Serial Port Guide
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Q: What does the serial port look like?
A: The serial port on your computer is a 9-pin male connector. Usually, it will be located on the back of the computer, indicated by either a symbol or named Serial Port, COM Port, or I/O Port.
Q: What if my computer doesn't have a 9-pin serial port?
A: You can purchase a serial port adapter card from a local computer store. You will need to install and configure the card properly in order to use the serial port. If you have a 25-pin serial port, you can purchase a 25 to 9-pin serial adapter to use. Make sure that the 25 pin port is a serial port rather than a parallel port.
Q: What if my computer has only one serial port and the mouse is already using it?
A: Contact your computer manufacturer to see if you have a PS/2-type mouse port available on your computer. Using a PS/2 mouse will free the serial port, allowing you to plug the serial connector into the previously occupied serial port. An alternative is to purchase a serial port adapter card from a local computer store. You will need to install and configure the card properly in order to use the serial port.
Q: What is the difference between a serial and a communications port?
A: There is no difference between the two, thus these terms are interchangeable.
Q: What can I do to verify that my serial port is working?
A: If you have a serial mouse, plug the mouse into that port and see if it works. Make sure to turn off the power to the computer and then plug the mouse in. Then turn the computer back on. You can also run the Serial Port Test Program to see if your ports are functioning properly in Windows. (Note: The Serial Port Test Program is not available).
Serial Port Troubleshooting Guide
Make sure that other software is not using the serial port.
- Palm Pilot, Handheld PCs, and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) devices use software that controls/monitors the serial port. This will prevent Windows from being able to detect the camera and downloading the pictures. Disable the Palm Pilot, Handheld PC, or UPS software before attempting to download the pictures from the camera.
- To disable HotSync (Palm Pilot), press CTRL-ALT-DEL which will bring up the "Close Programs" window. Select "HotSync" and then press the "End Task" button to temporarily disable this type of software. The download process should now work correctly. To re-enable the HotSync software, restart the computer. To disable other software that may be using the serial port, make sure you know the program name and repeat the steps above to temporarily disable the software.
Verify that your serial port is present by clicking on Start->Settings->Control Panel->System->Device Manager->Ports (COM & LPT). Listed should be a Communications Port. If you have another device such as a serial mouse, you can use this device to test the port. Make sure to power down the computer before unplugging and plugging in the mouse when testing.
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This section is for advanced users who are still experiencing problems downloading pictures through the serial port.
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