How To Remove Unused Com Ports Windows 10
Finding & Removing Subconscious COM ports for Non-connected Devices in Windows XP (this procedure also works for Windows 7 & 10)
Thank you to Jack, KF6T, Rick, N6XI, Ward, N0AX, and Steve, N2IC, as sources for the information on this page. Since ham radio operators use COM ports to communicate with various devices in their stations, there may exist a time when you need to clean out onetime and unused COM port assignments which were created, but not deleted, by Windows XP. This may be useful if y'all have bug installing new COM port devices such as USB Serial Adapters or legacy serial ports. Or when installing COM devices, Windows assigns college COM port numbers such as COM18, etc. In most cases, y'all can over-ride the port number that Windows assigns past going to the Properties of the device in Device Manager, then to the Port Settings tab and click on the Advanced push button. Or past using one of the 2 procedures beneath, you tin eliminate one-time and unused COM ports to complimentary up resources for devices you already accept installed and wish to move to a lower port number or for devices you wish to install in the futurity.
Two procedures are shown below. The starting time i is a permanent solution where all hidden devices (including COM ports) will be shown each fourth dimensionTestify Hidden Devices is enabled in the View menu of Device Director. The second procedure is for showing all hidden devices on a temporary ground and includes how to delete hidden COM ports to free up resources. I've performed both procedures on both my shack computers where old assignments of COM ports remained for devices I no longer use. I am at present set for the permanent solution. Both procedures are outlined by Microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315539.
Procedure for Permanent Fix to Finding Hidden Devices in Device Manager
i. Right click on My Computer then get to Backdrop.
2. When the Organisation Properties dialog window opens, click on the Advanced tab and so click on the Environment Variables button.
three. In the Surroundings Variables window, under Arrangement variables, click the New button.
4. In the New System Variable dialog box, enter devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices every bit the Variable proper name, and enter ane as the Variable value, then click OK.
5. Y'all volition see your new entry in the Arrangement variables field. Click OK.
6. Now click on the Hardware tab in System Properties and click on Device Manager.
7. Get to the View menu in Device Manager and click on Show subconscious devices.
8. Scroll down to the Ports section and you will exist able to see all the hidden and unused COM ports. In this particular example, in that location are seven hidden COM ports showing. Yous will now be able to meet all hidden devices every time yous enable Show hidden devices in Device Manager.
9. To delete a item port, click to highlight it and hit the Delete key on your keyboard. In the Confirm Device Removal dialog box, click OK.
ten. After you have deleted the unused and hidden COM ports, the listing volition prove only those COM ports you use or may utilize in the future (during the process, you may have to curl dorsum down Device Director to get dorsum to the Ports section.) Notice I kept the unused COM6 for my Keyspan USB Serial Adapter even though information technology is not connected and not being used at the moment. When I connect my Keyspan adapter, it always comes up COM6 now which is what I want.
Process for Temporarily Finding Hidden Devices in Device Manager
1. COM ports assignments can be viewed from the Windows Device Director. In that location are a couple of ways to get to the Device Manager. The easiest way, if you have a My Computer icon on your desktop, is to right-click My Computer and become to Properties. The other way is to become to theStart | Control Panel | System | Hardware | Device Managing director.
2. When the Systems Backdrop dialog window opens, click on the Hardware tab.
iii. On the Hardware tab, click on the Device Manager button.
4. In Device Manager, click the + sign next to Ports (COM & LPT) to reveal what ports are currently in use.
5. You will notice if you go to the View menu in Device Manager and click on Testify hidden devices, that nothing changes in your Ports list.
6. To view actual subconscious COM ports, close Device Managing director. Become to Offset > Run.
7. When the Run dialog box opens, type cmd.exe and hitting enter or click OK.
eight. When the cmd window opens, type set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 then hit Enter.
9. Then open Device Manager from the cmd window by typing start devmgmt.msc and striking Enter. (Note, if Device Manager does not open up when you start devmgmt.msc, and so type cd\windows\system32 and hit Enter, and then type start devmgmt.msc and hit Enter.)
ten. When Device Director opens, become to the view card and click Testify hidden devices (same as Pace #five to a higher place). Scroll downwardly to the Ports section and you will be able to see all the hidden COM ports. In this particular instance, there are seven hidden COM ports showing on my main shack desktop computer. Of these seven, half-dozen are for devices I no longer utilise. I occasionally utilize the Keyspan port showing equally (COM6) and then decided to proceed it.
eleven. To delete a item port, click to highlight it and hit the Delete key on your keyboard. In the Confirm Device Removal dialog box, click OK.
12. After you take deleted the unused and subconscious COM ports, the list will show simply those COM ports y'all utilise or may utilise in the future (during the procedure, you may have to scroll back down Device Director to become back to the Ports section.) Notice I kept the unused COM6 for my Keyspan USB Serial Adapter even though it is not connected and not being used at the moment. When I connect my Keyspan adapter, information technology ever comes upward COM6 now which is what I want.
xiii. When finished, close Device Director. To close the cmd window, type Go out and hitting Enter. The box will close.
Note that any fourth dimension y'all close the cmd window, you lose the context that permits Device Manager to display and manage COM ports for non-connected devices. To check again, yous have to perform the procedure over or else use the permanent ready on the Microsoft webpage listed at the outset of this folio. On my laptop, I tried to delete unused Bluetooth COM ports that were assigned the same port numbers every bit my USB series adapter. After a reboot, these Bluetooth COM ports returned to the subconscious list even though they were not beingness used. The only problem it poses is when I disconnect my USB serial adapter and then reconnect it. Windows may assign different COM ports numbers than what I previously used and take been assigned in my software. In that location are 64 COM ports showing on my XP laptop because of Bluetooth. So far, this hasn't caused any conflicts that I am aware of.
Source: https://www.rttycontesting.com/tutorials/removing-hidden-com-ports/
Posted by: brownhinfore.blogspot.com
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