Freeing up COM ports

mhalbern

Member
I am using PE version 5.5.6. on a WinXP Pro SP3 PC.

In the Options menu, Serial port, there are devices (such as, COM 4 Belkin Serial on USB port) assigned to various COM ports that have not been used for months.

Is is possible to clear out these old assignments to free up the COM ports?

Thank you for a reply.
 

Technical

Technical Support
Staff member
Click "Start" button and type in cmd<enter>


Type the following and then press enter


set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1


Start the Device Manager via typing

start devmgmt.msc

Do not close the cmd prompt

In Device Manager
Select View>Show hidden devices
Phantom devices will now be shown.


Right click over the one you don't want any more and uninstall it.
 
Last edited:

mhalbern

Member
The Device Manager only shows the physical COM ports and the virtual COM ports that are actively in use. This is not the issue of my posting.

Thank you.
 

Technical

Technical Support
Staff member
The Device Manager only shows the physical COM ports and the virtual COM ports that are actively in use. This is not the issue of my posting.

Thank you.
No, when you have enabled visibility of phantom ports as described above it shows all, even those not connected.
 

mhalbern

Member
Technical, I accidentally closed the cmd window before viewing the Device Manager. Oops, my bad.

I tried it a second time without success.

I also tried the command line with =0 at the end.

I have attached what I see on my PC.

Your help is appreciated.
 

Attachments

mhalbern

Member
Technical, I followed the instructions in the support page.

The key seems to be opening the device manager through the command prompt.

Success!

Thank you.
 
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