How to change asynchronous serial COM Port assignments in Sealevel’s Port Manager or Advanced Ports Utilities

Sealevel recommends using the installed COM numbers if at all possible to avoid system conflicts. If you previously installed a USB or PCMCIA serial interface, it will still have resources that have been assigned by the operating system. If the device is not currently connected to your computer, these COM assignments will not be apparent. It is possible to force a new COM port assignment when the device is removed that will create a conflict when the device is reconnected at a later time.

One scenario where you would have to change the COM port assignments is when your legacy application only works at COM1 through COM4 and the Sealevel serial device you installed comes in at COM5 or higher. Another scenario might occur when you install a multiport serial card and the COM port numbers are not assigned consecutively and you want them to appear consecutive.

Windows 95, 98, ME, and NT did not provide a way to change COM port assignments in Device Manager. Sealevel developed the Port Manager utility (Advanced Ports in NT) to address this Windows limitation. Port Manager is automatically installed when you install the SeaCOM serial driver. In Windows NT, the SeaCOM software driver installs the Sealevel Advanced Ports utility in the Control Panel.

To change COM port assignments using Port Manager in Windows 95, 98, or ME operating systems, follow these steps:

1) Click Start -> All Programs -> SeaCOM -> Port Manager

2) In the Port Manager window, select your current Device in the table by clicking on it to highlight.

3) Change the COM port assignment by choosing an available COM number in the Port Name drop box.

4) Click on the Apply button, and then the OK button to confirm changes.

5) Verify your changes in Device Manager under the Ports (COM & LPT) listing.

To change COM port assignments using Advanced Ports in Windows NT, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start -> Control Panel
  2. In the Control Panel window, double-click the Advanced Ports icon.
  3. In the Advanced Ports window, select your current Device in the table by clicking on it to highlight.
  4. Change the COM port assignment by choosing an available COM number in the Port Name drop box.
  5. Click on the Apply button, and then the OK button to confirm changes.
  6. Verify your changes in Device Manager under the Ports (COM & LPT) listing.

Contact our technical support department if you are still experiencing problems with serial COM port assignments.