COM Port Has a Code 12 Error in Device Manager

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This article was previously published under Q226454

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SYMPTOMS

When you open Device Manager, one of the COM ports may have a yellow circle and exclamation point next to it, even though the COM port is not in use. The following status message may be displayed on the General tab of the COM port properties:

This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use. (Code 12)

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CAUSE

This issue can occur if the /debug switch is appended to an Advanced RISC Computing (ARC) path in the Boot.ini file.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, remove the /debug switch from the ARC path in the Boot.ini file.

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STATUS

This behavior is by design.

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MORE INFORMATION

Device Manager is reporting that something else is using the resources normally held by com1. This is true because the debugger has exclusive access to this port in order to pipe the debug output.

For additional informationabout Configuration Manager Error Code Meanings in Windows 2000, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

245386 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/245386/EN-US/ ) Windows 2000 Configuration Manager Error Code Meanings

For additional information about switches in the Boot.ini file in Windows 2000, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

239780 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/239780/EN-US/ ) Safe-Mode Boot Switches for Windows 2000 Boot.ini File

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