Com Port 3 / Modem problems

[Ron Rosenfeld]

In the course of trying to get a particular game controller to work, I
uninstalled Com Port 3 in Device Manager. That was clearly a mistake.

My internal modem was attached to Port 3.

When I try to install a new port, Port 4 gets installed.

If I uninstall and then try to reinstall the modem, it gets connected to Port 3
(which still doesn't show up in Device Manager).

Although the modem seems to work for dialing calls, I'd like to get device
manager reconfigured to properly show the installed devices.

Thanks for any help.
--ron

 

[David B.]

Modern plug and play win modems DO NOT use a physical com port, they use a
virtual com port that WILL NOT show up in device manager under the port
section. Your trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist.

 

[smlunatick]

In the course of trying to get a particular game controller to work, I
uninstalled Com Port 3 in Device Manager.  That was clearly a mistake.

My internal modem was attached to Port 3.

When I try to install a new port, Port 4 gets installed.

If I uninstall and then try to reinstall the modem, it gets connected to Port 3
(which still doesn't show up in Device Manager).

Although the modem seems to work for dialing calls, I'd like to get device
manager reconfigured to properly show the installed devices.

Thanks for any help.
--ron

First, make sure that your "base" motherboard / PC does not have older
style COM ports on it. Then, check in the BIOS and disable any built-
in COM, if you do not use them. Once back in Windows XP, access the
Device Manager. Access the internal modem settings and there should
be a method of changing the "assigned" COM port.

 

[Ron Rosenfeld]

Modern plug and play win modems DO NOT use a physical com port, they use a
virtual com port that WILL NOT show up in device manager under the port
section. Your trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist.

Hmmm. Ok, I don't doubt you, but can you explain why that port was there in
the first place then, and I was able to delete it!

--ron

 

[Ron Rosenfeld]

First, make sure that your "base" motherboard / PC does not have older
style COM ports on it. Then, check in the BIOS and disable any built-
in COM, if you do not use them. Once back in Windows XP, access the
Device Manager. Access the internal modem settings and there should
be a method of changing the "assigned" COM port.

I'm not sure what you mean by "older style COM ports".

My Intel DX975XBX does have one serial port, which is activated in the BIOS but
not currently in use, although I might use it someday.

I don't believe I mentioned my relevant configuration before, but I should
have:

MB: Intel DX975XBX
OS: XP Pro SP 3
Modem: Intel 536EP Modem
--ron

 

[db]

those are tricky.

first of all, double
check the modem
card.

either it has itty bitty
switches to select
the com port number

or the com port and
irq is engraved on
it.

sometimes windows
will assign an erroneous
com and irq number.

------------
another step to take is to
ensure that you install the
modems proprietary
drivers and ignore the
driver windows wants
to use,

at least for now while
you get the modem
functional and
recognized by windows.

you may also need to
check the home site for
updated software and
drivers.

once the modems software
is installed with the driver
there may also be a method
to assign the com port.

-----------------

in regards to the invisible
com ports in device manager.

I am recalling a method
I used long ago and before
I switched to an external modem
and threw away the internal
ones.

try "adding" new hardware
via the control panel.

then manually select and add
from the listing the
"communications port"

in fact add 4 or 5 of them
so you can force the
device manager to be
populated with a number
of com ports, 1-5.

then after you figure out
which one is for the modem
and which one is for
that other card,

uninstall the com ports
not used.

also if I recall com
1 and com 3 are shared

and com 2 and com 4
are shared.

so if you modem uses
an odd number port,

the other card may need
a even number port.

check the card for a
com number as well.
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[Ron Rosenfeld]

those are tricky.

first of all, double
check the modem
card.

either it has itty bitty
switches to select
the com port number

or the com port and
irq is engraved on
it.

sometimes windows
will assign an erroneous
com and irq number.

------------
another step to take is to
ensure that you install the
modems proprietary
drivers and ignore the
driver windows wants
to use,

at least for now while
you get the modem
functional and
recognized by windows.

you may also need to
check the home site for
updated software and
drivers.

once the modems software
is installed with the driver
there may also be a method
to assign the com port.

-----------------

in regards to the invisible
com ports in device manager.

I am recalling a method
I used long ago and before
I switched to an external modem
and threw away the internal
ones.

try "adding" new hardware
via the control panel.

then manually select and add
from the listing the
"communications port"

in fact add 4 or 5 of them
so you can force the
device manager to be
populated with a number
of com ports, 1-5.

then after you figure out
which one is for the modem
and which one is for
that other card,

uninstall the com ports
not used.

also if I recall com
1 and com 3 are shared

and com 2 and com 4
are shared.

so if you modem uses
an odd number port,

the other card may need
a even number port.

check the card for a
com number as well.

