Windows 7, too many COM ports "in use".

[Shadeyman]

As the title says, the missus's laptop has too many com ports "in use" so some programs she uses are not abale to access stuff connected to it due to only being able to access ports 1 to 15 for example.

So how do I remove/delete these "in use" ports?

OS - Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

I had a similar problem, cured it by reinstalling Windows but she wont let me do that ...

 

[Focus Owner]

from what i remember you need to press start and pause break
device manager
go to com ports and see how many there is. tho i thought usb is in this catagory
i only have 2
now select one properties and advanced properties. i get an option of 256 ports to choose from

play with that
sound like you have 2 devices on same port
theire is an easier way i just forgot it
oh and no guarentees

 

[Magic Johnson]

Disable the COM port/s and re-enable them. This clears whatever was hogging it.

 

[Shadeyman]

from what i remember you need to press start and pause break
device manager
go to com ports and see how many there is. tho i thought usb is in this catagory
i only have 2
now select one properties and advanced properties. i get an option of 256 ports to choose from

play with that
sound like you have 2 devices on same port
theire is an easier way i just forgot it
oh and no guarentees

Tried this. No joy.

 

[DaveMcT]

Any help?

http://help.wugnet.com/windows/port-numbers-delete-ftopict598354.html

 

[Shadeyman]

Any help?

http://help.wugnet.com/windows/port-numbers-delete-ftopict598354.html

Open a command window.

Now set an environment variable by entering the line

"set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1" - without the quotes obviously

then enter

"start devmgmt.msc"

In the box that opens, select "Show hidden devices" in the 'view' menu.

Now if you expand the section on COM ports, all the COM ports that have ever
been created will be displayed, the non present ones being in grey. You can
uninstall away anything that you don't want (right click, select uninstall).



Didn't work either..

 

[Magic Johnson]

Did you disable it and re-enable it?

 

[Shadeyman]

Did you disable it and re-enable it?

Enable and disable what?

 

[Magic Johnson]

Windows button > type 'run' in the search box > devmgmt.msc > find COMPORT (number) and disable each one. You may have to restart. Then enable them all, one by one. You also may have to restart (annoyingly).

This disconnects whatever device was paired to that comport.

EDIT: To disable right click and disable. You might have to show hidden devices as well.

 

[Shadeyman]

I can't access the comports from Device Manager no matter what I do so I'm obviously not able to enable or disable them.

 

[Focus Owner]

want a set of screenshots?

show us your device manager and as far as you get