Fixing Issues With The COM 1 Port In Windows XP

     Windows Start button

For the connection of printers and other equipments, serial ports are used. In Windows XP, they are termed as COM ports. In the PC, in its backside, two serial ports known as COM1 and COM2 are present. Issues may be encountered with the COM 1 and the proper working may be affected. To fix the issues with the COM 1, the below mentioned Windows XP help guidelines should be followed.

Instructions

• The Start button located at the extreme bottom left of the taskbar should be clicked. The Start menu will pop up and the Control Panel option should be selected. The Control Panel window can be seen on screen. From Categories, Performance and Maintenance should be chosen and System should be selected.
• The tab by the name Hardware should be selected and Device Manager should be selected. At the side of (COM & LPT), a + symbol can be seen and it should be clicked and Communications Port (COM1) should be double clicked.
• Search for the error message in the field of Device Status. In the Microsoft Support, check for the error code.
• If an error code is not seen, the Troubleshoot option should be clicked and the Help And Support Center will be displayed on screen. The prompts that appear have to be strictly followed and the issue can be successfully resolved. If the issue is not resolved, the Help And Support Center should be closed.
• The tab labeled Resources should be clicked and the Use Automatic Settings option should not be selected. Under the list of the conflicting device, in the field, if an error is seen, IRQ should be selected.

       Windows device manager

• From the menu that appears, Basic Configuration 0004 should be selected. If Interrupt Request 04 Used By: <Device> error is seen, IRQ should be double clicked and three should be set as the value. To the serial ports corresponding to COM 4 or COM 2, no devices should be connected.
• To exit from the window, the OK button should be clicked. From the Device Manager, you have to exit. To exit the System Properties window, the OK button should be clicked. Other than the mouse, keyboard and monitor, all the components should be removed if the COM 1 port is not functioning.
•  The system should be restarted and after the system has loaded, the devices should be connected.

By following the above-mentioned Windows XP help guidelines, the issues with the COM 1 port can be resolved with ease.