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judetf
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| Posted: June 13 2011 at 22:18 | IP Logged
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I am trying to move from XP to Win 7 and am stuck trying to get the com port to work (which seems to be a prerequisite to getting PH to connect to my PowerLinc Serial modem (2412s).
I realize this is a Win7 issue, not PH, but you guys are the smartest troubleshooters I've ever come across, so I won't be at all surprised if the answer is here.
Here's what I know:
- As originally installed, the Win7 device manager did not show a 'Ports' option at all
- I have used Device Manager 'Add Legacy Hardware' to try adding a COM port
- While I can get com ports to show up, they always have errors, usually "device cannot start"
- I've tried creating COM 1 and 4, and get the same results each time
- PH tells me that there was an error trying to open COM 1 and that the port is already open (but I was getting that error before I even added a COM port into Device manager)
- I've tried various resource settings for the COM ports, but nothing seems to make a difference
- I do have serial ports enabled in the computer's BIOS
I see lots of threads here that discuss Win7 but I don't see any threads here that discuss getting Win7 to recognize the PowerLinc... any ideas?
Thanks,
jtf
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grif091
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| Posted: June 14 2011 at 12:14 | IP Logged
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Since no one else has responded, is this a true hardware Serial port or is a USB port being used as a Serial Port?
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Lee G
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judetf
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| Posted: June 14 2011 at 12:22 | IP Logged
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Excellent question. It's ... true. I am running PH on a Lenovo T61 laptop, which doesn't have a built-in serial port, but I have it living in a Lenovo docking station that does have a serial port. Nothing USB about it.
But I'm sure you are right - the issue has to lie with Windows 7 seeing the serial port on the dock. It communicates fine with the dock otherwise (network cable, monitor, iPhone USB cable and audio out).
Anyone else running PH over a laptop docking station?
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grif091
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| Posted: June 14 2011 at 13:28 | IP Logged
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There are various discussions regarding docking station serial port issues. All center around having the correct device driver. I found this link that talks about Lenovo docking station specifically.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CB YQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww-307.ibm.com%2Fpc%2Fsupport%2Fsit e.wss%2Fdocument.do%3Flndocid%3DMIGR-75274&ei=EZn3TabWA4jagA eD39jyCw&usg=AFQjCNHVHC13WmnGOZxoT6xT_ELb43n9tg
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Lee G
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judetf
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| Posted: June 14 2011 at 13:54 | IP Logged
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Thanks for the pointer, Lee.
As far as my searching can turn up, the lenovo "docking detection" utility is limited to a certain model laptop. There is nothing I can find which discusses getting my specific model to recognize the dock.
I am going to try updating the BIOS when I get home tonight... there is a newer version and while it doesn't mention docks or serial/com ports, it can't hurt to try.
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judetf
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| Posted: June 14 2011 at 14:40 | IP Logged
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BTW, what's the "next best" option if I can't get the serial port in the dock to respond? Do I go with a USB PowerLinc? Or do I get a USB something that provides a serial port? Or something else entirely?
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BeachBum
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| Posted: June 14 2011 at 15:17 | IP Logged
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Been there done that with a IBM p41 laptop. I used a USB to serial adapter and it’s been working fine ever since although the IBM laptop is just a storage device today. Currently it's on a 64bit Win7 system.
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Pete - X10 Oldie
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judetf
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| Posted: June 17 2011 at 05:54 | IP Logged
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I'm a happy camper (no thanks to this forum... just kidding!! ;), and all is now up and running.
Not that the solution is related to PH in any way, but for the record: after updating _every_ driver, the chipset and the BIOS, I was about to give up (particularly when a Lenovo support forum suggested that the older model T61 Lenovo I was trying to make work might just not work with the combo of Win7 and 64-bit.
In one last pass through the BIOS, however, I noticed that in addition a spot to enable serial ports, and in addition to a spot to enable the docking station, there was yet another setting to enable legacy devices _on_ the docking station.
I don't know if this was there all along or if it only showed up after I updated the BIOS and/or chipset, but regardless, after enabling all of those (all disabled by default, of course), COM1 worked and I now have PH up and running on my new laptop.
I'm getting errors starting the email plugin, but that's a topic for a different thread if I can't figure it out on my own.
Thanks (as usual), guys.
jtf
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Topic: Win7 issues - com port
