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#1
Getting a list of assigned Com Ports if the devices aren't connected
Device Manager is not the answer.
I did a search, but most of the results pointed to using DM which doesn't work if the devices are not connected. That only shows Com1.
Using programs that program radio devices (receivers and transceivers) that use a USB as the communications path. When you connect the device DM assigns a port to them (hopefully). The problem is, when I add another program to control a different device, the previous program looses it's assigned Com port forcing me to choose another. Similar to using DHCP instead of Static IP addresses, which is why I have always used Static addresses.
Best example is; I thought I may of had a issue with a Serial to USB adapter cable. I bought two, one as a spare. I removed the 1st one, connected the 2nd, it assigned a new port number to that even thou it was the same cable type and the same device. Doing so apparently 'bumped' another programs Com Port, forcing me to try to reassign a new port, which is a problem (that program and device has enough issues as it is.
There must be a file somewhere, unless it's in the Registry, that keeps track of the different devices and the Com port numbers somewhere even after they are removed, or just not in use so I can see the list of current and past assignments or whatever they are called.
I hope all of that made some sense.