Unable to create symbolic link to com 1

I have an IBM T23 Think Pad with Windows NT 4.O with Service Pack 6a. I get a warning in event viewer that the OS was unable to create the symbolic link to com 1. I am trying to get a PDA connected. I have changed the IRQ and memory address to every possible configuration allowed in the Bios, except for those that obviously conflict ie: IRQ 7. IR Port is disabled, I even disable the parallel port and removed com 1 and let it rebuild it. Serial device is started on automatic and will start and stop manually if you start/stop it from control panel/devices. Any ideas? Hope I entered enough detail.