[Elecraft] trashed COM ports...

[John Ragle]

Phil...

    You can find the status of the COM port by going into "Device 
Manager." The way to this confection depends a bit on what version of 
Windows you are using.

    In the more recent Windows versions (WIN 7, Vista...), right-click 
on "Computer" then left-click on "Manage" -- after a few seconds, you 
will be rewarded with a screen called "Computer Management." At the 
bottom of the first category lives "Device Manager." Left-click on it, 
and in a few seconds you will see a formidable list of "devices" to 
manage. Look for a category called "Ports (COM & LPT) and tip the open 
triangle in the usual Mac way. You should see a list of your Prolific 
ports, probably labeled "Prolific USB-to_Serial Comm Port..." followed 
by the port itself in ().

    You are now ready to shoot yourself in the foot. Double-click (left) 
on the particular port that is hung. This brings you to a series of 
tabbed windows which allow various actions, such as "disable," "remove," 
and so on, as well as information about the state of the port.

    You can, for example, remove a comm port. The next time you plug the 
cable into the USB jack, the system will find a driver and re-install 
it. Experiment with the choices -- you cannot really hurt yourself to 
the extent that a re-boot can't cure...although of course you may have 
to re-install your bit-image back up if you really screw things up (you 
DO have one, don't you?). If I were you, I would be very careful not to 
play with the hard drive settings...but the Ports are not likely to 
cause you trouble.

    Have fun...

John Ragle -- W1ZI