Plugged the PIC board into COM4, and set Realterm to Com4 (the 2 port PCI board), everything is fine. Tried another application on COM1 and COM4, COM4 OK, COM1 N.G. As suggested, I remapped the COM1 to COM6 (unused) per https://www.patientecare.com/ser_port_doc/WinPorts.html , method 2. Then changed the Realterm port to COM6, when trying to open the port, I still got the same error. Interesting that COM1 did not show "In USE". Haven't looked at BIOS settings, but will do that. Haven't been to that area for a while. I installed PortMon 3.02, noting that XP was not one of the OS's supported. It didn't respond to anything. I guess with Bill Gates dropping support for XP SP2 in a few months, they are shutting things down for us.:( Last night printed the Kubuntu desktop guide, guess I should spend my time learning that. :) Everyday we now better "Why hermits are hermits" :) :) :) Xiaofan Chen wrote: > On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 1:06 AM, Carl Denk wrote: > >> When trying to access COM1 with Realterm I get the error message. >> This is with WIN XP Pro SP2. Realterm worked fine a for several years up >> to a couple of weeks ago was the last time used, and there have been no >> significant changes to the computer. There is a Server program that is >> configured for COM4. There is a 2 port PCI serial card configured as >> COM3 and COM4. >> >> I have searched for answers with no luck. Most of the solutions are at >> developer level, or a few gaming situations, but those didn't seem >> applicable. >> >> > > What if you try PortMon to see what is the issue? > http://www.cygnal.org/ubb/Forum9/HTML/001473.html > > ASyncPro might be good last time. But maybe it > is no longer a good choice for the future... > > -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist