Windows 8 using Putty with a serial connection

Question

I am trying to connect to the network console ports using the serial functionality in Putty. I have configured Putty to use the COM1 port when using the serial connection. But each time I try using this serial connection, I receive an error saying "unable
to open connection to COM1...Unable to open serial port."
It worked just fine when using Putty and the serial port over the COM1 in Windows 7, but I no longer have that functionality in Windows 8. Is there a setting that needs to be changed or is Windows 8 not capable of using this feature now?

Answer 1

how do I find out which program is using the port and how do I disconnect it?
I don't know but I just found something that might help using  WMIC.
portconnector
Data presented corresponds to this
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394358%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
Unfortunately it appears that the Status field is not being used correctly.  Also, I don't know how accurate this will be because it is showing me I have a PS2Mouse on my Surface!   ; }
Hmm... more usefully I think in the sidebar I noticed  Win32_SerialPort which led me to
Path CIM_SerialController
(e.g. in WMIC) which is showing me more believable information about some COM ports that are being implemented using Bluetooth.  
Thanks for making me find this!   ; )
So, for example, presumably you may be able to get some information about your  COM2  by entering
wmic.exe  Path  CIM_SerialController  where (DeviceID="COM2")  Get  /Format:list
Here's one where I don't even need a where clause.  (I did a  Get-WMIObject -List *serial*  to find this.)
wmic.exe Path Win32_POTSModemToSerialPort Get /format:list
As for getting a Reset done it appears that this may not be implemented by WMI.
FYI