Contents

Configuring the COM1 serial port in a Windows 2000 guest operating system

To map the COM1 serial port in your Windows 2000 virtual machine to a physical port on your host machine:

  1. Select File > Open and open the virtual machine configuration file (.cfg) you want to modify.
  2. Add a serial port device to the virtual machine using the Configuration Editor.
  3. Power on the virtual machine.
  4. After the Windows 2000 guest operating system starts and you are logged in, right click the My Computer icon on the desktop, then select Manage. The "Computer Management" window opens.
  5. Expand the "System Tools" tree, then select Device Manager.
  6. Expand the "Ports" tree. If device list shows only non-working COM5 and COM6 ports, please continue to the next step. If it shows six COM ports, please skip to step 15.
  7. Uninstall the COM5 and COM6 ports by selecting the port, right-clicking and selecting Uninstall. After you delete the last port, you are prompted to reboot the virtual machine. Click Yes.
  8. When the virtual machine reboots, and you are logged in, open the "Control Panel" and double-click Add/Remove Hardware. The "Add/Remote Hardware Wizard" starts. Click Next.
  9. Select the Add/Troubleshoot a device option and click Next.
  10. Select Add a New Device and click Next.
  11. Select the "Yes, search for new hardware" option and click Next.
  12. The wizard should detect four COM ports. Click Next.
  13. Click Finish to close the wizard, then restart the guest operating system when prompted.
  14. Open the Device Manager again. Expand the "Ports" tree. You should see six COM ports (COM1 through COM6).
  15. Select COM3, right click and select Uninstall. Click OK to confirm the removal of the COM3 port. Repeat this step for COM2 and COM4.
  16. Now COM1 should show as configured. If not, just shut down and restart the guest operating system. You do not need to remove the COM5 and COM6 ports.

Related topics:

Back to top

© 2001 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved.