Need to assign modem to com 4

[gsteve]

I have almost finished putting a computer together (first time) and I am having a problem with COM 1. I only have 1 serial port on my computer according to the motherboard docs it is COM 1. I installed various devices while assembling this computer, and through it all I had no IRQ conflicts (that I know of). The last piece I attached was a US robotics 56k modem to a PCI slot. When I rebooted after installing, I tested the modem and it works fine.

PROBLEM: modem was assigned COM 3 by windows (IRQ 4), and this disabled my one and only COM Port.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION: move modem to COM 4. I cannot see that COM 2 or 4 is in use by any other device although I read somewhere that AGP cards sometimes use IRQ 3. I am unsure how to proceed. Again, there is no COM 2 installed on my computer. I am going to show my IRQ list below, if anyone sees any other potential problems feel free to respond. I really need for this serial port to work.

IRQ 00-timer/IRQ 01-keyboard/IRQ 02-programmable interupt controller/IRQ 03-COM2/IRQ 04-COM1/IRQ 05-SB16 Emulation/IRQ 06-floppy/IRQ 07-LP1/IRQ 08-CMOS clock/IRQ 09-SCI IRQ used by ACPI bus [AND] modem internet call adapter [AND] modem internet call audio system/ IRQ 10-USB universal host controller 2444 [AND] SMBus controller 2443 [AND] univeral host controller 2442 [AND] ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ steering, this line is repeated twice more/IRQ 11-Creative SB Live series [AND] 3dfx Voodoo Series [AND] ACPI IRQ holder for PCI steering, this line is repeated once/IRQ 12-PS2 mouse/IRQ 13-numeric data processor/IRQ 14-Ultra ATA storage controller 244B [AND] Primary IDE controller/IRQ 15-Ultra ATA storage controller [AND} Secondary IDE controller.

Of these I am somewhat concerned about IRQ 11 and IRQ 9.

Thanks in advance

[Paleo Pete]

Don't worry about IRQ 9&11, that's IRQ steering at work. It's letting more than one device share the IRQ's. It splits up access time as needed for each device. (that's a very simplified way of putting it, and I don't thoroughly understand it either...)

You said the modem went into a PCI slot. That means you might have a prtoblem, it's most likely a winmodem, and they don't like having their resources changed. Look in Device Manager and see what it identifies the modem as. If it says wnimodem, HFC or HFS, it's a software based modem.

I would try uninstalling the modem from Safe Mode, then pull it out of the slot after shutting down, reinstall the software, then shut down and put the modem back in a different slot. You might get it to assign the modem a different IRQ.

If it still goes to COM3, open Device Manager, highlight the modem, click Properties, then the Resources tab and UNCHECK the box that says "Use Automatic Configuration". Then you should be able to reassign resources, but if it's a winmodem it might not like it. The COM Port is assigned by the software installation, and often it's "carved in stone" so to speak. To get it to assign a different COM port you'd have to change the program that installs it.

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[Dan Mitchell]

Just out of curiosity, what motherboard is this?

Dan

[gsteve]

Originally posted by Dan Mitchell:
Just out of curiosity, what motherboard is this?

Dan
It is an ASUS CUSL2 motherboard. I like it. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

[gsteve]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Paleo Pete:
Don't worry about IRQ 9&11, that's IRQ steering at work. It's letting more than one device share the IRQ's. It splits up access time as needed for each device. (that's a very simplified way of putting it, and I don't thoroughly understand it either...)

You said the modem went into a PCI slot. That means you might have a prtoblem, it's most likely a winmodem, and they don't like having their resources changed. Look in Device Manager and see what it identifies the modem as. If it says wnimodem, HFC or HFS, it's a software based modem.

It is not a WINMODEM. I am going to try your suggestion about unplugging the PCI card and reinstalling it. Do you think it would be better if I disabled COM1 in the BIOS before I reinstall?


[This message has been edited by gsteve (edited 04-09-2001).]

[gsteve]

As a final note, I added a COM 2 port to my computer. It took 5 minutes and I have what I need. Thanks for the input.