To open the Device Manager in Vista, click the Start Orb and then click Control Panel. Next, click Hardware And Sound and then click Device Manager.

For parallel and serial port information, click Ports in the list that appears in the Device Manager window. For USB information, click Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Double-click an item to display its Properties dialog box with additional details about the port.

Port Problem Or Hardware Problem?

Because you use ports to connect peripherals such as printers and PDAs to your computer, inoperable hardware is a symptom of a port problem. Try resetting the port by restarting your PC and reconnecting the device. If this doesn’t work, it’s time for some trial-and-error troubleshooting.

To try to determine whether the port or a malfunctioning device is causing the problem, connect the hardware device to another computer. If it works, the problem may be related to the port. If you don’t have another computer available, you can try plugging a different device into the port. For example, if you plug a keyboard into a USB port and it’s not working, try a USB mouse or flash drive. If it works, you can focus on troubleshooting the nonworking peripheral device and not the port.

General Port Troubleshooting

Problem: My hardware works when it’s connected to a different PC’s USB/parallel/serial port, but not on this PC. What should I do next?

Solution: If you determine the probable cause is not a hardware issue, the next steps are to check the computer’s BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) settings and to check for upgrades to the computer’s BIOS.

To enter the BIOS, press a key or key combination as your PC is starting, before Windows begins to load. Common setup access keys are DELETE, ESC, and F function keys. If you’re not sure which key you need to press to enter your PC’s BIOS, watch for a message as your system starts for the key(s) to press. Repeatedly pressing the key(s) as your computer is starting helps to ensure you press them at the correct moment.

When the BIOS menu appears, take care not to inadvertently change settings. The on-screen display should note how to exit the screens without saving changes, if you need to. As you review the BIOS information, look for the BIOS version and write it down. You can check the manufacturer’s Web site for BIOS update instructions after you exit the BIOS setup.

Next, check the BIOS settings for the port you are troubleshooting. Port settings are normally located in the Advanced menu. If your computer is newer, the BIOS setup screens may not include port information. If that’s the case, simply exit the BIOS to continue the PC startup.

If the BIOS menus contain settings for the port you are troubleshooting, check to make sure the port is enabled. You may need to enable additional features, depending on the hardware device you want to connect to the port. For example, if you are working with a parallel port for your printer, you may need to enable bidirectional capabilities in the BIOS. ECP (Extended Capability Port) mode is a bidirectional parallel port standard that lets modern printers communicate with your PC and vice versa. Check your documentation for instructions.

If the port continues to malfunction after you check the BIOS information, you can move on to troubleshooting Windows settings with the Device Manager. To open Device Manager, right-click My Computer, click Properties, click the Hardware tab, and click Device Manager. To open the Device Manager in Vista, click the Start Orb and then click Control Panel. Next, click Hardware And Sound and then click Device Manager.

For parallel and serial port information, click Ports in the list that appears and expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers for a USB issue. (NOTE: If you are using Windows 98/Me, check the Microsoft Knowledge Base article at support.microsoft.com/kb/133240/EN-US for details about using Device Manager.)

In the Device Manager, look for error messages or symbols (such as an exclamation point on a yellow background) next to the controller or near items in the expanded list. If a message or symbol does not appear, check each item in the expanded list by right-clicking it and clicking Properties. Check the Device Status box to determine if there is an error associated with the device. If so, follow the suggested solution.

Troubleshooting USB Ports

Problem: When I use my external USB hub, Windows does not recognize the device I attached to it or it stops working.

Solution: External USB hubs are either self-powered (obtain power from an AC/electrical outlet) or bus-powered (obtain power from the USB port on the PC that it’s plugged into). Bus-powered hubs can only handle low-power USB devices that use 100mA (milliamps) or less, such as mice, keyboards, joysticks, or USB devices that are self-powered (use an AC power connector). They can’t handle devices that require 100 to 500mA of power, such as video cameras, scanners, and external drives. If the device is a high-power device, attach it to a USB port on the PC or purchase and install a self-powered hub. Or you can try distributing high-power and bus-powered USB devices across your PC’s USB ports, so that not all high-power devices are on the same external hub.