so it sees a legit com port, but is not talking to it.
Id suspect the driver. If you have any experience with serial comm programs you can connect to the obd2 tool @ 38400 8N1 and send it an ATZ command. it should respond with "OK" if it doesn't. something is wrong. I'd uninstall and reinstall the driver
You have to remember you're talking to a point and click guy. I understand the words you wrote separately, but together not so much.
The driver to the OBD tool? It works, scans, updates, and whatnot when it's connected via my laptop. A different driver? And no, no experience whatsoever with serial comm programs.
Thanks though!
Edit: If I try to run the command with the scanner connected via the interface, it gives me a permission denied, which makes sense since the scanner is in use. But when I leave it plugged in but hit the "disconnect" button on the interface, and then run the cmd prompt, I get one dot and nada.