IRQ problem in Win98 w/ modem???

[slunk]

I'm trying to help out a co-worker with a computer problem she is having. I don't have much knowledge on IRQs, but I believe that is her problem. She has a computer without the PS/2 ports, so her mouse hooks up to the first serial port at Com 1. Her modem is a Zoom 56k external modem. I hooked it up to her other serial port, but nothing seems to work. The modem installs but never makes any communication. It says it is installed on Com 2, but when I go into the diagnostics tab and click More Info on Com 2, I receive an error stating that it couldn't open the port. If I click out of the error, a box pops up displaying the port info. It says Com 2, Interrupt: 0, Address: 0. When I check the IRQ list in Device manager, there is no Com 2 assigned to any IRQ. I thought Com 2 was supposed to be at IRQ 03. Nothing at all is assigned to IRQs 03 and 09. They don't even appear in the list. Com 1 does show up at IRQ 04. What can I do to fix this? She doesn't have much on her computer becasue she's never had internet access. Should I backup her documents, format, and re-install Win98? Could that possibly help? She received this computer from some organization. It was never redone for her. Stuff was just deleted and then the computer was given to her. Any help is greatly appreciated.

collin

 

[Microsizzle]

Check the BIOS settings to make sure that COM 2 is enabled there.

 

[AC]

if it's enabled and still doesn't work, assumming that it is an AT style motherboard, u might want to open it up to see if the serial port is connected correctly

if Win95 is installed (I'm asumming this is an old computer), it doesn't autodetect hardware as Win98 does, so u need to manually run add/remove hardware and select the autodetect option (from experience, u cannot manually install a serial port)

 

[slunk]

It is an AT style motherboard. It is also running Win98. I won't see it again until early next week. The bios is an Award Bios, similar to my Abit ZM6 and KT7. I'm using the ZM6 now, but can't find where on it to enable or disable com2. Anybody know which setting it is?

 

[boogiemann11]

I recommend a DSL connection or a cable modem if it is available in your area.
It is worth every penny.