Windows 10 Serial Terminal Program: How to Identify and Remove Phantom Ports

If you're experiencing issues with your serial terminal program on Windows 10, you may have encountered a common problem known as 'phantom ports'. These are USB-to-serial ports that appear in the Device Manager but are not actually connected to any physical device. In this article, we'll guide you through the steps to identify and remove these phantom ports.

Identifying Phantom Ports

The first step is to identify the OEM#.inf file associated with your package(s). To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open an Elevated Command Prompt by searching for 'cmd' in the search bar and right-clicking on the result to select 'Run as Administrator'.

2. Type `ievmgmt.msc` to open the Device Manager.

3. Under Ports (Com & LPT), delete all instances of prolific USB-to-serial Comm Port.

Removing Phantom Ports

Once you've identified the OEM#.inf file, it's time to remove the phantom ports. Here are the steps:

1. Open an Elevated Command Prompt as described above.

2. Type `2nd Stage Again from Elevated Command Prompt - Remove Driver Packages from drivers store`.

3. One by one, right-click on each phantom port and select 'Uninstall'.

Additional Tips

If you're still experiencing issues after removing the phantom ports, here are a few additional tips to help you troubleshoot:

1. In the Computer Management window, click View and select Show Hidden Devices.

2. Enter Variable Name: DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES and click Start.

3. Click in the System variables (bottom section) and click New.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and remove phantom ports from your Windows 10 system. This will help ensure that your serial terminal program functions properly and without any issues. Remember to always use caution when working with the Registry and device drivers, as incorrect changes can cause system instability or crashes.

Windows 10 serial terminal program