Impact ColorFax Lite - need help with a Com port

Hello Experts,

I just bought this prog and the existing comport settings were Com 1 and
Com 2. My Zoom fax is set at Com 3 and Coms 1 and 2 are considered to be
for computer-computer discussions. I read through the instructions and
did not find what I wanted.

Here is an extract from the instructions: "For instance, if you are
using 10 COM Ports on your machine, a mouse occupies COM port 1, and COM
port 2 is occupied by a modem not used for faxing, and you want to use
COM ports 3 through 10 for faxing. To do this you would set the maximum
port number to 10."

I raised the number of Comports from 8 to 10 but that changed nothing. I
even rebooted after that but still no move to Com 3.

TIA

On Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:25:58 +0000, Loonie wrote:

> Hello Experts,
>
> I just bought this prog and the existing comport settings were Com 1 and
> Com 2. My Zoom fax is set at Com 3 and Coms 1 and 2 are considered to be
> for computer-computer discussions. I read through the instructions and
> did not find what I wanted.
>
> Here is an extract from the instructions: "For instance, if you are
> using 10 COM Ports on your machine, a mouse occupies COM port 1, and COM
> port 2 is occupied by a modem not used for faxing, and you want to use
> COM ports 3 through 10 for faxing. To do this you would set the maximum
> port number to 10."
>
> I raised the number of Comports from 8 to 10 but that changed nothing. I
> even rebooted after that but still no move to Com 3.
>
> TIA

These instructions are from the dark ages.

Mouses have not been on com ports for more than a few years...

Try telling the program to use COM1 or COM2 for the modem. You have
nothing to lose, and if it works, you're home free...

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On 11/19/2011 5:25 PM, Loonie wrote:
> Hello Experts,
>
> I just bought this prog and the existing comport settings were Com 1 and
> Com 2. My Zoom fax is set at Com 3 and Coms 1 and 2 are considered to be
> for computer-computer discussions. I read through the instructions and
> did not find what I wanted.
>
> Here is an extract from the instructions: "For instance, if you are
> using 10 COM Ports on your machine, a mouse occupies COM port 1, and COM
> port 2 is occupied by a modem not used for faxing, and you want to use
> COM ports 3 through 10 for faxing. To do this you would set the maximum
> port number to 10."
>
> I raised the number of Comports from 8 to 10 but that changed nothing. I
> even rebooted after that but still no move to Com 3.
>
> TIA
>
It's possible that another active fax program, such as the built-in
(sort of anyway) windows fax is active, and has the modem and com port
tied up. A complicating factor may be that the modem does not actually
use a com port (IE internal modem or USB modem.

If it helps, the program does have some level of tech support on the
mfrs web site. Unfortunately, a question similar to yours was asked in
2009, and never answered.

I assume windows recognizes the modem ??

You may have to poke around in the program files. There may be a file
that sets which ports are checked by the program, and in which order.

charlie wrote:
> On 11/19/2011 5:25 PM, Loonie wrote:
>> Hello Experts,
>>
>> I just bought this prog and the existing comport settings were Com 1 and
>> Com 2. My Zoom fax is set at Com 3 and Coms 1 and 2 are considered to be
>> for computer-computer discussions. I read through the instructions and
>> did not find what I wanted.
>>
>> Here is an extract from the instructions: "For instance, if you are
>> using 10 COM Ports on your machine, a mouse occupies COM port 1, and COM
>> port 2 is occupied by a modem not used for faxing, and you want to use
>> COM ports 3 through 10 for faxing. To do this you would set the maximum
>> port number to 10."
>>
>> I raised the number of Comports from 8 to 10 but that changed nothing. I
>> even rebooted after that but still no move to Com 3.
>>
>> TIA
>>
> It's possible that another active fax program, such as the built-in
> (sort of anyway) windows fax is active, and has the modem and com port
> tied up. A complicating factor may be that the modem does not actually
> use a com port (IE internal modem or USB modem.
>
> If it helps, the program does have some level of tech support on the
> mfrs web site. Unfortunately, a question similar to yours was asked in
> 2009, and never answered.
>
> I assume windows recognizes the modem ??
>
> You may have to poke around in the program files. There may be a file
> that sets which ports are checked by the program, and in which order.

You can use the program "Handle" for debugging serial ports.

For example, on this computer, I have a modem on COM3 and the UPS
shutdown interface is on COM4. COM3 and COM4 are USB to Serial adapters.
In Handle, I can see

94: Thread ups.exe(252): 288
98: File (---) \Device\VCP0

D4: Thread hypertrm.exe(3192): 2084
120: File (---) \Device\VCP1

I'm using WinXP right now, and I used the built-in HyperTerminal program
to make the modem "busy", for the purposes of this test.

The VCP part, stands for "Virtual COM Port", a feature of the
FTDI serial chip driver.

On a computer with a "real" serial port, where the serial port is on
the I/O plate on the back of the computer, and it is hosted by the
SuperI/O chip, you might see

hypertrm.exe pid: 1904 108: \Device\Serial0

Now, Windows 7 could be using yet another naming convention, which
is why using Handle is so much fun. "Handle" is a command line program.
On Windows 7, I'd type cmd.exe in the Start box, then right click
and "Run as Administrator", and once the Window appears, cd
(change directory) to the directory with the program, then type
handle -a > handle_out.txt and have a look at handle_out.txt with
Notepad.

"Handle v3.46 By Mark Russinovich"

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb896655

It's probably Windows FAX and Scan doing it, but it would be
fun to confirm that.

My track record on figuring this out, is pretty poor, even
with Handle in my possession. I've spent hours staring
at that output, trying to figure out where the serial port
went :-)

Once the serial port is free (i.e. no program "owns it"), it
should disappear from the Handle output, and then you'd expect
the new FAX program to detect it and grab it.

Paul

In message <br_xq.103690$>, charlie
<> writes:
[]
>It's possible that another active fax program, such as the built-in
>(sort of anyway) windows fax is active, and has the modem and com port
>tied up. A complicating factor may be that the modem does not actually
>use a com port (IE internal modem or USB modem.
[]
Internal MoDems often appear (under DOS and '9x, anyway - I don't know
about XP and Vista/7) as a COM port - often, but far from always, COM3.
(I wouldn't be surprised if USB ones do too - I've not had the chance to
play with one.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Bother," said Pooh, as Windows crashed for the umpteenth time.

On 20/11/2011 03:11, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
> On Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:25:58 +0000, Loonie wrote:
>
>> Hello Experts,
>>
>> I just bought this prog and the existing comport settings were Com 1 and
>> Com 2. My Zoom fax is set at Com 3 and Coms 1 and 2 are considered to be
>> for computer-computer discussions. I read through the instructions and
>> did not find what I wanted.
>>
>> Here is an extract from the instructions: "For instance, if you are
>> using 10 COM Ports on your machine, a mouse occupies COM port 1, and COM
>> port 2 is occupied by a modem not used for faxing, and you want to use
>> COM ports 3 through 10 for faxing. To do this you would set the maximum
>> port number to 10."
>>
>> I raised the number of Comports from 8 to 10 but that changed nothing. I
>> even rebooted after that but still no move to Com 3.
>>
>> TIA
>
> These instructions are from the dark ages.
>
> Mouses have not been on com ports for more than a few years...
>
> Try telling the program to use COM1 or COM2 for the modem. You have
> nothing to lose, and if it works, you're home free...
>

Thanks Gene,

I thought I might get a choice of ports when reinstalling the modem so
deleted Com 3. But, when reinstalling, the modem went again to Com 3.
There was no choice.

Then I deleted Com 2 and tried to install the modem there. It went
through some process but it came back with the old Com 2 - for computer
communications.

On 20/11/2011 03:26, charlie wrote:
> On 11/19/2011 5:25 PM, Loonie wrote:
>> Hello Experts,
>>
>> I just bought this prog and the existing comport settings were Com 1 and
>> Com 2. My Zoom fax is set at Com 3 and Coms 1 and 2 are considered to be
>> for computer-computer discussions. I read through the instructions and
>> did not find what I wanted.
>>
>> Here is an extract from the instructions: "For instance, if you are
>> using 10 COM Ports on your machine, a mouse occupies COM port 1, and COM
>> port 2 is occupied by a modem not used for faxing, and you want to use
>> COM ports 3 through 10 for faxing. To do this you would set the maximum
>> port number to 10."
>>
>> I raised the number of Comports from 8 to 10 but that changed nothing. I
>> even rebooted after that but still no move to Com 3.
>>
>> TIA
>>
> It's possible that another active fax program, such as the built-in
> (sort of anyway) windows fax is active, and has the modem and com port
> tied up. A complicating factor may be that the modem does not actually
> use a com port (IE internal modem or USB modem.

I had that in mind too, so I went to Programs and Features with the
intention to repeat what I had done earlier on Fax and Scan - I did
succeed in getting it off the map, or so I thought. However, I soon had
more problems with other fax programs, so I reinstalled the Fax and
Scan. Today I was fed up of that program and I went back to Programs and
Features to dump it. It was nowhere in sight. I searched many other
locations but it was well hidden. Now it's probably locking the modem on
that Com 3.

> If it helps, the program does have some level of tech support on the
> mfrs web site. Unfortunately, a question similar to yours was asked in
> 2009, and never answered.

Ouch! maybe I have wasted my money. Their support appears to be very
minimal.

> I assume windows recognizes the modem ??

Definitely.

> You may have to poke around in the program files. There may be a file
> that sets which ports are checked by the program, and in which order.

