Having tried 3 computers (2 USB serial, one motherboard serial), 2 serial cables, run putty on two machines, tried different baud rates, UART FIFO off, 1, 7 and max (14).

I am going to have to accept that there is something internally wrong, but since everything else works and it is only source labeling that I wanted to change I will stick with it as it is.

Thanks for everyone's helpful advice.

When you die the one with the most toys wins