Solved "Ports (COM & LPT) missing in device manager in Windows Vista Ultimate. How do I inst

ADAIR

New Member
When I open my Device Manager in Windows Vista Ultimate, I have no "Ports (COM & LPT)" showing. As a result my printer won't work and I can't bring up any wireless networks. My computer is a Dell Inspiron 1520 Laptop. I also have a Dell Desktop in which the Device Manager shows the "Ports (COM & LPT)." On this computer the same printer works along with wireless network connections.

How do I get the situation corrected on my Dell Inspiron 1520 laptop.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    DELL INSPIRON 1520
    CPU
    INTEL CORE 2 Duo CPU @ T7500 @ 2.2GHz
Re: "Ports (COM & LPT) missing in device manager in Windows Vista Ultimate. How do I

Welcome
Try typing devices and printers in search by the start button
Then add a device and follow instructions.
Have your printer connected
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Re: "Ports (COM & LPT) missing in device manager in Windows Vista Ultimate. How do I

:)Thanks for your answer. I solved the Bluetooth/WiFi issue by turning on the switch on the left side of the computer that activates that. I didn't think that my computer contained such a switch and was most surprised when I checked carefully that I did in fact have one that somehow got turned off. I did not turn it off myself so how it happened is a mystery to me. At least, now it works.

I solved the printer problem by installing the printer again through the Device Manager itself and using the Dell 927 Photo Printer installation disk. I am now able to print again.

Your help was much appreciated since it got me headed in the right direction.

By the way, I contacted "FixIt" on the internet and by phone and spend a lot of time with them trying to fix these apparently simple problems with no success at all.

They advertised 15 free minutes but they spent that by asking me a lot of questions and having great difficulty hooking up to my computer. I told them in the beginning that all I wanted to do was restore my Device Manager to a proper working function so that the Ports (COM & LPT) would again appear in it. The technician spent a lot of time moving around in my computer and trying things that I was already aware of and nothing worked. Then, after that useless exercise, showed me a lot of viruses in my system (that I question) and suggested I pay $299.00 year to keep my computer working right. He then suggested removing the viruses alone for $24.95, but still would not guarantee that the device Manager would then work properly. We ended up exactly where we started. I cannot believe that a complete reformat of my hard drive and reinstallation of the original program, i.e. Windows Vista Ultimate, would not have rectified the problem had I decided to go that route. I cannot believe that any virus would survive a deep reformat of a disk. My suspicion is that this outfit was just trying to sell support plans for $299 or virus removal plans for viruses that may or may not have really been there for $24.95.

My computer is working fine now. I have run every virus/spyware eliminator I have (Ad Aware, Registry Mechanic, Windows Defender, CCleaner, Spy Bot Search & Destroy, and AVG AntiVirus. I found nothing on my computer at all. Knock on wood. Now it is working like a charm.


WJA

:)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    DELL INSPIRON 1520
    CPU
    INTEL CORE 2 Duo CPU @ T7500 @ 2.2GHz
Re: "Ports (COM & LPT) missing in device manager in Windows Vista Ultimate. How do I

Dont use any registry stuff. It usually causes more harm than good.
Im glad that you are up and running, again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
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