Edit: I don't know how, but problem solved. Screen capture image, uploaded.
May I leave the post as amended? It is an interesting subject for new and returning users.
Regards. I am not new to Arduino, but I am getting up-to-date with a new computer and the 2.0.1 IDE. If my specific question is a common problem, maybe a "new topic" will not be necessary. I have found in the past that it is better to start in General discussion.
My computer is a SSHD notebook with Windows S, and the Arduino IDE 2.0.1 downloaded and installed after "switching" from Windows "safe" mode. The new IDE compiles, but does not show ports.
It has been a few years since this problem came up for me. There is (was) a solution in the Windows Device Manager menu. I am guessing ports are protected by default as a Windows security measure. I don't remember how I fixed it last time, but (we) did.
The board I am working with is an Arduino Uno clone. It worked on a different computer recently, and it is probably not the problem. It may, however, require a driver update. That's another thing, possibly related: The new IDE is not finding Internet if it requires a download.
I checked the Forum option to receive notifications as they are posted. Please advise, or re-post this inquiry on the appropriate sub-forum. I apologize for not finding an existing help topic if there is one.
You guessed correctly. On the first run after a fresh installation, Arduino IDE 2.x downloads some assets from the Internet. One of these is a tool named "serial-discovery". This tool finds all the serial ports available on your computer and sends that list to Arduino IDE in order to populate the Tools > Port menu and the "Board Selector" menu on the toolbar.
If the IDE is unable to access the Internet, it can't install that tool, and can't see any serial ports.
Unfortunately, the IDE currently doesn't communicate effectively to the user this reliance on Internet access on the first run in order to achieve a functional state:
