When you try to enable the Global Positioning System (GPS) features in Microsoft Streets and Trips or in Microsoft MapPoint, you may receive the following error message:

This issue may occur if one of the following conditions is true:

• The GPS device is not plugged into your computer.
• The GPS add-in is not configured to the correct port.
• The GPS device is not set to NMEA 2.0 compliance.
• The GPS device is plugged into the communications (COM) port that is being used by another program.
• The computer has infrared ports that have the same interrupt request (IRQ) as the COM port.
• The GPS device uses a program that emulates the communications (COM) port or creates a virtual COM port.
• The GPS device uses a serial-to-universal serial bus (USB) port adaptor.
• The GPS device connects to your computer through the USB port.

Make sure that the GPS device is configured correctly

1. On the Tools menu in Streets and Trips or in MapPoint, point to GPS, and then click Configure GPS Receiver.
2. Select an available communications (COM) port from the list, and then click Next.
3. Click OK.

The device must meet the following requirements:

• The INTERFACE should be NMEA/NMEA.
• The Standard should be NMEA 0183 2.0.
• The baud should be 4800.

Clean boot the computer

To do this, use the appropriate method for your version of Microsoft Windows.

Windows Vista

To resolve this issue, follow the steps in the appropriate section.

The computer is connected to the Internet

View the "Run Selective Startup using System Configuration" topic on the following Windows Online Help and Support Web site:

The computer is not connected to the Internet

View the "Run Selective Startup using System Configuration" topic in Windows Help and Support on the computer's hard disk by following these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Help and Support.
2. In the Search Help box or in the Search online Help box, type Run Selective Startup using System Configuration, and then click Search Help.
3. In the list of topics, click Run Selective Startup using System Configuration.
4. Click the link that best describes the problem that you are experiencing.
5. Follow the suggestions to troubleshoot the problem that you are experiencing.

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. On the General tab, click Selective startup.
3. Click to clear all the check boxes under Selective startup.
4. On the Startup tab, click to select the *StateMgr check box.
5. Click OK.
6. When you are prompted to restart your computer, click Yes.
7. After the computer restarts, click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
   
   Important Look closely at the General tab to make sure that the check boxes that you cleared are still cleared. Go to step 6 if none of the check boxes are selected. If you see an unavailable check box that appears dimmed, your computer is not truly "clean-booted" and you may need help from the manufacturer of the program that puts a check mark back into Msconfig.
8. After you verify that your computer is clean-booted in step 7, you can isolate the issue. If the original issue does not occur again after the clean boot, select one item at a time under Selective startup, and then restart the computer to see if the additional entry reproduces the original issue.

To return from a clean boot state, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. On the General tab, click Normal startup.
3. Click OK.
4. When you are prompted to restart your computer, click Yes.

Microsoft Windows 98

1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. On the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then click to clear the following check boxes:
   • Process Config.sys File
   • Process Autoexec.bat File
   • Process Winstart.bat File (if it is available)
   • Process Win.ini File
   • Load Startup Group Items
3. Click OK.
4. When you are prompted to, restart the computer.

For more information about how to perform a clean boot in Windows 98, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Decrease the COM port buffer

The buffer settings are located in the Device Manager under the appropriate COM port's Advanced Settings button. Decreasing these settings could allow for a GPS to be seen or to function more reliably in the program.

Issues that are BIOS related

This section contains suggestions for changing settings in the basic input/output system (BIOS). Incorrectly setting some options in the BIOS could cause significant problems on the system. See your reference manual when you are working in the BIOS and use caution.

Some BIOS support what is called "serial timeout." If this support is turned on, problems may occur. Set this to OFF. Make sure that the resource hexadecimal address and IRQ match those in Device Manager also.

Also note that Infrared ports can frequently cause trouble with GPS detection. If the option is available, DISABLE the infrared port.

Check IR port and modem settings

Sometimes you may have to disable the IR port or to disable or remove an internal modem (scanner card, bus mouse card, and so on) which may be sharing a virtual COM port with the computers external serial port. For example, if a modem that is installed uses COM3, you may not be able to see a GPS device in the software if the GPS is attached to COM1.

