"Ports (COM & LPT)" Not Listed In Device Manager

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

All right. I'll pay a shiny nickel to anyone who can figure this out, as
I've exhausted my options on Google, the KB, etc.

Background: I'm trying to install and use a Sprint PCS wireless modem
(Novatel) on a Dell Latitude 5100 running Windows XP Pro, SP1, with all
patches installed. The install appears to work just fine, and I can see a
signal, etc. However, when I try to actually dial a connection to the
Internet, I get the error:

"There was a hardware failure in the modem (or other connecting device)"

Let me preface the rest by point out that the PCMCIA port on the laptop
works. The wireless card works (in ten+ other Windows XP laptops). And I
have a built-in modem that works.

So, in trying to troubleshoot this error, I found myself looking for the
Ports (COM & LPT) in the Device Manager. But this isn't an option. The
modem and status ports are assigned to COM4 and COM5, respectively. But I
can't see the COM ports in the device manager.

Every other Windows XP system that I have lists the Ports in the DM, with
the exception of this one.

Any takers?

 

[SERVO]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Keith W. McCammon wrote:
> All right. I'll pay a shiny nickel to anyone who can figure this out, as
> I've exhausted my options on Google, the KB, etc.
>
> Background: I'm trying to install and use a Sprint PCS wireless modem
> (Novatel) on a Dell Latitude 5100 running Windows XP Pro, SP1, with all
> patches installed. The install appears to work just fine, and I can see a
> signal, etc. However, when I try to actually dial a connection to the
> Internet, I get the error:
>
> "There was a hardware failure in the modem (or other connecting device)"
>
> Let me preface the rest by point out that the PCMCIA port on the laptop
> works. The wireless card works (in ten+ other Windows XP laptops). And I
> have a built-in modem that works.
>
> So, in trying to troubleshoot this error, I found myself looking for the
> Ports (COM & LPT) in the Device Manager. But this isn't an option. The
> modem and status ports are assigned to COM4 and COM5, respectively. But I
> can't see the COM ports in the device manager.
>
> Every other Windows XP system that I have lists the Ports in the DM, with
> the exception of this one.
>
> Any takers?

Check your BIOS...make sure they aren't disabled.

--
Servo

"Shop smart! Shop S-Mart!"

tservo100 at
ameritech dot net

Slow, fiery death to all spammers!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

> Check your BIOS...make sure they aren't disabled.

I did that, but there wasn't any related option. I did, however, upgrade
the BIOS, and that corrected the modem error.

Thanks

Keith

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

"Keith W. McCammon" <km@km.com> wrote in message
news:Oz4%23NDmSEHA.796@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> All right. I'll pay a shiny nickel to anyone who can figure this out, as
> I've exhausted my options on Google, the KB, etc.
>
> Background: I'm trying to install and use a Sprint PCS wireless modem
> (Novatel) on a Dell Latitude 5100 running Windows XP Pro, SP1, with all
> patches installed. The install appears to work just fine, and I can see a
> signal, etc. However, when I try to actually dial a connection to the
> Internet, I get the error:
>
> "There was a hardware failure in the modem (or other connecting device)"
>
> Let me preface the rest by point out that the PCMCIA port on the laptop
> works. The wireless card works (in ten+ other Windows XP laptops). And I
> have a built-in modem that works.
>
> So, in trying to troubleshoot this error, I found myself looking for the
> Ports (COM & LPT) in the Device Manager. But this isn't an option. The
> modem and status ports are assigned to COM4 and COM5, respectively. But I
> can't see the COM ports in the device manager.
>
> Every other Windows XP system that I have lists the Ports in the DM, with
> the exception of this one.
>
> Any takers?
>

Odd, because EVERY XP system I've looked at (and I do this for a living so I
see a lot of them) does NOT list the modem's port under the Ports section of
the device manager. The ones listed are the physical ports on the computer;
the modem or other devices have their own sections of the device manager. In
fact, if you force a port number under Ports in the Device Manager, that
number becomes unavailable to the modem or other device you're trying to
install.

You might want to try starting up in safe mode and deleting the ports that
exist as well as whatever communication devices you're trying to install,
Then reboot and let XP sort out the resources.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

I have to wonder what kind of HAL type you have, especially after upgrading the bios.
In device manager, click on the + sign beside Computer. What do you have under there?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Are you sure its a Lattitude and not an Inspiron?