How to EDIT Unusable Com Ports from Add Hardware Wizard -- Need manual Input

[imported_Kiwi]

:disgust: I was upgrading the backup PC, which has been working fine, but was cramped for storage (which is particularly problematic since I commonly use it for file backups, rather like a File Server, even if it's part of a Peer to Peer LAN). So I moved a 40 that's been a second drive in another PC, until that other one got a 120 for its primary. But I can't get the modem working again, not yet. I said "Com2" was where it belongs, in the Topic Summary here, but it actually needs to run on Com3.

It's a generic critter with an Intel 536-EP chip set. I've uninstalled everything, removed all communication from Device Manager, to start over, and the Wizard never can find the modem by itself. I always must tell it what the modem is, and where the INF file is. One unusual factor I don't think I've seen before; when I test the various setups I end up with, DUN crashes/freezes. Can't recall seeing that before.

Isn't there a "manual" access to some settings, like which COM port to use? Remind me how to reach it, if you remember it.

Thanks.

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Incidentally, that modem has been in that PC for nine months; it didn't seem at all necessary to physically remove it this time around, but maybe I have to try doing that. Any comment?

😕

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Originally posted by: Kiwi
Incidentally, that modem has been in that PC for nine months; it didn't seem at all necessary to physically remove it this time around, but maybe I have to try doing that. Any comment?

As a further note, both of the PC's referenced in the thread are equipped with the same (Gigabyte) model MB, and prior hard drive swaps between them haven't been this annoying.

Since this morning, I've removed the item in Device Manager (again) and uninstalled the driver in Add/ Remove Software, shut down, and physically removed the modem. I avoided that until now because the case isn't particularly convenient to add/remove PCI cards with. But instead of Com3, I got Com2 from the New Hardware Wizard this time!

🙁

 

[imported_Kiwi]

:thumbsup: As much as I would've liked to avoid it, I turned on some heat in the spare room where I have a work area, with spare old display, keyboard, and trackball, and I took the troublesome PC in there, where removing the PCI cards is so much easier. Instead of just the modem alone, I went ahead and took the sound card out as well (for what I do with that one, the onboard AC97 is plenty!)

Then I rebooted, went to Device Manager and removed both, then to Add/Remove Software, uninstalled both, shut down, put the modem into the slot the Sound Card had been in, and rebooted once again -- surprise, surprise!

This time around, when I saw Windows start loading, there was also a dialog box from the Intel software asking about the modem and offering either Com3 or Com4. First time for that dialog since swapping hard drives, and first time seeing either of those Com Ports as possible this setting-up time. Very strange that yanking the Sound Card could make so much difference!

:laugh: