Re: [OT] Com port assigment in Win XP

[Harry Broomhall <haeb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 07:44:18 -0000, you wrote:

>I've just installed (and re-installed several times with the same
>results) a Bluetooth dongle on a Win XP machine and although the last
>installed port shown is Com 4, the new Bluetooth serial ports get
>installed as Com 30 and Com 31. These seem to be too high for some
>programs to recognise (they only offer up to Com 15 etc). Is there
>someway of changing these (there's nothing obvious that I can see and
>Google doesn't help).

This is a fun one!

1)  Remove *all* COM related items and uninstall them

2)   Run the following script:

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
set devmgr_show_details=1
cd \%SystemRoot%\system32
start devmgmt.msc

3) In the device manager that has opened set 'Show hidden devices'.

3a) Marvel at all the crud in the listing

4) Remove all COM ports.


You *should* now find that COM port numbers are somewhat more sane
as you re-install them.

Regards,
Harry.