How to connect GE Prodigy Compact DXA to PC

RS-232 Driver Missing or Incompatible

Even though Windows detects the COM port, Encore may require a specific serial driver (often provided by GE) for proper communication.

Check Device Manager → Ports (COM & LPT) and see if the COM3 port has a yellow exclamation mark.

If yes, install/update the correct serial port driver.

Wrong COM Port Number

Encore might be coded to only look at COM1 or COM2.

If your RS-232 is on COM3, you can change it:

Device Manager → Right-click COM3 → Properties → Port Settings → Advanced → Change COM Port Number to COM1 or COM2.

Restart PC and retry.

Encore COM Port Setup Locked

If the COM port setting in Encore is greyed out, it often means the scanner hardware driver/service didn’t load.

Check if the GE DEXA Service is running in Windows Services (services.msc).

Baud Rate / Serial Settings

RS-232 devices need matching settings. Try:

Baud rate: 115200 (or check GE manual)

Data bits: 8

Parity: None

Stop bits: 1

Flow control: None or Hardware

Hi, we had the same issue on our system, please find the marks from our internal wiki below:

1. Verify COM port hardware and mapping
• In Windows Device Manager:
o Check under “Ports (COM & LPT)” if your RS-232 port shows up without warnings.
o Note the COM number Windows assigns (e.g., COM3).
o Right-click → Properties → Port Settings:
 Bits per second (baud rate): usually 115200 or 57600 for Prodigy
 Data bits: 8
 Parity: None
 Stop bits: 1
 Flow control: None
o If your built-in RS-232 shows as COM3 but Encore expects COM1, you can change it:
Properties → Port Settings → Advanced → Change COM Port Number → COM1 or COM2.

2. Encore software settings
• In Encore, the COM port selection is greyed out if:
o The scanner device driver (GE service driver) is not installed or not running.
o The software was installed in “network mode” instead of “local scanner” mode.
o Encore detects the port already in use or blocked by Windows.
• Solution:
o Re-run the Encore hardware setup from the installation media and select Local (Serial) Connection.
o Ensure you are logged in as Administrator when installing.
3. Driver requirement
• GE Prodigy scanners require a GE-specific serial communication driver that is separate from the generic Windows COM driver.
• This driver is normally installed automatically with Encore but may fail if:
o You upgraded Windows before installing Encore.
o You did not run the installer with Administrator rights.
• You can find the driver in the Encore install folder under something like:
C:\Program Files\GE Medical Systems\Encore\Drivers
and manually install it via Device Manager → Update Driver.

4. Hardware loopback test
To rule out cable or port failure:
• Use a simple RS-232 loopback plug (pin 2-3 shorted) and a terminal program (e.g., PuTTY) to confirm the PC’s COM port sends and receives data.
• If the loopback works, the issue is software or driver.
• If not, check the port in BIOS (many new boards have serial disabled by default).

5. BIOS settings
• On many newer PCs, the onboard RS-232 port is disabled in BIOS by default.
• Go into BIOS and ensure the serial port is enabled, and check which I/O address/IRQ it uses. Encore may only work with standard legacy COM assignments (e.g., COM1 = 3F8, IRQ 4).

Typical fix order for your case
1. Check BIOS → enable RS-232 → set to COM1 if possible.
2. In Windows Device Manager → set COM port to COM1 or COM2 → match baud and flow settings to GE defaults.
3. Reinstall Encore in local scanner mode, as Administrator, making sure the GE serial driver loads.
4. Test with loopback if no communication.


GE Prodigy COM Port Settings (Windows Device Manager → Port Settings)
• Bits per second (Baud rate): 115200
• Data bits: 8
• Parity: None
• Stop bits: 1
• Flow control: None

Advanced Port Settings:
• COM port number: COM1 or COM2 (Encore often defaults to COM1; it will not auto-detect if assigned to COM3+ without registry edit)
• FIFO buffers: Enabled (default), both transmit and receive set to maximum

BIOS Serial Port Settings (if applicable):
• Enabled
• I/O address for COM1: 3F8
• IRQ: 4