Reassigning VCP Com Port Numbers in WIN 98 SE

Thanks Bob. Yes it is an ATEN USB to Seial Converter. The Sony VAIO has no serial ports whatsoever. You can plug an auxilary I/O module into it, and it does have one RS232 port which is preallocated the COM1, whether the auxillary I/O module is plugged in or not. The Device Manager also displays a listing for a Vitual Infrared COM Port, so I guess that COM2 is also preallocated, even though the Device Manager doesn't display the Infrared port's allocated COM number. So I guess it is "game over". However, I did discover I had one of these Sony VAIO auxillary module boards tucked away in my cupboard. I plugged my ECU's serial cable into it, and I am up & away.

So alls well & ends well, and I learnt a few things on the way. Thanks !

This is getting rather arcane and dusty knowledge but it's like that car which had reverse threads on the tire lug nuts. On just one side. Yes, it was from France.
Bob

Thanks Bob for that suggestion. I'm not one of those people who have enough confidence to dive into the BIOS often, and I've never owned a French car, but I did as you suggested, & disabled the IR Port. However I discovered the IR port was allocated COM4 & I needed COM1 or COM2 specifically. So I then went back into the BIOS & disabled the hardware serial port (COM1).

However, Windows 98 does not provide a pull down list under Port Settings/Advanced in the Device manager, as later Windows operating systems do.

I tried a suggestion I found on the internet, changing the registry settings in three places, to change the COM port number. However, this did not work for me.

I did find a resource on the Net, which described how it can be accomplished within device manager in WIN98.

How do I change the COM port on my USB to Serial adapter in WIN98/2000/ME


Right click on the USB to Serial Converter listing under Ports, and click on Properties
Click on the "Port Settings" tab. Click on the Resources tab.
Uncheck the box that says "Use automatic settings".
Select "Input/Output range". Click on "Change Settings".
Type "03F8-03FF" in the Value box. This value will change the port to COM 1.

The values for each port are:

COM 1: 03F8-03FF
COM 2: 02F8-02FF
COM 3: 03E8-03EF
COM 4: 02E8-02EF

After entering the value, click OK. Click OK again and click Yes when the "Creating a Forced Configuration" window appears. Click OK again.
Restart your computer. If you go into the device manager, you will see that the COM port has changed to the one you have selected."

It worked perfectly, and now I can use a USB to Serial converter & select COM1, without having to use the arkward plug in I/O module on my little olde Sony VAIO laptop.

Thanks again Bob !