Thanks for those suggestions. Even with COM3 invisible; COM1 showing as being
in use; and the modem assigned port being COM3, the modem appears to work
properly. Very confusing.
--ron

 

[db]

yeah, it can be.

you might be able
to look somewhere in
the modems software
where the setup is.

then you might be able
to find a drop down box
that allows you to reassign
com3 to com1.

-------------

have you downloaded
any updates from the
home site for that modem?

usually there are faq's
or patches made since
the release of the modem.

-------------

there is also a freeware
made by a long distance
friend of mine.

it is called SIW and will
likely provide you with more
details on the port(s) and
modem you have.

http://www.gtopala.com/
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[Jose]

Hmmm.  Ok, I don't doubt you, but can you explain why that port was there in
the first place then, and I was able to delete it!

--ron

Someone has obviously snuck in on you and replaced your motherboard,
tampered with your hardware and/or changed your BIOS. Things like
this happen all the time.

Let me refresh the COM port part of my brain. I have a modem around
here somewhere...

 

[Jose]

In the course of trying to get a particular game controller to work, I
uninstalled Com Port 3 in Device Manager.  That was clearly a mistake.

My internal modem was attached to Port 3.

When I try to install a new port, Port 4 gets installed.

If I uninstall and then try to reinstall the modem, it gets connected to Port 3
(which still doesn't show up in Device Manager).

Although the modem seems to work for dialing calls, I'd like to get device
manager reconfigured to properly show the installed devices.

Thanks for any help.
--ron

No modem here yet...

What do you see in Device Manager under Ports (COM & LPT) for
Communications Port (don't care about Printer Port).

I image you see you on board as:

Communications Port (COM1)

Is your issue that the Intel 536EP Modem really works okay, but it
shows up in DM as (COM4) and you are used to seeing it as COM3?

It used to show up as COM3?

In other words, everything works, but the display of ports is
confusing/misleading/annoying?

Are there any !s, Xs, or ?s in that area?

If it is just annoying, disable the device/uninstall the device.

Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, Phone and Modem Options.

On the Modems tab (your device should be there), delete everything
that looks like your modem.

Reboot and make sure it doesn't show up at all in DM or the Modems tab
- anywhere, or fix it.

Now choose to Add a new modem and let Windows discover it, etc., etc.
If it doesn't get discovered or gets discovered incorrectly, add it
manually from the list, or Have Disk until it looks right. You may
have to download some software for your Intel 536EP Modem. I would
just try the fastest speed you think it is capable of or start with
9600.

You may also poke around in Start, Run, msinfo32. You can't change
anything, but you can look at ports, communications, COM ports, IRQs,
etc. There is no standard for COM3 and COM4 like there is for COM1
and COM2, but it lets you look around.

I have other ideas, but see how this goes. You need to make Windows
forget there ever was a COM3 and install anew.

 

[David B.]

Not even remotely good advice, see my reply above. If he does as you suggest
(and I doubt it will let him anyway, he will then have a physical com 1, and
a win modem trying to use com one. Result? Both devices won't work.

 

[David B.]

It wasn't. You may think it was, or one was manually installed for some
strange reason, but there should not have been a com 3 listed if the win
modem was on 3.

 

[David B.]

That is how you can change the port the win modem uses, but said port will
not be listed in device manager as an installed port.

--


------

In the course of trying to get a particular game controller to work, I
uninstalled Com Port 3 in Device Manager. That was clearly a mistake.

My internal modem was attached to Port 3.

When I try to install a new port, Port 4 gets installed.

If I uninstall and then try to reinstall the modem, it gets connected to
Port 3
(which still doesn't show up in Device Manager).

Although the modem seems to work for dialing calls, I'd like to get device
manager reconfigured to properly show the installed devices.

Thanks for any help.
--ron

First, make sure that your "base" motherboard / PC does not have older
style COM ports on it. Then, check in the BIOS and disable any built-
in COM, if you do not use them. Once back in Windows XP, access the
Device Manager. Access the internal modem settings and there should
be a method of changing the "assigned" COM port.

 

[Ron Rosenfeld]

It wasn't. You may think it was, or one was manually installed for some
strange reason, but there should not have been a com 3 listed if the win
modem was on 3.

It was definitely there. I suspect it got installed in the course of trying to
install a flight simulator controller, but I don't really recall.

Glad to know that there is no issue with the win modem and the absence of COM3
in device manager.
--ron