Abstract: An automatic IR port detection device is provided in a portable computer including a first and a second transceiver data port. An external device is adjacent the computer and includes at least one external transceiver data port. An IR port detection and scanning program in the computer is actuated by an initiating key combination. A controller in the computer generates a systems management interrupt in response to the initiating key combination being actuated. An IR scan timer is initiated in response to the systems management interrupt being generated. A system BIOS in the computer actuates the first transceiver data port to scan for an external IR signal and sequentially actuates the second transceiver data port to scan for the external IR signal in response to the absence of the external IR signal received by the first transceiver data port.