[AceOfHearts]

Hi,

I just bought a second hand notebook which is in good condition. It is a Dell LAtitude D610. The main reason or only reason I bought it was because of the serial port. I paid over £200 for it.

Now, although the parallel port works, the serial port doesnt! I had a look at the Systems in Control Panel. It seems like the computer does not realise it is there.

I need help on how I can fix the poblem....
Please help!

Many thanks.

[Wolfeymole]

Hello Ace

Welcome to TCF

Do you have any yellow question marks in Device Manager showing?

[AceOfHearts]

Originally Posted by Wolfeymole

Hello Ace

Welcome to TCF

Do you have any yellow question marks in Device Manager showing?

Hi,

thanks very much for your quick reply.

No there is no yellow flag showing aywhere.

However, I cant see the serial port any where. There is one tab saying "COM & LPT", however there is only one thing that shows up when I click on it, which is the parallel/printer port...

awaiting more assistance.

Thanks again, I appreciate it.

[Wolfeymole]

Click the + next to the Com & LPT and see what that says.
What exactly are you trying to connect to the port?

[AceOfHearts]

It says

"ECP Printer Port (LPT1)"

and nothing else.

I am trying to connect a microcontroller programmer to it (so I can program the microcontroller), I have successfully done it on another computer.

I am sure there is a fault with the laptop rather than what I am trying to connect to it.

All help appreciated.

[Wolfeymole]

If you say you've done it before then I'm sure you have but personally I wouldn't have a clue whether plugging into the serial port could re-program a microcontroller.
Sorry mate.

[AceOfHearts]

Thanks for trying to help.

Anybody else?

[Wolfeymole]

I would have imagined that you would have to have specialised apparatus to alter/reprogram eeprom chips of that nature.

[AceOfHearts]

Originally Posted by Wolfeymole

I would have imagined that you would have to have specialised apparatus to alter/reprogram eeprom chips of that nature.

The chip is on a hardware board called a 'target board'. The chip is called an 8051 microcontroller for your interest, which I purchased, and I will be using relevant software that came with the package.

But this is irrelevant...

The problem is with the computer...so no microcontroller knowledge is necessary. the notebook is not sending or receiving data through its serial port. The notebook Its not recognising the serial port. Whatever I would connect to it...it so happens my intended use is not that common, but my intended use is irrelevant untill I get the computer to function normally ie. I need a normally functioning serial port.

On the home PC, the serial port works normally.

[AceOfHearts]

Just checked the home PC's Device Manager which has a working serial port,

Under the "Ports (COM & LPT)" tab,

the parallel port, as well as a "Communications Port" shows up which I immagine is the serial port of the PC. So I should get the same "Communications Port" under "Ports (Com & LPT)" tab of the notebook, but it is not there.

I am sure it is just a matter of finding someone with the relevant computer knowledge.

PS. The laptop is a Dell Lattitude C610 not D610 stated in the first post.