eCtune

I want to reorganize my USB ports. Its a mess and the lowest port available is COM 17! It seems that USBtool.exe is the program to have to solve old usb com port settings. Who has USBtool or some similar program to organize USB ports?

Well this isnt exactly what you are looking for but I'll post it up in case it can be of help...

Here is the other USB Utility I have --- it may be of more use to you

in the Windows device manager you can \"Show offline hardware\" or the equivalent; you will see every peice of hardware (driver) installed and the associated ports; every once in a while, I remove all the devices (leaving driver in the system) and reconnect hardware... doesn't require any utilities... did it in Vista a week ago.

Where can I find that? I dont see an option to show unplugged hardware in the device manager. Is this because I did not update my XP the last 4 years?

Sorry: Computer Management->Device manager make sure you click int he device mnager pane, lets say on the sound controllers section I have a View->Show Hidden Devices But I am in Vista... xp should have a similar feature.

Yep, but that doesn't show up the 'once installed but never used again-hardware'

RoadXY wrote:Yep, but that doesn't show up the 'once installed but never used again-hardware'

it just sucks.. just reassign the comm port in advance settings. Overwriting the old comm port.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/28796 ... comm-ports http://www.modemsite.com/56k/xptip.asp http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Micr ... 31950.html This one works i think is from MS. http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... -us;819036

COM PORT IN USE: When a modem that creates a virtual COM port is installed, it will normally be assigned the next unused COM port. If the modem is removed, or if the installation is not completely successful, the COM port assigned with that installation may continue to be identified as 'in use' by Windows, even though it really isn't in use. Each subsequent modem installation removes another COM port from being available. You can reclaim these 'used' COM ports that really are not in use: Open the Device Manager by clicking on the button from Control Panel, System, Hardware tab, Expand the Ports listing, and double-click your COMMUNICATIONS PORT (normally COM1) Click on the Port Settings tab, Then, Click the Advanced... button Then, select the COM Port Number dropdown, and change it a COM port that shows 'In Use' that really isn't in use. Click OK, and continue past warning about using a used port. Repeat for each false in use port. Then, repeat and change the port back to original (COM1) setting. From this page, which has some screenshots too http://www.modemsite.com/56k/xptip.asp IF THAT DOESN'T WORK: set this system environment variable, and then the hidden devices will work the way it did in Win2000: set DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1 Acording to reports, you can also start in safe mode to delete the hidden devices. From this page: http://www.thennews.com/b/N13/How%20do% ... 0ports.php

I will post a screenshot from Vista.. it seems that Vista is special and shows you that hardware in the device manager; I removed 17 com ports from the device manager with never plugging them in again.

curios to see

ask and ye shall recieve: See, no COM ports shown.... and the menu about to be selected. Tada!

Whow! You found something in vista which is better that it was in xp....... Great find!

Hahaha, wait and try SP1 for Vista, it should bring performance up to 35% on file load and copy's (so claims M$)