I need Com1 for a old device and software but windows has coms 1-4 already assigned

First I am using a gateway laptop running on Windows XP.

I have an old piece of hardware/device which reads a data card. (Both
the device and cards are very outdated and I cannot really describe
them more but they are used in the wind power industry to gather
metrological data)

This card reader is supposed to hook into a serial port. Since I am
working on a newer gateway laptop without serial ports, I had to buy a
usb to serial adapter. (Belkin one to be exact) All drivers are
installed correctly and work fine since I am able to use the adapter to
hook in a GPS device fine. (gps device is serial and not usb also)

Now....Problem is the software which reads this device is an old dos
program and only searches for the device in COM 1 or COM 2. I looked
in the hardware manager and saw that the usb to com adapter I have
installed is set up as COM 5. If I go in the options to switch the usb
to serial adapter to COM 1 or 2 it says that COMS 1-4 are already
assigned to something. I have the option to assign this adapter to COM
1 for example but I never tried to apply it becasue I'm afraid it will
mess something else up since that COM is already assigned. On top of
that I have a feeling when I try to apply that change it woun;t even
let me.

A friend said maybe the com setting are in Bios so I looked in bois but
saw nothing which appeared to help.

Is there any way I can reassign COM 1 or 2 which appearently is already
being used by windows to a different COM? This should allow me to set
the usb to serial adaptor to COM 1 or 2 and then my hardware should be
recognized by the dos program.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.. I already tried seaching these
groups as much as possible and could not find any leads.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Belkin Adapters
    ... Any know problems with the Belkin 54g wireless PCI adapter? ... I just bought and installed a Netgear USB adaptor in my Windows box ... I also have a PCI to MCMCIA expansion card in my desktop, ...
    (alt.internet.wireless)
  • Re: Using a USB2.0 card on an old M/Board
    ... Good question re why didn't I buy a Wi-Fi card - It didn't enter my head!! ... Problem is that the adapter won't won't work in any of the USB ... be sure that the USB2 card's root hubs ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: USB cable disconnect/reconnect, but via software?
    ... Are you sure you are expanding the USB branch far enough when you stop the ... swappable piece of hardware from the system. ... card reader, which sits into a floppy drive slot. ... Also, I got twice the problem, since (because I reboot very rarely) I also ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Driving and Sailing ... where to go from here(?)
    ... ..So I bought an USB to Serial converter. ... adapter is plugged in. ... serial ports is to use a PCMCIA (aka PC Card or Card Bus) serial port ... I have Socket and Qlynx brand PCMCIA serial port adapters and they both ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
  • Re: No "Eject" option for USB Pen Drive
    ... Perhaps you meant that you "...learnt to not 'Safely Remove hardware' drives ... Safely remove Mass Storage Device - Drive{a USB external hd.} ... reader bay / 4x flash card slots) ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
Loading