Changing the COM port of a Crystalfontz USB Display

Step 1 of 3: Crystalfontz USB Driver Download and Installation
Step 2 of 3: Connect the Display
Step 3 of 3 (optional): Change COM Port

This document describes changing the COM port of a Crystalfontz USB display.

This step is entirely optional. In most cases, the COM port that is automatically assigned by windows will work perfectly well and there will be no reason to change the COM port. Do not change the COM port without a compelling reason.

The drivers should already be installed, hardware connected and the New Hardware Wizard completed before you start this procedure.

These instructions assume Windows XP. Other operating systems will follow a similar pattern.

Right-click the "My Computer" icon on your desktop, then select "Properties" from the drop-down menu.

my computer
The "System Properties" dialog box will be displayed. Click the "Hardware" tab near the top of the properties window.

system properties
Once the hardware tab is selected, click the "Device Manager" button and the device manager will open.

hardware tab
Click on the small "+" to the left of the "Ports (COM & LPT)" to expand that branch.

The Crystalfontz USB display will be shown. Right-click on the Crystalfontz USB display line and then select "Properties" from the menu.

right click properties
Once the properties dialog is displayed, click the "Port Settngs" tab:

port settings
On the port settings tab, click "Advanced"

advanced
The advanced settings dialog will be shown. click on the arrow of the "Com Port Number" drop-down:

COM port number
Now you can select the new COM port number that you wish to use. Once the new COM port is chosen, click the "OK" button to apply the changes and close the advanced settings dialog.

selecting COM
Click the "OK" button of the properties dialog. The device manager will still be shown, but it may not have updated to show the new COM port assignment. Choose "Action," "Scan for hardware changes" from the Device Manager's menu to force an immediate update:

update device manager
Now the Device Manager will show the updated COM port. Once you have verified that the COM port is assigned as you would like, you can close the Device Manager.

new COM shown
Step 1 of 3: Crystalfontz USB Driver Download and Installation
Step 2 of 3: Connect the Display
Step 3 of 3 (optional): Change COM Port