serial mouse detected on windows 2008 r2 server

Question

I was hoping to find out how to stop windows 2008 server R2 64 bit from detecting a serial mouse on the com port. i know the boot.ini version with /noserialmouse....etc for earlier versions also i have edited the registry/services/sermouse start parameter (change from 4 to 3) to no avail. windows 2008 server has BCDedit to manage the boot options but i have not seen a reference anywhere to stop the detection of a serial mouse needless to say this server is specific to our PABX and i DO NOT HAVE a serial mouse on that port but i do have a data stream from the PABX. there is some data but it is being garbled and the application will not work.

I did manage to get it working for a few days by uninstalling the serial mouse in Dev manager, disabling and enabling the com port, but after a reboot the problem came back and now no matter what i do it will not work. i am using tools like hyperterminal and putty to view the data stream on the server and no luck. however if i connect my laptop (an XP machine) using hyperterminal the data stream is valid. assistance is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

@h0tw1r3 has it right, but there is a typo, the registry key is "SkipEnumerations" (with an 's').

You can add this as a .reg file and import it, but you need to enable a separate entry for each port:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

# Disables automatic mouse detection on boot-up on COM1
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\ACPI\PNP0501\1\Device Parameters]
"SkipEnumerations"=dword:ffffffff

#if you have more than one hard serial port, enable the following lines as needed for  each additional serial port
# for which you want to disable automatic mouse detection on boot-up
#[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\ACPI\PNP0501\2\Device Parameters]
#"SkipEnumerations"=dword:ffffffff
#
#[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\ACPI\PNP0501\3\Device Parameters]
#"SkipEnumerations"=dword:ffffffff
#
#[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\ACPI\PNP0501\4\Device Parameters]
#"SkipEnumerations"=dword:ffffffff
#

ref: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff546979(v=vs.85).aspx

Of course you modify the registry at your own risk!

Answer 2

First, uninstall the currently detected mouse.

If this is an on-board serial port, open regedit to the following (replace with the com port #):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\ACPI\PNP0501\<Port#>\Device Parameters

Create a new DWORD called SkipEnumerations with a value of FFFFFFFF.

Note: If you don't have that registry key try this one

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\*PNP0501\<Port#>\Device Parameters

Answer 3

The serenum service is responsible for enumerating devices attached to a serial port. When removed from UpperFilters, the port no longer enumerates devices.

This could be an on-board port, FTDI, etc. To find the proper path, select a port in Device Manager, Properties, Details. Check the Property called Device instance path, e.g.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\ACPI\PNP0501\1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\FTDIBUS\VID_0403+PID_6001+6&3a645483&0&6\0000
UpperFilters = serenum

I had a similar problem with an FTDI USB to serial board connected to a GPS. Fortunately under Advanced Settings there is a checkbox Serial Enumerator. When unchecked, no attempt is made to detect serial devices. This setting creates or deletes the UpperFilters key of type REG_MULTI_SZ and sets it to serenum.