Error Message: The UPS Service Could Not Access the Specified Comm Port (296859)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP2
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP2
This article was previously published under Q296859

SYMPTOMS

When you try to choose a manufacturer for an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) on the UPS tab in the Power Options tool in Control Panel, you may receive the following error message:
The UPS service could not access the specified Comm Port.

CAUSE

This problem can occur if your computer only has one COM port that is not configured as COM1.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, manually select the COM port:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Power Options.
  2. Click the UPS tab, and then click Select.
  3. In the On Port box, click your COM port. Note that you may only have one choice.
  4. Click Finish, and then click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.

MORE INFORMATION

The default value for the COM port when installing a UPS is COM1. Because of this, this setting is automatically written to the registry when you click the UPS tab. Until the actual COM port is selected, the registry setting remains at COM1. This information is stored under the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UPS

Value: Port: REG_SZ: COMx, where x=COM port number
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/3/2003
Keywords:kbbug kberrmsg kbfix kbHardware kbshell kbWin2000sp3fix KB296859
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