Article ID: 824387 - Last Review: August 13, 2003 - Revision: 1.1

Infrared Data Transfer Does Not Work After You Resume Your Computer From Standby

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Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/ ) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
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SYMPTOMS

When you resume your Windows XP-based computer from standby, you may find that infrared communications no longer work. You cannot use the infrared port to transfer data. To restore the functionality of the infrared port, you must restart the computer after you resume the computer from standby.
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CAUSE

This issue may occur if you use a serial (COM) port for infrared communication and the infrared settings that are configured for the port are not restored successfully. This issue may occur when the serial port driver (Serial.sys) restores the infrared settings, but then they are reset when the network driver interface specification (NDIS) driver tries to restore the settings.
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RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. To resolve this issue, you must add the SerialRelinquishPowerPolicy DWORD value to the
Device Parameters
registry key for the hardware instance of the infrared device that you connect to, and then set the value to 1. When you do so, Serial.sys no longer acts as the power policy owner and does not restore the infrared settings that are configured for the port. The NDIS driver restores the settings.

To add the SerialRelinquishPowerPolicy DWORD value to the
Device Parameters
registry key for the hardware instance of the infrared device that you connect to, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  3. Locate and then click the following registry key
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\ACPI\PNPxxxx\xxxxxxxxxx\DeviceParameters
    where PNPxxxx and xxxxxxxx are specific to the infrared device
  4. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
  5. Type SerialRelinquishPowerPolicy, and then press ENTER.
  6. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
  7. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
  8. Quit Registry Editor.
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WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, restart your computer after you resume your computer from standby to restore the functionality of the infrared port.
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MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to configure your computer for infrared communication in Windows XP, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
305588  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305588/ ) HOW TO: Configure Your Computer for Infrared Communication in Windows XP
313296  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313296/ ) HOW TO: Connect to Peripheral Devices with IrDA
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
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Keywords: 
kbfix kbbug KB824387
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