Serial Port problem

[runningphan]

We have a software product that monitors a user specified serial (COM) port for bar code scanner input. The end user is running a new Dell desktop that has only 1 serial port and the program is locking up on them. I believe the issue is that the serial port is powering down and when we go to monitor the port since there is no response from the port, the program locks up.

We can not duplicate the problem and I am wondering the following:

Are there power management settings for serial ports?


We have taken all power saving options off within the control panel.

The problem only happens after a period of inactivity.

 

[franklin97355]

Try doing the same in BIOS. Since this is a hardware forum could we get some idea of exactly what hardware we are commenting about?

 

[runningphan]

Ok, more information:

Hardware
Dell Dimension 4700, running Windows XP Ver 2002-SP2

Here are the specifics from Dell (not sure about the motherboard)
- Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor with Hyper-Threading Technology at 540 (3.20GHz, 800MHz FSB, 1MB cache).
- 1 front headphone jack
- 8 USB 2.0 ports - 2 front/6 back
- 1 serial port
- Serial ATA Ports: Two 7-pin connectors
- 1 parallel port with ECP
- 1 mouse: PS/2 port
- 1 keyboard: PS/2 port
- 1 integrated graphics port

ALSO, I had the user go into the BIOS and under the serial port option set the serial port to COM1 so that if there was a conflict with COM3 it would disable the COM1. The second option I had them change was under the suspend option. It was originally on S3 (conserve more power) and we switched it to S1 (respond faster from sleep mode).

After the changes, the software is still hanging when there is a long period of inactivity.

Thanks again...

 

[franklin97355]

Not sure I understand, if you only have one com port why would you have a conflict? Unless you have a modem in the system (do you?) Make sure if it is available the set wake on com port access (somewhere in bios if it exists)

 

[runningphan]

Yes, there is a modem that is on COM3. There was no option to wake on com port access.

 

[edfair]

Did the software allow a serial port on com2? Assumption from the OP that it does. And does the BIOS allow you to readdress the hardware to com2? Most do. And if the changes are made does it affect the failure?


Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.