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What it is   ComPortMan is a Windows service that gives control over Windows' COM port assignment for COM ports. Running as service makes it independent of the logged on user's privileges, so there is no need to give the users the privilege to change COM ports. You can define new default COM port numbers by several criteria.     Getting Started   When a new device which exposes a COM port appears in the system then Windows assigns the first COM port number which has never been used before. So the port numbers get higher and higher with each new device. You can change the port number assignments in the Windows Device Management with a lot of mouse clicks (and with admin previleges) but you have to do it again for every new device. And for USB devices that have no serial number you have to do it too when you attach it to a different USB port. With ComPortMan you can pre-define new default COM port numbers depending on several criteria let show a balloon tip with the assigned COM port(s) All functions are applied to USB drives at the moment they are being attached and when the ComPortMan service starts up. ComPortMan runs as Win32 service under Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, Windows 7 and Server 2008. An x64 version for the x64 Edition of Windows is available too.     Installation   Unzip the distribution (ComPortMan.ZIP) file to "C:\Program Files" (an ComPortMan folder is included). Under Vista and Win7 I suggest a different folder, for instance "C:\Tools" to prevent trouble caused by the Windows "Virtual Store" where the ComPortMan.INI might be redirected to without telling the user. Then enter your preferred configuration into the ComPortMan.INI (see below). There is a sample file included called ComPortMan_sample.INI. Either create a new ComPortMan.INI or rename the sample. If you are logged on with administrator privileges you can simply install it by starting the _install.cmd Without administrator privileges you will be prompted for them. You can change the ComPortMan.INI without restarting the service because it's checked each time a new drive is attached. You can uninstall the service using parameter -uninstall: _uninstall.cmd Both can be done without the message box by using the following ComPortMan commandline parameters ComPortMan -silentinstall ComPortMan -silentuninstall It returns Errorlevel 0 on success, 1 on failure. You can stop and start the installed service by means of the _stop.cmd and _start.cmd.     Configuration   ComPortMan is configured thru a text file, the ComPortMan.INI. The ComPortMan.INI is read from the folder of the ComPortMan.EXE. If required, read at Wikipedia how INI files work. Sample: New default COM port numbers for USB to serial devices [ComPorts] BusType=USB PortNames=COM3,COM4,COM5,COM6 Have a look into the help file ComPortMan_ENG.CHM for more details. The help file is available online as HTML version too. If you get the 'cannot display the webpage' error then the help file has the NTFS file attribute 'downloaded from untrusted source' and Microsoft doesn't trust its own CHM file format. To fix this right click the ComPortMan_E.CHM, select Properties and click Unblock. Balloon Tips ComPortMan can show a balloon tip with information about the COM port(s) of a just attached device: [BalloonTips] Enabled=1     History   For the complete history check out the help file which is available online as HTML version too. V0.1.0 (25 Jan 2012) First public version V0.5.0 (15 Feb 2012) COM-Ports by USB-Port Balloontips on COM-Port arrival V0.6.0 (17 Feb 2012) Bugfix: Failure with USB multi-port adaptors V0.6.1 (19 Feb 2012) Bugfix: Name of USB port incomplete on some devices V0.7.0 (22 Feb 2012) New: COM-ports sorted in the balloontip V0.8.0.0 (27 Feb 2012) New: Fast "Quick-and-dirty mode" available, see Settings New: Windows COM-port reservation can be removed, see Settings V0.8.1.0 (27 Feb 2012) Bugfix: Detection of mulit-port-adaptors as such failed with some devices New: "Quick-and-dirty mode" is default, see Settings V0.8.2.0 (1 March 2012) Bugfix: COM-port removed if all configured ports are not available V0.8.3.0 (10 June 2012) Bugfix: Wrong balloontip if multiple different COM devices attached to the same USB hub Change: The first digit of the USB port name has been changed to be compatible with USBDLM and UsbTreeView V0.8.4.0 (03 Juli 2012) Bugfix: -install and -uninstall did not work in V0.8.3 V0.8.5.0 (04 July 2012) Bugfix: -silentstop (used by the MSI) was not implemented V0.8.6.0 (15 May 2013) Bugfix: When assigning a COM-port for a new device the same port is changed for all non-present devices to ensure their driver can start if the are attached at the same time V0.8.7.0 (15. Mai 2013) Neu: Nach Entfernen eines COM-Ports kann das Gerät aus dem Gerätemanager entfernt werden, siehe Settings     Download   For home users I suggest the ZIP file. Just unzip to "C:\Program Files" and run the _install.cmd. Under Vista and Windows 7 I suggest a different folder, for instance "C:\Tools" to prevent trouble caused by the "Virtual Store" where the ComPortMan.INI might be redirected to. In this case ensure that only admins and "SYSTEM" have write and execute access to the ComPortMan folder. The MSI is for admins who want to deploy the software in their network. An MSI with integrated ComPortMan.INI is not difficult to create, see ComPortMan help under Creating an MSI. There is also some information about using the MSI for ComPortMan updates. The software is fully functional and does not expire. There is no 'full version'. Download latest release V0.8.7.0: Win32: http://www.uwe-sieber.de/files/comportman.zip (about 210 KB) http://www.uwe-sieber.de/files/comportman.msi (about 237 KB) x64: http://www.uwe-sieber.de/files/comportman_x64.zip (about 229 KB) http://www.uwe-sieber.de/files/comportman_x64.msi (about 256 KB)     Conditions and Prices ComPortMan ComPortMan is Freeware for private and educational (schools, colleges, universities) use only. The students shall outnumber all others. Otherwise one licence per computer is required after a 30 day test period even though the software does not expire. To support admins in schools which are often voluntary workers I made ComPortMan freeware for schools, colleges and universities. But that's the line I've drawn and even your organization is non profit, good and important I have to say, it's beyond that line. Ask me for a discount in this case. Prices with effect from Jan 2012 (Euro prices are constant, USD prices are floating): Purchase of:  Price per licence 1 to 9 licences 15.00 USD 10 to 99 licences 9.00 USD 100 to 999 licences 6.75 USD 1000 to 9999 licences 4.50 USD >10000 licences 2.25 USD Site Licence 2250.00 USD World-Wide Licence 9000.00 USD A Site License allows anyone in the organization making the purchase, within a 160 km (100 mile) radius of the purchasing location, to use the software. This includes people from that organization location who are travelling but it does not include people with locations outside of the 160 km radius. A World-Wide License allows anyone in the organization making the purchase, who is on the planet Earth, to use the software. You can order directly at me, I send offer and invoice on request. An online order is possible at the KAGI online Shop (USA, California) with credit card, check or cash. VAT is charged depending on your country and can be skipped by having a VAT ID number. The licence is delivered as licence number by eMail or on the invoice. It's not required for the software, the software is not limited in any way and it does not expire. KAGI Online Shop (USA, California) All licences are not limited in time and valid for future versions too. All updates are free of charge. Purchasers of V1.x, 2.x and 3.x are free to use V4.x.   Counter since Feb. 1998 last change: 15 May 2013 The phone number is here because of the strange german law. Please don't call me, write an eMail instead. Home