Change the COM Port for a Modem

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

You can use this procedure to change the COM port that older programs use to communicate with your modem.

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure.

To change the COM port for a modem

  1. In Control Panel, click Hardware and Sound, and then click Phone and Modem Options.

  2. On the Modems tab, click the modem you want to configure, and then click Properties.

    If the Change settings button is present, you must click it to make any changes to the device. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

    If the Change settings button is not present, the modem does not support the ability to change modem settings. Refer to the documentation provided by your modem vendor.

  3. On the Advanced tab, click Advanced Port Settings.

    If this option is not displayed, the modem does not support the ability to change the assigned COM port. Refer to the documentation provided by your modem vendor.

Additional considerations

  • Do not change this setting unless it is required by your system configuration. The COM port is normally assigned correctly when you install a modem.

  • The advanced COM port settings are available only for specific brands of modems. If you do not have one of these modems, to change the assigned COM port, you must reinstall the modem, and then select the COM port you want.