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trouble with WIN 11 reset

Jim Hodge 0 Reputation points
2026-06-12T21:35:38.6966667+00:00

6/12/2026

At the suggest of US Microsoft Windows Tech Support on 6/12, case# Moderator note: PII removed, I did a full reset on my HP All IN One computer.  I am running Windows 11 and trying to install a Arduno CH340 driver which will enable me to connect with a laser engraver. Previously, about two months ago I was successful with the install, and everything was working fine. However, after installing the latest Windows update things went astray. I received an 0xc8000444 error message.

Today I attempted to reinstall the CH340 driver and received a successful install message. However, in checking in the Windows Device manager the driver did not show in the section Ports (COM & LPT). In fact, that section was also missing from the Device Manager list.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Moderator note: PII removed

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures
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  1. Emma1-N 7,540 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-06-13T03:45:02.3633333+00:00

    Welcome Jim Hodge,

    Please note that our forum is a public platform, and we will modify your question to hide your personal information in the description. Kindly ensure that you hide any personal or organizational information the next time you post an error or other details to protect personal data.  

    I understand how frustrating it can be after performing a Windows 11 reset, your CH340 driver installs successfully but does not appear in Device Manager, and the Ports (COM & LPT) section is missing. 

    Before proceeding, I’d like to clarify a couple of points to better narrow this down: 

    • When you plug in the engraver, does it appear under Universal Serial Bus controllers or Other devices as an unknown device? 
    • Do other USB devices (like a flash drive or mouse) work normally on this PC after the reset? 

    In addition to Q&A Assist's suggested steps, please try these extra checks to move forward:   

    Option 1: Force Windows to detect legacy COM ports 

    • Open Device Manager 
    • Click Action > Add legacy hardware 
    • Select Install the hardware that I manually select 
    • Choose Ports (COM & LPT) 
    • Complete the wizard and restart 

    Option 2: Verify device enumeration using command 

    • Press Windows key + X, select Terminal (Admin) 
    • Run: set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 

    Option 3: Test USB port and cable path 

    • Connect the engraver to a different USB port (preferably rear panel) 
    • Avoid USB hubs or adapters 
    • Try a different USB cable if available 

    I hope the steps above help you deal with your issue.  

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  2. AI answer

    2026-06-12T21:35:53.5133333+00:00

    The missing Ports (COM & LPT) section and the CH340 driver not appearing indicate a driver/USB‑device detection issue after the Windows 11 update and reset.

    Try the following steps in order:

    1. Confirm Windows is fully updated
      1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
      2. Select Check for updates and install all available updates, including optional driver updates.
      3. If any drivers are offered under Advanced options > Optional updates, install them.
      4. Restart the PC after all updates complete.
    2. Let Windows install USB/serial drivers automatically
      1. Disconnect the laser engraver/CH340 device.
      2. Restart the PC.
      3. After restart, plug the device directly into a USB port on the PC (avoid hubs or extension cables).
      4. Wait a minute to see if Windows installs a driver automatically and if Ports (COM & LPT) appears in Device Manager.
    3. Show hidden and disconnected devices in Device Manager
      1. Open Device Manager.
      2. Select View > Show hidden devices.
      3. Check for:
        • A Ports (COM & LPT) section now appearing.
        • Any entries under Other devices, Universal Serial Bus controllers, or Unknown devices with a warning icon when the engraver is plugged in.
      4. If such a device appears:
        • Right‑click it and select Update driver.
        • Choose Search automatically for drivers.
        • If that fails, choose Uninstall device, unplug the engraver, restart, then plug it back in and let Windows reinstall.
    4. Reinstall the CH340 driver cleanly
      1. Unplug the engraver.
      2. In Device Manager, remove any existing CH340/USB‑Serial/Unknown entries related to the device (right‑click > Uninstall device, check Delete the driver software for this device if offered).
      3. Restart the PC.
      4. Run the CH340 driver installer again as an administrator.
      5. After installation completes, restart once more, then plug in the engraver and check Device Manager for Ports (COM & LPT).
    5. If Ports (COM & LPT) is still missing
      • Ensure all chipset/USB drivers from HP for that specific All‑in‑One model are installed (via HP Support Assistant or HP’s driver page for the PC model).
      • After installing OEM chipset/USB drivers, restart and repeat step 2.
    6. If the original Windows update caused the 0xc8000444 error and problems persist
      • Run Windows Update again after the reset to ensure all device drivers are re‑applied, as recommended when devices stop working after a major update.
      • If the system remains unstable or devices still do not appear, perform a Repair/Reinstall of Windows 11 from Settings > System > Recovery > Reinstall (this keeps apps and data) and then re‑apply updates and reinstall the CH340 driver.

    If after these steps the device still does not show under Ports (COM & LPT), the issue is likely with the specific CH340 package or the engraver hardware/USB cable, and testing the engraver on another PC can help isolate that.

    References:

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