Hmm, my first guess would be that your Serial port got rerouted, or else it got disabled somehow. Can you check both in Device manager, and your computer's BIOS settings?
Device Manager:
1. Right-click on My Computer (or just Computer in Vista)
2. Select Properties
3. Click Hardware tab.
4. Click Device Manager Button.
Look for anything disabled there - if you don't see anything disabled or with a red exclamation mark or a yellow question mark, then this probably isn't the problem. However, while there, just look to see if a Serial port is even listed.. if it isn't, then that piece has died, or else it's been disabled in the BIOS settings - most likely. Of course, it could have been removed, and never reinstalled - again, not likely if you're running XP or Vista, and haven't disabled the Plug and Play service.
BIOS settings:
1. Restart your PC
2. When the computer is just starting up, you'll need to be pressing one button.
a. If a custom built machine, most likely it's <Del>
b. If a Compaq or HP, then it could be <F11> OR <F10> I think.
c. If a Dell, it's either <F2> or <F12> - I think...
d. eMachine is usually <Del> - again, if I remember correctly.
If you see anything about "press... to enter setup" - then THAT's the button you need to press.
3. Once into the BIOS, you'll commonly have a blue screen... or else a gray screen... or possibly another color (I know my Abit AB9 Pro board has a pink BIOS screen - probably the most annoying thing about the board.
![[wink] [wink] [wink]](/data/assets/smilies/wink.gif)
4. Probably under "Advanced" or "Onboard ..." is where you'll find your Serial port info - it'll be set to some series of letters/numbers or else Auto or else Disabled. If Disabled, that's your problem. You need to change it to Auto, or else one of the other options - frankly, I've not needed one that I can remember, so I've not really looked up what the different settings mean.
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"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me