Serial port unlocking

[vhn]

Hi,
I have come across many PC based softwares that often forget to release the control over COM port once they are done with the job. In such cases, no other application can access the serial port as the windows displays that already the COM port is in use. I've observed that restarting the PC is the only solution.

Is there any mechanism by which we can get back the control of COM port (meaning we can free the COM port) so that another application can access it without having to restart the PC?

Thanks,
vhn

 

[pakitos]

the pc makes a checking of the serial port at restart.
that is why if you have started the pc without the mouse you can't use it unless you have restarted it (with the mouse plugged)since at start the serial port sends a request "to tell who you are " and the mouse in this case will send the ascii m character.
so you have to make the pc reask that question somehow