Microsoft KB Archive/293762

= Com Port Settings Reset to Default After Making Changes in Device Manager =

Article ID: 293762

Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 2

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This article was previously published under Q293762



SYMPTOMS
When you restart the computer, communications port (COM port) settings revert to the default. This occurs even though you have changed the settings in Device Manager. For example, if you run a command prompt in Windows 2000 you may notice that the default settings for com 1 are:

Baud rate=1200; Parity=None; Data Bits=7; Stop Bits=1

You may have a program that requires different settings, such as:

Baud rate=9600; Parity=None; Data Bits=8; Stop Bits=1

You can manually set com 1 to function at the settings you want by using this command:

Mode Com1: 9600,n,8,1

However, when you restart the system, you find that the setting reverts back to the default:

Baud rate=1200; Parity=None; Data Bits=7; Stop Bits=1



CAUSE
In Microsoft Windows 2000, COM port settings for command functions are maintained only for the active Windows session. Custom settings are discarded at shutdown.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, create a startup task that sets the COM port to the settings that you want. The task can be set to run minimized with the close window on exit setting selected.

A sample shortcut has this command line:

C:\winnt\system32\mode.com com1: 9600,n,8,1

Keywords: kbenv kbprb KB293762

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