KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q72394: Mouse Is Not Supported on COM3 or COM4

Article: Q72394
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 3.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11,95
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): win31 win95
Last Modified: 16-DEC-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11 
- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11 
- Microsoft Windows 95 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

The Microsoft Mouse driver for Windows supports only the following
communications ports:

- InPort

- Bus

- PS/2

- COM2

- COM1

The Microsoft Mouse driver searches for a mouse in the order listed above.

Currently, there are no known Windows pointing-device drivers that support more
than one pointing device, or a pointing device on COM3 or COM4.

MORE INFORMATION
================

COM3 and COM4 are not standardized across the industry. Industry Standard
Architecture (ISA) machines do not support the sharing of IRQs. COM1 and COM3
share IRQ4, and COM2 and COM4 share IRQ3.

The following are the addresses for the Microsoft Mouse:

  SERIAL MOUSE
  ============

  Port Assignments    Address Ranges
  ----------------    --------------
  COM1                3F8H-3FFH
  COM2                2F8H-2FFH

  BUS MOUSE (BUS INTERFACE BOARD SETTINGS)
  ========================================

  Primary InPort Range
  --------------------
  23CH-23FH

  Secondary InPort Range
  ----------------------
  238H-23BH

Additional query words: 3.0 3.0a 3.00 3.00a 3.1 3.10 3.11 pointing device

======================================================================
Keywords          : win31 win95 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbWin95search kbWFWSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311 kbWFW310 kbWFW311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11,95

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.