Help with connecting a 3d printer.

[dlw]

My W7 laptop can not find my Printrbot Metal Simple 3d printer.
The software is looking for COM8, the printer is set at COM8 but they will not connect.
Was told baud rate didn't matter even still I tried all listed.

It was working, now it is not.

Any help appreciated.

dlw

 

[Mellon Head]

Have you added or installed any software recently? Did it stop working after you did that, if you did?

Baud rate does matter. Serial ports and software will not auto-negotiate a connection without both devices using the same baud rate. Unless the software is deliberately coded to try all baud rates available until the printer answers, I'm not sure about your printer software, maybe this is the case.

The first thing I would do is go into Device Manager and expand the "Ports (COM & LPT)" drop-down and make sure that you really have a COM8 on the machine. If it is there, look in the properties tab to make sure that everything is set properly. If you aren't sure, then post screen shots so we can see, please.

Also, and I know it sounds stupid, but check the serial port cable at the back of your PC and make sure it is properly plugged in. I've had issue like this a number of times and it's often that the cable has worked its way loose.