Life is tough! Thanks Charlie :-)

On 20/11/2011 03:58, Paul wrote:
> charlie wrote:
>> On 11/19/2011 5:25 PM, Loonie wrote:
>>> Hello Experts,
>>>
>>> I just bought this prog and the existing comport settings were Com 1 and
>>> Com 2. My Zoom fax is set at Com 3 and Coms 1 and 2 are considered to be
>>> for computer-computer discussions. I read through the instructions and
>>> did not find what I wanted.
>>>
>>> Here is an extract from the instructions: "For instance, if you are
>>> using 10 COM Ports on your machine, a mouse occupies COM port 1, and COM
>>> port 2 is occupied by a modem not used for faxing, and you want to use
>>> COM ports 3 through 10 for faxing. To do this you would set the maximum
>>> port number to 10."
>>>
>>> I raised the number of Comports from 8 to 10 but that changed nothing. I
>>> even rebooted after that but still no move to Com 3.
>>>
>>> TIA
>>>
>> It's possible that another active fax program, such as the built-in
>> (sort of anyway) windows fax is active, and has the modem and com port
>> tied up. A complicating factor may be that the modem does not actually
>> use a com port (IE internal modem or USB modem.
>>
>> If it helps, the program does have some level of tech support on the
>> mfrs web site. Unfortunately, a question similar to yours was asked in
>> 2009, and never answered.
>>
>> I assume windows recognizes the modem ??
>>
>> You may have to poke around in the program files. There may be a file
>> that sets which ports are checked by the program, and in which order.
>
> You can use the program "Handle" for debugging serial ports.
>
> For example, on this computer, I have a modem on COM3 and the UPS
> shutdown interface is on COM4. COM3 and COM4 are USB to Serial adapters.
> In Handle, I can see
>
> 94: Thread ups.exe(252): 288
> 98: File (---) \Device\VCP0
>
> D4: Thread hypertrm.exe(3192): 2084
> 120: File (---) \Device\VCP1
>
> I'm using WinXP right now, and I used the built-in HyperTerminal program
> to make the modem "busy", for the purposes of this test.
>
> The VCP part, stands for "Virtual COM Port", a feature of the
> FTDI serial chip driver.
>
> On a computer with a "real" serial port, where the serial port is on
> the I/O plate on the back of the computer, and it is hosted by the
> SuperI/O chip, you might see
>
> hypertrm.exe pid: 1904 108: \Device\Serial0
>
> Now, Windows 7 could be using yet another naming convention, which
> is why using Handle is so much fun. "Handle" is a command line program.
> On Windows 7, I'd type cmd.exe in the Start box, then right click
> and "Run as Administrator", and once the Window appears, cd
> (change directory) to the directory with the program, then type
> handle -a > handle_out.txt and have a look at handle_out.txt with
> Notepad.
>
> "Handle v3.46 By Mark Russinovich"
>
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb896655
>
> It's probably Windows FAX and Scan doing it, but it would be
> fun to confirm that.
>
> My track record on figuring this out, is pretty poor, even
> with Handle in my possession. I've spent hours staring
> at that output, trying to figure out where the serial port
> went :-)
>
> Once the serial port is free (i.e. no program "owns it"), it
> should disappear from the Handle output, and then you'd expect
> the new FAX program to detect it and grab it.
>
> Paul

Thanks Paul.

I had never heard of Handle until now. I installed it but it seemed to
flash up and then disappear. Will try some more soon.

On Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:49:41 +0000, Loonie wrote:
>
> On 20/11/2011 03:58, Paul wrote:

> > You can use the program "Handle" for debugging serial ports.
> >
> > http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb896655
>
> I had never heard of Handle until now. I installed it but it seemed to
> flash up and then disappear. Will try some more soon.

Did you read the documentation at the link Paul gave? You have to
run it on the command line.

The same page also says "You can also get a GUI-based version of this
program, Process Explorer[1], here at Sysinternals." I've used
Process Explorer before, but I don't know whether it reveals COM
ports. (If it does, then the help file doesn't explain how to view
that information.)

[1] http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb896653

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Shikata ga nai...

On 20/11/2011 23:28, Stan Brown wrote:
> On Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:49:41 +0000, Loonie wrote:
>>
>> On 20/11/2011 03:58, Paul wrote:
>
>>> You can use the program "Handle" for debugging serial ports.
>>>
>>> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb896655
>>
>> I had never heard of Handle until now. I installed it but it seemed to
>> flash up and then disappear. Will try some more soon.
>
> Did you read the documentation at the link Paul gave? You have to
> run it on the command line.
>
> The same page also says "You can also get a GUI-based version of this
> program, Process Explorer[1], here at Sysinternals." I've used
> Process Explorer before, but I don't know whether it reveals COM
> ports. (If it does, then the help file doesn't explain how to view
> that information.)
>
> [1] http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb896653
>

Thank you Stan.

Yesterday I downloaded Sysinternals but I have not tried it yet

I always keep the Command prompt on my desktop. I did read Paul's
article but I found using the word Handle did nothing at the Cmd prompt.

> Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
> Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
>
> C:\Users\jvalh>handle
> 'handle' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
> operable program or batch file.

Today I tried:

> C:\Users\jvalh>handle windows\system

Result:
> 'handle' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
> operable program or batch file.

Next I tried: handle -p exp

Result:
> 'handle' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
> operable program or batch file.

The above came from >
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb896655

The problems might come from the fact that my Win 7 is the Home Premium
version.