modem problem on friends computer

[CU]

It was working fine then one day it just said it wasn't configured correctly. I looked at and it is trying to use com3, but device manager only lists com1. If I try to switch the modem to com1 from within XP it says com1 is in use and some device may not work. Well guess what it doesn't work when I switch it to com1. How can I find out what is using com1? What else should I try to do to fix it? I really have not missed with a modem since Win9X days.

 

[robisbell]

okay, need the exact make and model of the motherboard and modem.

 

[CU]

I don't know off the top of my head put it is on old (~500mhz) HP machine I think with the modem that came in it I believe.

 

[jackschmittusa]

It's a Winmodem, and it's using a virtual port is why it is on com3.

What happens when you test it?

 

[CU]

Didn't know Winmodems created virtual ports. Never used one. Anyway, It says it is not configured correctly.

 

[robisbell]

you're going to have to get that info if you expect us to help.

 

[boomerang]

I don't think it's worth the effort to try and "fix" the problem. It happened suddenly, and it sounds like the modem took a dump to me.

They're so cheap it's not worth the effort to troubleshoot.

If you want, uninstall it from Device Manager, shut down the computer and move it to a different slot. Reboot and XP should find the drivers automatically. Then see if it works. You probably don't need to even move it to a different slot.

 

[CU]

I will get that information in a day or so hopefully.

 

[CU]

I have already removed it and the com port from the device manager and XP refound everything, but it didn't fix anything.

 

[bwatson283]

com1-3 are just virtual ports, like LPT1-3. It is just moving it to an availble one. Try using a different phone cable. If it is external, just try a differnent null cable. if no avail, then trash it.

 

[robisbell]

com1 and lpt1 are not virtual, depending on the motherboard.

 

[jackschmittusa]

bwatson283

Null modem cables are not used between computers and external modems. Generally, a DB25m?DB9f serial cable is used, although on some much older mbs, a DB25m?DB25f might be used.

Showing on com3 means it is almost certainly an internal modem.

As robisbell pointed out, com1 and lpt1 (and sometimes com2) were standard physical ports on mbs for many years. Only some of the very newest ones have eliminated even the physical com port.

CU

What are the results of the modem diagnostics ("query modem") test?

 

[CU]

Well it took longer than I though, but I am back working on this computer. It is an HP 5190 Desktop computer. The modem is the one that came in it. In 98 it shows up as a rockwell hcf 56k PCI modem. In XP is shows up as a Compaq Data Fax Modem. I have another machine just like it running 98 with me now and the modem passes the diagnostic test in 98 fine, but in XP I get the port that the modem is attached to cannot be opened. It is on com 3. Could a virus or something be causing this?

 

[CU]

Well I ran Spybot Search and Destroy and Anti-Vir. It found something things and fixed them, but still no go. I have tried to identical modems in this machine and neither work. But this same modem did work before. Any suggestions?

 

[chemwiz]

Modem Help

I remember setting these up, they can be a pain. Try the link, it actually has 2 components that need to be configured.

 

[CU]

That looks like how to set it up in 98. I am trying to set it up in XP. I can only find one component in XP not two.

 

[jackschmittusa]

I seem to remember (from back in the old days, lol) that some modems had problems unless you installed the drivers without the modem installed. You then installed the modem and Windows found it just fine.

 

[CU]

Would drivers even cause this com port problem? Or is something really using it? I am real close to just formating it and starting over.

 

[CU]

I decided to just start new, but this computer just doesn't like me. The XP disk that was used on this system was lost along with the key. So I used Jelly Been Keyfinder to extract the key from the machine. Now after I put in my XP Home slipstreamed with SP2 and some updates and click new installation it says the key is not valid. I am entering exactly what the keyfinder is displaying on the screen. How can it not be valid? The machine has XP Home Sp2 on it running with that key right now. Could it have been an upgrade disk? Would that key not work with my full version?

 

[CU]

Oh yeah my orginal disk I used to make the slipstream is on OEM disk I bought from newegg years ago if that matters.

 

[jackschmittusa]

OEM versions need an OEM key. If his install was retail or upgrade, the key won't work.

 

[CU]

Yeah that is what I found out. Oh well. Maybe back to 98SE then. :-(