Reallocating COM ports

[dsigma6]

I'm trying to run a program that requires any COM port 1-4. Those are currently in use, so I'm wondering two things:
1) Is there an easy way to find, perhaps in a simple list, which COM ports are in use?

2) Once I find that out, is it as simple as selecting a new COM port in the advanced tab in device manager and that's it?

XP PRO SP2

[GomJabbar]

In Device Manager, choose View Devices by connection. Not perfect, but it helps.

[christopher_wolf]

That should list all the connections that are in use (Printer, Bluetooth if available, and the default COM1 Communications Port); if an application is told to use a port that isn't currently occupied, it could indicate that Virtual COM port are being emulated and locked by some process.

[dsigma6]

I have viewed them by every option available in the menu, but it's still not clear which COM ports are in use. I found #4, which was designated for the printer, but that's it. None of the other items mention COM 1-3, so I'm befuddled.

This is actually only half the problem, as even when I try to change a COM port, it says I don't have the right to...I'm admin!! When I try to get in safe mode, the Admin account mysteriously has a password from the member I purchased it from- They don't know it.

I've tried a few back door approaches (my favorite kind), but they've all failed.