I had an external modem connected to a com port that worked fine until I disconnected it and connected a null modem cable. Now the com port only works in a one way direction, that is it sends data ok but will not receive. Windows reports that the port is ok, I've tried removing and reinstalling from control panel - but problem persists. Could it be that a soldered connection to the pins has come loose or is it a windows problem? A strange thing I've noticed is when trying to instal new hardware is that com1 comes up twice in the list, com2 appears once and line-printer port also twice. Any suggestions other than don't use the port again. Thanks.

Go into Windows in "Safe Mode" and delete BOTH instances of your Com 1......then let Windows find the Com Port on the next boot up......hopefully that will cure it.

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Will XP save Me ?

Hi Randy, I tried what you suggested but the problem still remains. I can only assume that removing the modem disturbed the soldered joints of the pins on the inside the machine, but they are virtually inaccessible. Do you think this could be the case?

Check that you have the correct cable attached to the modem and that there are no bent pins on the cable.

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mjc
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Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

I've cheched for bent pins and the cable is ok because it works on com2. I've got some fax/answerphone software installed that originally used com1, it now works happily on com2. But could this software somehow have tied up the com1 input on it's installation.

Could be a software thing but usually if something ties up a COM port you get no access to it, you get receive.
Check you've not got something like your fax software set to answerphone-only or something wierd, maybe check your DUN settings.
You're not running RAS on your PC are you? You can set your PC up to be dial-into-able. If that was the case you'd get data in but may not be able to dial out through that port if it was in a constant listen state. Just guesses.

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Putting the "Personally, mate, I'd chuck it out and get myself a new one.." into "PC".