VMSpc Com Port Failure

[RickO]

My VMSpc set up has stopped working and I'm having a heck of a time trying to get it back up. The failure mode is no data being fed to the PC and under "advanced/communications" tab I see "PC Port Failure". The Silverleaf site indicates that this should be caused by improperly installed drivers.

I have FL chassis and running VMSpc on a dash mounted HP Netbook with XP SP3 and the 501 USB Jib.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the software and drivers from the Silverleaf site but no dice.

Although the VMS software indicates that the "VMS Virtual Serial Port" is assigned to Com Port 1.... my Device Manager doesn't show anything there. I have also tried many other com posts to no avail.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Does the Jib need to be powered up (engine running/key on?) for the software to get past the "pc port failure" step? It doesn't work either way but I wanted to check.

Thanks in advance

Rick

[srydve]

My thought would be to carefully check all your connections.

[RickO]

Thanks Dave. The Silverleaf site indicates that this failure mode is a sign that the software can't even open the com port on the PC to begin looking for the VMS hardware. I have checked the USB and OBD port connections and they are fine. I haven't yet checked the connections on the JIB box itself because I'll have to tear my dash out to get to it.

Thanks again.

Rick

[texnet]

I had the same problem once. I fought with it for a few minutes then disabled the port and re-enabled it and everything came back to life.

With the USB version you should be able to open the Device Manager, then expand the Port (COM & LPT) section. Once you are there, unplug your USB cable and see if one disappears. If so you know which Com port it is.

Also, Windows sometimes runs out of ability to assign a port. I have never been able to figure out why, but typically disabling and re-enabling solves that type of problem.

[RickO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by texnet With the USB version you should be able to open the Device Manager, then expand the Port (COM & LPT) section. Once you are there, unplug your USB cable and see if one disappears. If so you know which Com port it is. .

Success!!! Thanks so much.

In Device Mgr (COM & LPT) I was only showing one port in use... that being for the GPS unit for MS Streets and Trips. BUT, I unplugged it and as you suggested... it disappeared from device manager. On a whim, I tried plugging the JIB into THAT USB connection. Windows recognized it right away and installed the necessary drivers... which it had told me had already been installed successfully... It assigned com port 11 so I had to force it back to #1 but all is now working and device manager is correctly recognizing the VMS.

Thanks again guys!

Rick

[texnet]

Good deal! That is a typical problem when Windows gets confused on USB ports. The drivers were reinstalled because Windows saw the JIB on a new port and did not have the drivers associated to that port.