How to tell Com port use?

[Tjalfe]

I have a buddy, whose computer I am trying to troubleshoot, connection to a serial device ( RS232. Problem is that windows complains that the port is in use. No matter which of the ports he tries, and this is straight from hyperterminal after a reboot. is there any software out there, which will let us determine what program has opened the port(s) ?

Thanks

Kasper

[Wombat]

Check the config.sys and autoexec.bat

Maybe old mouse drivers or something.

[Tjalfe]

Originally posted by Wombat
Check the config.sys and autoexec.bat

Maybe old mouse drivers or something.

I'll make him check, but I doubt it as it is a fresh install of windows XPsp2

[Tjalfe]

seems that this may apply:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q168222/

hmm..
if the port is open right after a reboot, I wonder if this is it.. I will talk to him tomorrow and see..

[Helevitia]

I think the problem lies in the BIOS. I can't remember which way it went but if you were using an external serial device, you would enable/disable the port and if you were using an internal serial device, you would enable/disable in BIOS.

I'm just thinking out loud. I'm probably wya off, now that I think about it.