WinXP- Desktop IDE won't look anywhere besides COM1

WinXP- Desktop IDE won't look anywhere besides COM1. The port selection on the tools drop-down is grayed out. Attempted to install drivers but when I point to the folder under the program files directory it says that the drivers needed are not in that location. The web IDE appears to be finding the comport but I can't get a plug-in working correctly. When I attempt to upload the button goes to "busy" and just stays there. Trying to get the blink program uploaded to and arduino101 Running out of options

Which board? Original or clone? For the latter, you might need the CH340 drivers. Do a search for that here on the forum; specifically posts by ballscrewbob.

XP is certainly still in the running for the desktop IDE.

Most clones dont have native IDE drivers.

Most are as sterretje says and are available HERE.

Although we have been fooled in the past so a decent picture of the chip near the USB port on the board tends to clear things up a lot easier or the text / identifier from that chip works great too.

Chip closest USB says:
ZE 33
TI 5AE
ML8N

Its the chip with quite a few legs..those numbers dont look right.

Its the one in this area (although maybe the same or a different shape)

Screenshot (104) (2).png

mine doesn't look much like that

also - how can I tell if my board is a clone?

I downloaded the CH341SER.EXE - installed - didn't work. I select under Ports (COM & LPT) my arduino board and try to update driver with the wizard, and it says it didn't detect the driver I needed.

I was hoping there would be something in the Windows IDE under Boards Manager that would show up, but nothing.

I am wondering if my board is only powered by the mini-usb, and I have to hardwire into pins 1 and 2 a serial connection - but guessing probably not. I included a pic of my board above. No chip near serial port have a bunch of connections.

Also I have tried the web editor, and download plugin time and again, accepting all the certificates. Can't get that to work either. It keeps saying plugin not installed and offering the help button that gets me here. Willing to take advice on that front as well if there is any.

It wont work because you have an Arduino 101 !

They use INTEL drivers.
There is plenty of information in the 101 SPECIFIC area.
Will ask the moderators to move this there so you can read up a little more in there.

I completely overlooked that you mentioned arduino101 at the end of your opening post; sorry for that.

Ok now we are in the correct section..

Did you install the boards package from the IDE for the 101.

Disconnect the 101 from the computer
Might be worth turning off any antivirus and such here for this

Open the IDE
Tools
Board
Boards Manager
Select "Arduino Certified" from the "Type" drop down menu]
Then select Intel Curie Boards and install the package.

Would be worth a computer restart at this point.

Now plug in the 101. and wait a little while.
The drivers needed should install by themselves and it should then be listed in the COM & LPT section.

The 101 can be exceptionally finicky but hopefully by this point you have it up and available.

I too missed the 101 reference..slapped my own wrist and issued myself a memo.

so now it says Error: Timed out waiting for Arduino on COM1. The IDE doesn't allow me to chose another port

COM 1 will almost certainly NOT be the port for the 101

Did you look in the COM & LPT section to see what ports are listed as recommended ?