Frequently Asked Question

This can occur when you are using a model 440 USB CIM, because the virtual COM port functionality gets disabled during the upgrade to Windows 10. To re-enable the virtual COM port functionality:

1. Open the device manager. The easiest way to do this is to type “Device Manager” into Windows 10’s search bar. You should see a “Device Manager – Control Panel” shortcut in the search results.
2. Click on the Device Manager shortcut in the search results to run the device manager, then find the “Universal Serial Bus Controllers” category and expand the list.
3. In the list of USB devices will be the “Sentinel Systems USB CIM”. Right click on it and select “Properties” to display the properties dialog. Then go to the “Advanced” tab, and in the Configuration area is a checkbox to “Load VCP”. Check this checkbox.
4. Click OK to save the changes and close the properties dialog.
5. Then either unplug the USB cable from the PC to the USB CIM and plug it back in (be sure to plug it back into the same USB port), or reboot the PC. The virtual COM port should then be re-enabled and you should be able to restart communications with the communications chain.
6. If communications are still not working, it is possible that the virtual COM port number has changed. To check which COM port was assigned, go back to the Device Manager, then find the “Ports (COM and LPT)” category and expand the list.
7. In the list of ports is the “Sentinel Systems USB CIM (COMX)” where X is the COM port number that was assigned by Windows. Make a note of the number, for example COM5.
8. In Winsen Sentinel, go to the Workstation Settings screen under the Options menu.
9. In the COM port section, change the selected port to the one shown in step 7. Then click OK to save your changes.
10. Select “Restart Communications” in the Options menu.