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Can't free IRQ 3

M

meatbomb

Member
In Win98 first edition, I can't seem to free IRQ 3. I went into the bios to disable the second onboard serial port which took up IRQ 3. I've also tried disabling and removing the COM2 Comm port in device manager. Yet it will always reinstall itself.

I have PCI devices sharing IRQ 5. In effect this is what the MS System Information says:

0 System timer
1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2 Programmable interrupt controller
3 (free)
4 Communications Port (COM1)
5 AOpen PCI Modem Enumerator
5 3Com EtherLink 10/100 PCI TX NIC (3C905B-TX)
5 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
5 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7 ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 SCI IRQ used by ACPI bus
10 Iomega Zip Zoom SCSI Host Adapter
11 ASUS AGP-V6600 SGRAM v5.33a
11 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
12 Creative SB Live!
12 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
13 Numeric data processor
14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
14 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller
15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
15 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller

AMD K6/2 450MHz not overclocked
Tyan S1590S
128MB PC100 RAM
ASUS GeForce V6600 SDR Deluxe
Creative Soundblaster Live!
AOpen FM56-PM 56K Speakerphone PCI Modem (Hardware modem)
3Com Etherlink 10/100 PCI TX NIC (3C905B-TX)
Iomega Zip Zoom SCSI Controller ISA

Any suggestions?
Thanks
 
If you boot your computer into safe mode and then delete all ports, it shouldn't appear any more. Win9x hardware&driver management is just kinda stupid...
 
Hmmm, it still doesnt work. It will detect unknown hardware and install the com port. Then I tried deleting both Com1 and Com2 ports and no dice, still same thing. It will just reinstall everything. Simply disabling the device wont change anything either.
 
Hmm, why do you need to "free" that IRQ anyway? If you have no devices using COM port you can use it's IRQ freely for any other device (even if it's not disabled from BIOS). BTW I have 2 NIC's on IRQ 3 and COM2 isn't disabled (nothing uses COM2): works just fine.
 

If you disable the COM2 port in the BIOS (should be easy enough), Windoze 9X/ME generally frees the IRQ willingly enough.

Doesn't involve getting crap from Windoze either, so the BIOS route would be the wisest, I would say 🙂.

Hope this helps 😉.
 
I did that, it still doesnt work. I really want to enable my USB ports. But they really dont work and i think it could be some irq conflicts. But, i dont want 3 devices sharing irq 5.
 
i may be wrong, but i don't think you have "3 devices using irq 5". the irq holder for pci steering is simply reserving resources for the pci bus or something like that. they won't cause any conflicts. i think you only have a modem and nic on irq 5, not that any of this info helps solve yer problem...😉
 
Have to agree with shathal here disableing com2 or serial 2 or B in the bios will make com2 not redetect upon boot. And carolinaboy is correct also
 
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