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waynener

5 Posts

19341

July 30th, 2006 01:00

NO COM PORTS: How do I get them back?

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​I have two problems on my PC currently; a Dimension 4600C running Windows XP Pro. ​

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​1) Broadcom 4401 Integrated NIC Network quit working (now using USB connection)​

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​2) Conexant/Asus SmartHSFi V92 56K PCI Modem quit working (no work around)​

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​Both problems happen after power was lost to the house. When I run diagnostics on the devices they check out fine, pass with flying colors, except for the fact they will not talk with the outside world.​

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​While troubleshooting the modem problem I found that I have no com ports. The message displayed when I try use the modem is, “Error 633: The modem (or other connecting device) is already in use or is not configured properly:”​

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​When I go to Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager, and expand, "Ports (COM & LPT)” it displays “ECP Printer Port (LPT1) only, no COM ports are displayed. I went to the BIOS (F2 – at boot time) thinking that the COM ports has been somehow disabled, but found nothing at all relating to the COM (serial) ports settings.​

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​I have now spent the better part of my entire weekend trying to enable the COM ports. ​

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​So the question is: How do I enable COM ports and/or how do I see the setting for the ports on this system running windows XP?​

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​At this point I am ready to just chuck the system and start over, so any help would be appreciated.​

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​Thanks waynener​

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waynener

5 Posts

July 30th, 2006 02:00

Yes I tried the restore first, but not joy.  Seems the restore is only for your files not the system files.  This is the default setting and can be changed, but I just was not thinking the day installed XP.  Yep, it's a nice feature if set up properly.  I know better now, but of course I must now get the system working again first.

fudgieguys

1.3K Posts

July 30th, 2006 02:00

Have you tried going back to a previous restore point?

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/systemrestore.mspx

Try this link for information.

Majestic

9.4K Posts

July 30th, 2006 16:00

Waynener, try doing a "hard" reset of the NVRAM by following the procedure I have listed below.  By doing this the system will refresh the stored hardware information in the NVRAM which may have been corrupted.  This may at least get your integrated NIC back.   If that doesn't do the trick then I would consider the possibility that the power outage killed the modem and NIC especially if the power outage was weather related.  If you have another system I would try the modem with that one.

With the machine unplugged from the wall remove the battery from the motherboard.  Then with the machine still unplugged press the On button for 15 seconds to dissipate any remaining electrical charge on the motherboard.  Then re-install the battery, plug the machine back into the wall and see if it will boot normally and detect the hardware.  Click here for additional information on how to remove the battery from your model's on-line Service Manual.

waynener

5 Posts

July 30th, 2006 21:00

Thank you Majestic for the info, I was just looking for the procedure to reset the NVRAM when I received your reply.  You are correct the power outage was weather related and my in fact I may have to replace both the modem and NIC.  The modem I can replace, as it is a PCI PCB, but of course the network NIC is on the mother board.  The thing I do not understand is that both the modem and NIC pass all diagnoses.  I will give you an update when I get back next Friday; I am on my why out the door for a business trip and will be away from home for four days.

Yep! We are having fun now.

Waynener

Majestic

9.4K Posts

July 31st, 2006 12:00

"The modem I can replace, as it is a PCI PCB, but of course the network NIC is on the mother board.  The thing I do not understand is that both the modem and NIC pass all diagnoses."
 
It is difficult to say what damage can be done by a good thunderstorm.  I had a similar event occur several years ago.  Although the modem passed all the internal diagnostics, it failed to work even in other system.  
 
As for the NIC you could always install a PCI NIC card in an available slot and then turn off the integrated NIC in the BIOS Setup.  A good NIC card is relatively cheap now a days.

Message Edited by Majestic on 07-31-200608:59 AM

waynener

5 Posts

July 31st, 2006 19:00

If re-flashing and/or replacing the BIOS's don't fix things guess I will get a new modem card, but the network is another problem as 4600C system only has one PCI slot and that slot of course is being used by the modem.  What was I thinking when I bought the 4600C?

Majestic

9.4K Posts

July 31st, 2006 20:00

I doubt flashing or reflashing the BIOS is going to help.  If the BIOS was corrupted you would have other problems besides the loss of the COM ports.  Not to mention each time you flash the BIOS there is a slight element of risk involved.  In a worse case scenario a bad flash can render the motherboard useless.  In your situation you can't simply reflash the BIOS with your current version.  Instead you would have to flash the BIOS to another version and then flash it back to the version you are presently using.  This is due to a safe guard that is built-in to the Dell flash program.  
 
Another consideration is that a short while ago there were a couple of posts from 4600c owners that flashed their BIOS to the latest version.  As a result the machine wouldn't boot up and would give an error message about the processor being incompatible even though the processor was the original.  I doubt it's a wide spread problem with that BIOS update and may have been related to hardware configuration of those systems.  Just thought I would mention it.

gudgeon

683 Posts

August 5th, 2006 10:00

As to the ethernet connection, you could perhaps consider a USB to Ethernet connector like this from Belkin as a solution to get round the lack of PCI expansion?

waynener

5 Posts

August 5th, 2006 13:00

Thanks for the input Gudgeon, but USB is what I am using now so that I can reply to your message.  The problem is that the USB network connection is only 12Mbps vice the 100Mbps with my network card.  At least it works and I can get on-line.  Yep! seems there is always a trade off somewere.

 

Waynener

gudgeon

683 Posts

August 5th, 2006 15:00

Oh dear - sounds like some problem you've got! I too have suffered from storm damage so I sympathise. Just in case it's not a hardware problem, have you tried running "sfc /scannow" from the command prompt to replace damaged or missing system files? Sometimes this can magically resolve problems with XP. Always worth a shot.

axxxo

2 Posts

August 17th, 2008 16:00

Hi all, since I got my laptop repaired by a dell technician, when i go to the device manager the option for ports (COM&LPT) is no longer there, is there anything I can do to restore it? Thanks for any reply.

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