modem already in use problem

[Andy]

Does anybody have a solution to this?

Recently I got a problem with the modem in my notebook: when I try to
dial up I get an error "633: The modem is already in use or is not
configured properly".

When I query the modem Control Panel --> System -->Device manager -->
Modems --> Diagnostics --> Query
I get "OpenComm. The port that the modem is attached could not be
opened"

I conclude that some process uses COM1/COM3, but when I kill all
possible processes in Task manager, I still get the same error.
Strange enough, once in a while the modem is able to connect, but then
for no apparent reason it stops connecting again. The last
configuration change was a card for wireless, disabled it - same
problem. It can also be some XP patch that I installed.

Tried re-installing the modem - no good

Any suggestion?

Thanks

 

[RandyH]

what's the process that ties up the modem?