DOCUMENT:Q131976 08-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :How to Disable Detection of Devices on Serial Ports PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:WinNT:3.1,3.5,3.51,4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbusage ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.1 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.1 - Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= This article explains how to modify the Boot.ini file to disable the detection of devices on COM ports. When you start Windows NT, NTDETECT searches for the pointing device (usually a mouse). In the course of this process, data is sent to the serial (COM) ports. If a serial mouse is detected, Windows NT disables the port so a device driver for the mouse can load instead. If a device is not detected, Windows NT disables the port. A disabled COM port does not display any information in Control Panel Ports. MORE INFORMATION ================ To disable the detection of devices on COM ports in Windows NT: 1. Make a backup copy of the Boot.ini file. 2. Remove the hidden, system, and read-only attributes from the Boot.ini file. 3. Using a text editor (such as Notepad) open the Boot.ini file. 4. Add the /NoSerialMice option to the end of each entry in the [operating systems] section of Boot.ini. See the example below for more information. 5. Save Boot.ini and quit Notepad. 6. Restore the hidden, system, and read-only attributes to the Boot.ini file. 7. Shutdown and restart Windows NT. The following is a sample of the Boot.ini file: [boot loader] timeout=3 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT35 [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT35="Windows NT Workstation Version 3.51" /NoSerialMice multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT35="Windows NT Workstation Version 3.51 [VGA mode]" /basevideo /sos /NoSerialMice NoSerialMice Syntax ------------------- /NoSerialMice - Disables the detection of serial mice on all COM ports. /NoSerialMice:COMx - Disables the detection of serial mice on COM x, where x is the number of the port. /NoSerialMice:COMx,y,z - Disables the detection of serial mice on COM x, y and z. NOTE: The /NoSerialMice option is not case sensitive. ====================================================================== Keywords : kbusage Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTW310 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS310 kbWinNTAdvSerSearch kbWinNTAdvServ310 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search kbWinNTS310search kbWinNT310Search kbWinNTW310Search Version : WinNT:3.1,3.5,3.51,4.0 Issue type : kbhowto ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.