Look for and remove ghost devices

To remove ghost devices, follow these steps.

Check Device Manager in Windows Vista

1. Click Start
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   , type Device Manager in the Start Search box, and then click Device Manager in the Programs list.
2. Double-click Human Interface Devices, (if found), and then note the entries listed.
3. Double-click Sound, video and game controllers, and then note the entries listed.
4. Double-click Universal Serial Bus controllers, and then note the entries listed.
5. Close Device Manager.

Check Device Manager in Windows 98 or in Windows Millenium Edition

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click System.
3. Click the Device Manager tab.
4. Double-click Human Interface Devices.
5. Note the entries that are listed under this type.
6. Double-click Sound, video and game controllers.
7. Note the entries that are listed under this type.
8. Double-click Universal Serial Bus controllers.
9. Note the entries that are listed under this type.
10. To close the Device Manager, click Cancel.

Restart the computer in safe mode

Use the appropriate steps for your operating system.

Windows Vista
To resolve this issue, follow the steps in the appropriate section.

The computer is connected to the Internet

View the "Advanced startup options (including safe mode)" topic on the following Windows Online Help and Support Web site:

The computer is not connected to the Internet

View the "Advanced startup options (including safe mode)" topic in Windows Help and Support on the computer's hard disk by following these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Help and Support.
2. In the Search Help box or in the Search online Help box, type Advanced startup options (including safe mode), and then click Search Help.
3. In the list of topics, click Advanced startup options (including safe mode).
4. Click the link that best describes the problem that you are experiencing.
5. Follow the suggestions to troubleshoot the problem that you are experiencing.

Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition (Me)

1. Click Start, and then click Shut Down.
2. Click Restart The Computer, and then click Yes.
3. Press and hold the SHIFT key when the POST (Power on Self Test) is completed.
4. When Windows finishes loading, close the "Safe Mode" message.

Check Device Manager and remove duplicate devices in Windows Vista

1. Click Start
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   , type Device Manager in the Start Search box, and then click Device Manager in the Programs list.
2. Double-click Human Interface Devices(if available).
3. Remove any duplicate device from the list made in section 1.
4. Double-click Sound, video and game controllers.
5. Remove any duplicate device from the list made in section 1.
6. Double-click Universal Serial Bus controllers.
7. Remove any duplicate device from the list made in section 1.
8. Close Device Manager.
9. Restart the computer.

Check Device Manager and remove duplicate devices in Windows 98 and in Windows Millenium Edition

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click System.
3. Click the Device Manager tab.
4. Double-click Human Interface Devices.
5. Remove any duplicate device from the list made in section 1.
6. Double-click Sound, video and game controllers.
7. Remove any duplicate device from the list made in section 1.
8. Double-click Universal Serial Bus controllers.
9. Remove any duplicate device from the list made in section 1.
10. To close the Device Manager, click Close.
11. Restart the system if you are not prompted to.

Note Let the system restart in Normal mode.

Examine the installation of the add-on

Remove the GPS add-on in Windows Vista

1. Click Start
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   , type Programs and Features in the Start Search box, and then click Programs and Features in the Programs list.
2. Click Microsoft GPS Add-on V1.01, and then click Uninstall.
3. Follow the prompts that appear on the screen to remove the GPS add-on.

Remove the GPS add-on in Windows 98 and in Windows Millenium Edition

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Add/Remove Programs.
2. Double-click Microsoft GPS Add-on V1.01.
3. Follow the prompts that appear on the screen to remove the GPS add-on.

Note If Microsoft GPS Add-on V1.01 is not listed, go to the "Install the GPS add-on" section.

Install the GPS add-on

1. Put the installation disk in the drive.
2. Follow the prompts that appear on the screen to install the GPS add-on.

Try a different COM port

• Try to set up the GPS on a different COM port.
• Remove any conflicting software in Add/Remove Programs, or in Programs and Features. This could include modem software and infrared support software.
• Look for and remove any software that is for infrared or COM port use.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.