COM Ports will not Enable on a ThinkPad 240, 390, 570, or 1720 Running Windows 2000 - Search Again SUMMARY I have a ThinkPad 240, 390e, 390x, 570e or 1720 that is running Windows 2000 and has LapLink installed. I'm trying to make a serial cable connection, but the COM port status reads Unavailable. What can I do to get connected? CAUSE LapLink customers who have a ThinkPad 770x or 770z will need to ensure that their system is properly configured before a LapLink connection is possible. These steps need to be followed exactly. If you need help following these steps, IBM Technical Support can be reached at 1-800-772-2227. Please remember that IBM supports machines with Windows 2000 pre-loaded on the system. If you have upgraded to Windows 2000, you will need to contact IBM to see what support services are available for your machine. SOLUTION The first place that needs to be configured is the ThinkPad's Configuration utility. The utility must be installed to carry out this step. To find the utility:
- From the Windows Start menu, go to Programs, then ThinkPad, and click ThinkPad Configuration. The version required is 1.16 or greater.
Note: If this utility is no longer on your machine, click here to get this utility from IBM. Select your machine model from the list and follow the steps to download.
- Locate the Infrared port and confirm that it is disabled.
- Locate the Serial port and confirm that it is enabled, and configured to be 03F8 and IRQ 4 .
- Exit ThinkPad Configuration.
The second place that needs to be configured is Windows 2000.
- Right-click My Computer and click Properties. Click the Hardware tab and then the Device Manager button.
- Double-click the Infrared category so that the details of IBM ThinkPad Fast Infrared appear. You should see a red X and the properties should say that it is disabled.
Note: If it does not display as disabled, double-click IBM ThinkPad Fast Infrared port and under Device Usage , click Do not use this device (disable) and then click OK.
- Double-click the Modems category , double-click the ThinkPad Modem, click the Modem tab and check to ensure that the port reads as COM2 or COM3.
- Double-click the Ports (COM & LPT) category and then double-click Communications Port COM2. Click Port Settings and then click the Advanced button.
- Beside Com Port Number, click either COM1 or COM1 in use. Click OK and click YES to the following message "The COM name is being used by another device (such as another Com port or modem). Using duplicate names can lead to inaccessible devices and changed settings. Do you want to continue? Then click OK.
Note: In Device Manager, you should now see Communications Port COM1
- Double-click Communications Port COM1 and click the Resources tab. The resource settings should be:
Input/Output Range 03F8-03FF
Interrupt Request 04
- Remove the check from Use Automatic Settings. Beside Setting based on: click Basic Configuration 0000. Click OK , then YES.
Now check LapLink
- Under Options, Port Setup, highlight COM1 and click Enable Port .
- You will receive a message "You have enabled a modem and one other cable port. If you experience problems with modem connections, disable the cable connection first." Click OK.
- If COM1 is now enabled, you can connect.
- If COM1 still shows Unavailable, continue to the next step.
If needed, reinitialize the BIOS
- Close all applications and shut down the ThinkPad using the standard shutdown method.
- While the power is still off, hold down the F1 key and turn on the ThinkPad. Choose Enter Easy-Setup BIOS during the reboot.
Note: In this next step you will reinitialize your BIOS. If you have customized the BIOS in any way (such as an ECP parallel port mode, or Wake on LAN), you need to write down the settings before proceeding. Later, you can restore them.
- Click Config and then Initialize. Click OK and Exit to reboot. Restart the machine into Windows 2000.
- Once you are back in Windows 2000, follow the steps listed above to confirm that LapLink can enable the COM port.
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