modem, a mouse, serial printer (labellers), and others attached at the same time. Nowadays these ports are rarely used by newer devices, but your motherboard and Windows still supports them (if you checked your Resources by Connection in Device Manager you would notice that those ports are free). The only risk in changing the IO port is that it still won't work, or that it might interferre with on of the other serial deivces. If that happens then all you need to do is remove the comport listing, or change it back. Also of note is that Windows will tell you if it's being shared by something else.

As for the bios option I only mentioned it for changing the IRQ assigned to the port. If that IRQ is being used by another device then it would explain why it's not working for com3. Otherwise the defaults should be fine.

I should ask though, why do you need another com address for the bluetooth? Are you trying to use multiple devices on the one bluetooth receiver, and they are telling you that you need more com ports? Or, do you have other serial devices hooked up, and have run out of ports? Or is that com address being used by another device like a modem?

Also, how does your bluetooth receiver connect? USB or serial?

- Tip

Emile · Mar 3, 2005, 03:44 AM

Hello,
"I should ask though, why do you need another com address for the bluetooth? Are you trying to use multiple devices on the one bluetooth receiver, and they are telling you that you need more com ports? Or, do you have other serial devices hooked up, and have run out of ports? Or is that com address being used by another device like a modem?

Also, how does your bluetooth receiver connect? USB or serial?"

I have installed a Bluetooth SiteCom equipment , I use to sync between my PC and my Nokia 6310 Portable phone. After this installation I see in the Device Manager :
-Bluetooth Communication Port (COM4)
-Bluetooth Communication Port (COM5)
-Bluetooth Communication Port (COM6)
-Bluetooth Port client Driver
-Bluetooth Protocole Stack
-Bluetooth Serial Driver

as you "see" the bluetooth works via USB, I do NOT have a serial port on my PC . I do NOT need more Bluetooth connections. I need a COM port to connect the "Palm Connect USB kit" (http://www.palmone.com/us/support/ac...b/palmusb.html) as long as I do not have an available COM port I am stuck.
So I created a new Com Port via Device manager, now the result in the Device Manager is:
-! (yellow) Communications Port (COM3)
in the properties : it says This device cannot start (code10)

And there I am !

I have screen shoot But I cannot load them on this site.
Thanks for assisting me.

Tipstaff · Mar 3, 2005, 04:56 AM

Now I see.

Are you sure you need to have a com port for the USB kit? This is so that you can use the Palm Desktop/HotSync Manager, right? I have a similar kit, and other than installing the USB driver all I had to change was the HotSync Manager. By default it chooses Local Serial, but if you right-click on the HotSyn Manager icon in your taskbar (if it's started that is) you can choose Local USB. When I updated to the latest Palm Desktop it automatically chose Local USB as it was first on the list. Is it not allowing you to do the same? The only other option would be to uninstall the PalmConnect USB drivers, unplug the Palm USB cable, and reinstall the driver and Palm as you would normally. Also, I'm not sure if you've tried it, but I would also look at trying their latest Palm Desktop Software (last version was 4.1.4).

I'm not sure if you've trid this, but have you gone to Palms Support Forum HERE ? You can use their Email Support HERE , or the ever hidden, hard-as-nails to find Tech Support at:

For US Technical Support and Customer Care, please call (813) 313-4913 Mon-Fri: 6am to 8pm PST and Sat-Sun: 8am to 5pm PST.

For Technical Support in Canada, please call (866) 260-2178 Mon-Fri: 6am to 8pm PST and Sat-Sun: 8am to 5pm PST. Customer Care (non-technical) for Canada is available at: (877) 597-7256 Mon-Fri: 6am to 2pm PST.

Just be warned: If you use their phone service they will charge a $25.00 per incident fee. Email/Forum support is free.

Unfortunatly that's about all I can suggest. I'm fresh out of ideas. Sorry I couldn't have been more help to you. All I can say is I hope you get this working.

- Tip