Laptop has no COM Port, fails to recognize USB modem

[Guest]

My HP Pavillion LT has no external com port, but has a built-in modem (which
I have disabled). I want to install a USB Samsung Wireless cell Phone modem
to use my LT wirelessly. The device manager under modem shows the modem is
COM9 whereas under Ports it shows as COM10. When I run the diagnostic "query
modem", it responds with "The port that the modem is using is currently using
is open by another application. Exit every application that my be using the
port." Where do I find the conflicting application? Thanks

Running WinXP Pro, SP2, latest updates. I hope this is posted in the correct
group.

 

[Pat Coghlan]

My laptop indicates (via advanced port settings) that my built-in modem
is COM3, but there is no COM3 under Ports.

Was the USB modem connected when COM10 appeared under Ports?

If you disable/uninstall the build-in modem through the device manager,
this will ensure that there is no COM9 defined.

 

[Guest]

When I uninstall the internal modem, the system automatically reinstalls it.
When I disable it, it still has a com port associated with it (but can only
be seen in the registry, not the Device Mgr)
Yes the USB modem was connected when it showed both COM9 and COM10
associated with it. If I disconnect the modem, nothing is shown for it in the
DM.

The internal modem is being assigned to COM8 which doesn't appear to be
conflicting with COM9