How to check what uses COM ports - WinXP

Does anyone know of a utility for Windows XP that tells you what com ports (virtual com ports incuded) are in use and what software/hardware is using them?

Here is backgound info for my question...kinda long:

I have a Windows XP Professional SP1 laptop that I am trying to configure for bluetooth so that I can use Activesync with my Ipaq pocket pc. I have searched for and found out how to set this up, so I know the exact procedure. However, in following the procedure, I need to set my Activesync software to the com port that the bluetooth device is using. The problem is that the bluetooth device is using virtual com port 38 (shown in the bluetooth software) and the Activesync software requires that it use a com port in the 1 - 9 range. All this is well known to be the way it has to be set up, so I don't have an issue with that. I just need to be able to get the bluetooth device on a com port in the 1 - 9 range. The only way to do that is to uninstall whatever is taking up the other com ports and then reinstall the bluetooth device.

The only way I can determine what com ports are in use, is to go to my modem properties and look at the port configuration. The drop down list shows all the com ports (hardware and virtual) from 1 - 256. Every port, except 2 and 3, from 1 - 37 is "in use." For some reason, the bluetooth device will only use a virtual com port because it will not use 2 or 3. It always uses the next virtual port that is not "in use" -- in this case, 38.

Sorry for the long explanation. The problem comes down to being able to uninstall whatever is using all those com ports (1 - 37, except 2 and 3). If I am able to do this and then reinstall the bluetooth device, the bluetooth device will take one that I can use with Activesync (1 - 9). I have tried uninstalling various things in device manager, but I have no way of knowing if any of the things I am uninstalling is using a com port, except for the modem, of course.

I cannot find out what is using all these com ports, and I could not find any utility that would identify what is using the com ports that are "in use." If I knew that, I could simply unistall that hardware/software.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

Hi pjs I found this in MG's "diagnostic" section. Might help. Take a look at the screenshot anyhow.

 

Hey billH,

I tried out the app, but it seems to only identify TCP/IP ports. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

I have this same problem. But i have found a way to work around it. Goto to the device manager and actually chage the com port to one of a lower number. The system will warn you that the port is already "in use" just ignore it and carry on! Seems to work fine for my iPAQ.

But that said if anyone can find a way to fix this "in use" problem... Please speak up! this is getting irritating... I have some of my bluetooth services running on com port 45 for god's sake!

 

The easiest utility I have found is System Information in System Tools.

Failing that, something like Everest Home Edition should help.