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carreraken

8 Posts

66980

December 13th, 2005 14:00

Device Manager doesn't show 'Port (COM & LPT)

​ I have a new E510, having trouble connecting to the internet. (Dial-up Modem successfully establishes connection - but no pages load) ​
​ ​
​ One of the troubleshooting guide says to check the COM port to make sure it's enabled but when I go to Device Manager - there is no 'PORTS COM & LPT' on the list (unlike my work computer). ​
​ ​
​ How do I get 'PORTS' to appear in the device manager? ​
​ ​
​ Thanks, ​
​ Ken ​

carreraken

8 Posts

December 13th, 2005 15:00

Thank you!!  I'll try your recommendations tonight.

Ken

RoHe

10 Elder

 • 

43.8K Posts

December 13th, 2005 15:00

For starters, reboot and press F2 before XP loads to enter BIOS setup. Make sure the ports are turned on in BIOS. Save any changes, exit and let PC reboot. Check Device Manager again. But if the modem dials and makes a connection, it sounds like the COM port is already on in BIOS. Perhaps the modem isn't configured correctly so talk to your ISP.

You may need to do a system file check:
click start>run
type in: sfc /scannow
(space between sfc and /)
click OK

sfc will replace any damaged missing XP system files. It may ask for your XP CD. Reboot when it's done and check the ports.

Ron

p0rt

2 Posts

January 3rd, 2006 15:00

I too have had a similar problem.  I am adding a PCI parallel port to the computer to use with my old laser printers.  However, when adding an LPT port it gives me an error (I'll have to write it down).  There doesn't seem to be a place in the BIOS to turn them ON or OFF.

 

Any more info would be appreciated.

 

R

 

osprey4

4 Operator

 • 

34.2K Posts

January 3rd, 2006 17:00

Let's back up a bit. I don't believe the E310 has either parallel or serial ports, so you won't see a setting in the BIOS for either. If you would write down the error you are getting and post that here, it would be helpful.

As for the thread author, I don't believe the problem is a COM port problem, since these are "virtual" not physical ports.

p0rt

2 Posts

January 3rd, 2006 18:00

This is a e510, and you are right they do not have any physical parallel or serial ports. 
 
The error message...
"Specified port cannot be added.  Operation could not be completed."
 
I went down to compusa and bought a pci parallel card.  I realize you may not know the specifics of this card etc, but before even putting this card in the device manager says that it has the modem on com3:.
 
So, I thought that I could go into and add a local port.  When I select it asks for the name of the new port and then I get the error. 
 
However, when I attempt to add a port to my computer here at work using the above steps, it asks for the port name and continues to ask me which printer driver I would like to use.
 
Thanks again for your quick reply.
 
 

Mei2Qiang2

3 Posts

January 5th, 2006 13:00

I have a similar problem.  I have an 8600.

Recently, this is what I did.
1) I upgraded the BIOS

2) partitioned the HD

3) reinstalled the OS and upgraded to XP SP2 from SP1.

Now in the Device Manager, there is no section for "Ports"

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/smyhr/...3f.jpg&.src=ph

In Device Manager, originally when I clicked "show hidden devices", under "Non-Plug and Play Drivers", there were warnings/error notices next to "parport" and "serial".

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/smyhr/...5e.jpg&.src=ph

I can't print or sync my Palm. Other USB stuff works. Strangely, when I installed the Palm Desktop software, it let me sync one time. When I went into the settings to set up my e-mail sync, I got an error that the COM 1 port wasn't available and it switched to COM 3. I won't sync now.

I tried deleting the "parport" and "serial" drivers and they don't (immediately) return when I restart or "scan for hardware changes", but eventually show up again.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Mei2Qiang2

PS, if those photo links don't work, try these
http://photos.yahoo.com/smyhr
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/smyhr/my_photos

PPS
1) Dell says the BIOS won't cause a software problem, but......
2) In Safe Mode, it all looks the same.
3) My F2 settings tell me the port settings are only changed when docked
4) Also see this thread.  Dell doesn't recommend flashing the BIOS to an earlier version, but he did it and after some problems it worked.
Missing COM and LPT ports on I8600 after clean OS reinstall
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_general&message.id=151305&query.id=892804#M151305

Message Edited by Mei2Qiang2 on 01-05-2006 11:25 PM

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