I have Windows 8.1 with a Dell 3g card 5570, which is actually a Sierra Wireless MC8805 HSPA+ mini PCIe modem. It works great in windows.

Now I need to be able to access it as a serial device through the appropriate COM port, which I can't figure out how to do. Even if I disconnect from the connection, I have a few problems;

1. I can't figure out what COM port the device is on (see screenshots)
2. How do I tell whether windows is powering the device off due to inactivity? Disabling this setting seems to stop the device from working properly in windows.
3. I can't get putty to connect to it; Connecting to COM1 or any other COM port through Putty yields no results, with ATZ and AT commands.

How do I make sure the modem is accessible through a COM port? (This is essential for the software I am using)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/YR93I.png)
![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3ihYL.png)