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problem with comports

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by djb5030

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I am currently running Windows XP and having a problem with my comports (and therefore can't hotsync with a palm). I am getting the following message "The selected port, Com4, is not available at this time. Hotsync manager will open the port when it becomes available." I have tried all the comports and get this message no matter which one I"m using.

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by thechas

Your 'physical' COMM Ports should be COMM 1 & 2.

COMM 4 is 'usually' an internal modem.

I suspect that your COMM ports are disabled in BIOS settings. Or, there is a resource conflict for the physical ports.

To check this, right click on the My Computer Icon.
Select Properties.
Select the Hardware tab.
Click on the Device Manager button.
Expand the Ports branch.

You should see COM 1, COM 2, and your parallel port.

If you do not see the COM ports listed, then they are not enabled in BIOS settings.

If they are listed, but have a yellow "?" or "!" mark by them, you have a driver or resource conflict.

If you have not already done so, download the XP updates from Microsoft, and install them.

If that does not take care of the problem, you may need to get updated drivers from the PC mfg.

As a side note:
There was a 'problem' with some of the PALM serial cradles that was causing COMM ports to fail. While PALM never fully acknowledged the problem, they did havea cradle replacement program.

Chas

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