??Computer guru ??
 

On an old laptop running Windows 2nd ed.

How does one test to see if the serial port is com1??

Should be in the bios... remember that COM1 and 3 can share the same resources, and 2 and 4 share the same.

I vaguely recall pressing a function key (F1?) while the computer was booting up which then let me inspect and modify the settings.

You should be able to tell from device manager.

If you open up communications ports, it should say something like "Standard Communications Port (COM1)"

Ok, so if in the device driver com1 and com3 both appear, it means that a serial connection can be made to the single serial connecter? and an external app expecting to communicate through com1 is connected to the serial port?

Usually, COM3 will be used by a modem. If you have only one physical serial port on the laptop, unless someone changed the settings in the BIOS, it should be COM1. Is there a built in modem on the laptop?

Dave

Bill,

What type of connection are you trying to establish? Sure that using a USB adapter would not work better?

I have tried this in the past trying to communicate with a GPS unit and upgrading the data or maps and ended up getting a USB to Serial adapter and it worked a lot better.

No modem, I always used a pcmcia card for that.

That's the thing it's so old that I am not sure what was done. I haven't used it in years

I am testing a diagnostic device for 993s that communicates betwen the car and laptop thru com1.

The device has been tested by 2 previous users but on mine there appears to be no communication. All the appropriate lights come on but no response.

hence my interest in the serial port.

Thanks guys, Got it