USB COM Ports

Sometimes, you'll need to change the COM port number of a "USB Serial Port" to enable its use with specific software.

==Windows XP==
Right click on ''My Computer'' and select ''Properties''. Then click the ''Hardware'' tab and click the ''Device Manager'' button. You should see a window like this. Now click on the ''Ports (COM & LPT)'' section to expand it.


[[Image:XP_Device_Manager.png]]


Locate the COM port you want to change (shown as USB Serial Port (COM5) above) and double click it to bring up the following window.


[[Image:XP_Com_Port_Properties.png]]


Click the ''Port Settings'' tab and then click the ''Advanced'' button shown below.


[[Image:XP_Com_Port_Properties_2.png]]


This will bring up the ''Advanced Settings for COMx'' window.


[[Image:XP_Advanced_Com_Port_Settings.png]]


Select a new COM number from the drop down list at the top. Ports that are not available will show as "in use". Once you are happy with your selection, click OK (twice) and you're all done.

==Windows 7==
Open up ''Control Panel'' from the start menu. From the Control Panel, click ''Device Manager''.

[[Image:acl-comport-win7a.jpg|740px]]


You should see a window like this. Now click on the ''Ports (COM & LPT)'' section to expand it.

[[Image:acl-comport-win7b.jpg]]


Locate the COM port you want to change (shown as USB Serial Port (COM6) above) and double click it to bring up the following window.

[[Image:acl-comport-win7c.jpg]]


Click the ''Port Settings'' tab and then click the ''Advanced'' button shown below.

[[Image:acl-comport-win7d.jpg]]


This will bring up the ''Advanced Settings for COMx'' window.

[[Image:acl-comport-win7e.jpg]]


Select a new COM number from the drop down list at the top. Ports that are not available will show as "in use". Once you are happy with your selection, click OK (twice) and you're all done.