Hello,
I am using an industrial PC running Windows XP on my boat. The computer is among other things used for navigation and is connected to GPS and other data sources through NMEA. The computer is equipped with 4 serial ports.
If I start the computer (Windows XP) when the datasources are sending it seems that Windows is assuming that it is dealing with a mouse and allocates the serial port making it impossible to use by other applications. I have two work-arounds; (i) move the datasource to another serial port when Windows is running and configure the application to read from the new port - not practical (ii) make sure that the datasources are not running when Windows is starting up - workable but not very practical. In case I need to restart Windows (which happens) I then have to shut/disconnect the datasources which have some other neagtive impact.
So is it possible to start Windows without setting up any default serial ports ?? Would be very happy for a solution as this problems has distured me for a couple of years.
Default configuration of serial ports in Windows XP.
