Issue
- Reassigning a USB Serial Adaptor to a desired COM port
- Reassigning a USB to DB-9 Adaptor to a desired COM Port
Product Line
TAC Vista
Environment
Windows OS
Cause
It is common for newer laptops to come without DB-9 serial connections. USB to DB-9 adaptors have to be used instead. When this USB device is installed, Windows will allocate the first COM port available in the system. In most cases, this will not be COM1, which is the default port designation for both Menta and the Download Wizard. If COM10 or greater is assigned, then it cannot be used with Menta for a direct download because Menta's COM port designation drop-down list only goes to COM9.
Resolution
Reassign the USB to DB-9 adaptor to the desired COM port:
- Right-click on My Computer and select "Manage"
- In the left pane of the Computer Management Console, select Device Manager. This will populate the right pane with system information.
- Expand "Ports (COM & LPT)." There will be a list of ports in use and which device is associated to the COM port.
- Look for the USB to Serial Bridge (COMx). If the USB to DB-9 adaptor is not assigned to the desired COM port, right-click on it and select "Properties."
- From the Port Settings tab, select "Advanced."
- In the Advanced Settings is a drop-down menu for assigning the COM port number to this device. Select the desired COM port.
- If it is noted that the COM port is "(in use)," find the device using that port
- Reassign that device to another open port.
- This will free up the desired COM port for the USB to DB-9 adaptor.
- Changing COM port may take some time for Windows to process and put into effect. Monitor "Ports (COM & LPT)" in the Computer Management Console. This will show the reassigned COM port when the operation has finished.
*it is also possible to assign to a port in use which should move the previous device to another com, however this should be used as a last resort.
