MAX keep crashing after I try to open the Serial-Parallel folder

[Tiger3D]

Max functions normal until I try to open the 'serial&parallel' folder. It
does
not open or show the ports and instead I get the screen that says ;
Measurement & Automation Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to
close.  We are sorry for the inconvenience.
AppName: nimax.exe  AppVer: 4.5.0.49152  ModName: ntdll.dll
ModVer: 5.1.2600.5755  Offset: 0004482a

After I click to send the microsoft error report, MAX closes down!

Please help!
Hamid

p.s.
My serial port Com1 also not working now and MS device manager can't repair it either!

[muks]

Did you try re-installing max?