Deleting com ports

dbrown · Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Posts: 20

I was wondering if anyone knows how to delete virtual com ports in Windows 2000. I have installed the CCS USB example software and removed it to use my own software. When I install a new comm device, device manager shows that it is assigned to COM 17. I would like to know how to reset this number. I have searched all over the internet with no success.

I understand that Windows 2000 uses serial.sys and serenum.sys to assign these numbers, but I do not know how to do a reset. I have physical com1, com2 and com4 on my system. I would like the first virtual com to return to com5.

Any suggestion would be a great help.

Dave B

PCM programmer · Joined: 06 Sep 2003 Posts: 21708

This explanation is for XP, but it might work for Win2K, or it might give
you some hints on how to continue searching for the solution.
http://www.modemsite.com/56k/xptip.asp

dbrown · Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Posts: 20

Thanks for the solution, it worked perfectly.

Dave B

dbrown · Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Posts: 20

I found another solution. If go to Microsoft, check out knowledge base article 241257. http://support.microsoft.com/?id=241257
This article describes how to show non present hidden devices. There are two methods to do this, one method the devices are shown only while device manager is active and the command has been set, the second allows the devices to be shown anytime that show hidden devices is chosen from the view drop down menu. I chose the second method, and it is a great help.

Thanks again for the help

Dave B