FAQ: RS-232 Serial Port Settings In Windows

   
 

You can view and configure your computer's RS-232 Serial Ports with the Windows Device Manager.
  1. Open  Windows Device Manager

If you are using Windows 7 (or earlier):

  • Click the Start button
  • Right Click on Computer (My Computer on earlier machines) to display the context menu
  • Click Properties then click Device Manager
If you are using Windows 8:
  • If needed, press the Windows Key to display the Start Menu.
  • Right click on an open part of the Start Menu then click on All Apps.
  • Click on Control Panel. Make sure that Display As: Small Icons shows in upper right corner.
  • Click on System then click on Device Manager.
If you are using Windows 8.1 or Windows 10:
  • Right click on the Windows Start button to display a context menu
  • Click on Device Manager
  2. To View Serial Ports Under Device Manager
  • Look for the Ports (COM & LPT) category and expand it. If the Ports (COM & LPT) category does not exist, then your computer is not equipped with a Serial Port.
  • Look for the entry which contains a COMX designation (X is the Serial Port number). Ignore any LPT entries.
  • Note the Com Port number for later use in MicroBase Professional.
  • If no Com Port entries are displayed, your computer does not have a working RS-232 Serial Port and you will have to add one, or use another computer.
  3. To Determine If Your USB to RS-232 Adapter Driver Is Installed Properly
  • If you have installed a USB to RS-232 Adapter Driver, look for the corresponding Com Port entry and note the virtual Com Port number which the adapter is assigned to use.
  • If a new Com Port entry does not appear under Ports (COM & LPT) when your USB to RS-232 adapter is plugged into a working USB port, you probably don't have the appropriate driver installed. Try installing the driver again.
  • If you are not sure which Com Port entry corresponds to your USB to RS-232 adapter, disconnect the adapter from your USB port and the related Com Port entry will disappear from the list. Reconnect the adapter and the related entry will re-appear.
  • MicroBase Pro only supports Com Port numbers in the range of 1-9. If you see a number outside of this range, try opening the properties of the driver and then using the advanced configuration to obtain an unused Com Port number in the range of 1-9. If Com Ports 1-9 are all used by other devices (rare), then you will need to uninstall one or more of the drivers which are using Com Ports 1-9.
 

 
 

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