videocard/modem conflicts

[Dalfiuss]

I am trying to help a friend get his new video card (maxi cougar 32 i think) and his modem working together, whenever he tries to use both at the same time the modem is set to irq 11 (which both the maxi cougar and his on board video run at) and whenever anything tries to access the modem the computer freezes up. He is able to get the onboard video and modem to work together (both at 11) and the onboard video and the maxi cougar to work together (both at 11) but is unabled to get the modem and the maxi cougar to work together (both at 11, with the onboard video disabled.) but it still doesnt work.

He has compaq computer with an isa, a pci, and a pci/isa shared slot. I tried to set the irq in the bios but his bios has pretty much nothing but boot sequence and power options. Would upgrading the bios allow this configuration to work?

When looking at the irq settings by number, 3 doesnt show up, does this mean it isnt in use? or does it mean it cant be used?

Well any help with anything would be appreciated.

 

[Dantoo]

Can you get the modem to use IRQ 10? Just a little more usual for an internal modem.

PS: 3 is normally a com port.

you should be able to set it manually by going into device manager, highlight the modem, select properties, click on the resources tab, remove the tick from use automatic settings and then force it to use IRQ 10 or whatever works out for you.

 

[Dalfiuss]

it wont allow me to switch the irq through device manager.

 

[Dantoo]

Try uninstalling it completely then and see if it manages the settings better this time round.

 

[Dalfiuss]

It keeps setting it to 11, I've tried reinstalling it several times.

 

[Milito01]

Ive run into many IRQ conflicts, and what always seems to work for me is a major overhaul. Try uninstalling or re-assigning the IRQ's to other devices in the hopes to free one up. Everyonce in a while i will uninstall the devices, and windows will correctly assign IRQs. (rarely though) If you have a free comport, or a device that is not important, uninstall that device and try to steal its IRQ

 

[Dantoo]

Just reassure me that you have the irq's in the bios set to auto?

If you have things in there set firm, windows can only mete out whats left.

 

[Dalfiuss]

i cant reasure you in that, I dont know if you caught it in the first post, but his bios does not allow for irq settings

 

[Dantoo]

Darn that makes it hard.

Removing a device (physically and in device manager) is normally the best way to get an IRQ reassigned by windows. In this case I would have a shot at removing everything except the video card, disabling unused com ports, sound if it's onboard, reboot and then reinstall the modem first and then the things you need, one at a time.

If that doesn't do the trick, there is one thing left to try.

Over in the Distributed computing forum there is a guy named DanC. He works for Compaq but in enterprise server time, not PC's. If you private message him and ask for help, he may be able to give you some advice on who to contact or where to go to get further info. He may not be able to. Do not harass him, just ask once. It would probably help get you somewhere if you ask him if you can help out the Anandtech team in RC5 while you are talking to him. (It's a worthy cause)

 

[Comp625]

This is why I hate the whole idea of IRQs....