Most comm ports that need a usb to work are set at 9600,n,8,1.

The reason you don't see it pop up is because nothing is there. It does not vanish. It has to have a setting wrong.

I do as much work on communications as anyone and I have yet to find a problem receiving information, except on some Vista machines that have hardware failures.

If the comm port testing program does not work with you port then something is wrong with you equipment.

What type of equipment are you using?