Ah Paleo Pete,
I've the same problem that another posted recently. I also want to port my palm pilot with the Serial attachment, but only have one serial port that the mouse is connected to. Only IRQ 3 open. I spent the $5.00 on the cable and connected it to the PS2 mouse connection on the Mainboard. It creates a conflict with the PCI video card. Both are designated IRQ 12 and neither allow me to change resources through Device Manager. If I disable plug and play would that let me make the move? How do I do that?
The MB manual shows two serial (ten pin)ports on it. One is connected to the mouse and the other is open. If I bought another serial cable (ten pin female- 9 pin male would that do it. What com port would it take and how do I tell it to use IRQ3? Maybe this whole thing is about to become flying debris, eh?

If you buy a Serial connector and plug it into the motherboard, IT WILL be the COM 2 port! You have to make sure it is enabled in BIOS and found by Windows......and if both occur, it should be on IRQ 3 and your troubles will be over! If unsure about it, wait for Pete's post......he may offer more details. There are occasionally some options for the exact I/O address, but you should choose Address - 02F8-02FF if given a choice & Interupt Request 03.

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Will XP save Me ?

Randy_TX,
Thanks for the timely reply. Indeed, I'm going to wait for Paleo's reply, he seems to be the resident guru on this forum. Gosh, I wish I knew the stuff he knows....maybe in a decade or two I'll be able to catch up as long as the technology doesn't change. Ha! Eh?
Can you tell me how to check and be sure that nothing is using Com 2 in this thing?
Also, do you know of any way to change the IRQ designation when Windows won't allow the change?
Peace,

The only way to get the Win98 to choose a different IRQ in this circumstance is to "remove" the item in Device Mgr. - then physically remove it from the computer and put it in a different PCI slot and disable Plug n Play in the bios and then "PRAY" it finds a different resource.
What you want to really know is what else might be using IRQ 3....the interrupt you wish to put the Palm Pilot on [if I remember correctly]...to do that, go to Accessories/system tools/system information and click "Hardware Resources"......next to last one will tell you about IRQ's and sharing etc. The only things that use com ports are mice and modems and external devices you plug into the serial [com] port; however, any device on the computer "could" use the IRQ (in this case IRQ 3).

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Will XP save Me ?



[This message has been edited by Randy_tx (edited 04-18-2001).]

Randy_tx,
You give me more advice than I deserve. Thanks. Indeed, IRQ3 is free. I'm just not sure what's up with Com2 My present serial mouse is at Com 1 IRQ4 The Modem is at COM 4 IRQ7 I'm pretty confident that COM 2 is disabled in the bios. I don't have the extra ten pin-nine pin serial) cable. I bought the inexpensive PS2 mouse cable for $5.00, plugged that "bad boy" into the mother board and enabled it in the BIOS and it automatically got hooked with IRQ 12 which is what the PCI video card is "stuck" with. I've tried to change both going through resources in the Device manager. Both say, "no can do." I guess I might as well go get the serial cable and make a try at it, eh?
Peace,
What's on COM 3?

Well, indeed, I went out and got the internal serial cable and hooked the thing up on Com 2. I was able to assign the IRQ 3 in the BIOS and the bugger works just fine. I guess I never will know if I could have moved the video card or somehow bypassed some BIOS directions. Maybe some other day. Randy_TX, thanks for your attention and good advice. Anyone want my $5.00 internal PS2 mouse cable? HA!

Actually, you MIGHT have been able to "Remove" the PS2 mouse and then reinstall it ....but I think it would have requested IRQ 12 again....or you could have "uninstalled" the video card and reinstalled it to see if Windoz would give it another IRQ...IRQ 12 is a VERY strange IRQ for video......ACTUALLY, you might have been able to disable the vid using an IRQ in Bios if your mobo allowed it http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif......so there are many ways to "skin" a cat....but your current setup will be the best I think!

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Will XP save Me ?