Can anybody suggest a way to "force" Win98SE to recognize an internal modem following re installation of Win98SE ???

Problem is prior to reinstalling Win98SE the US Robotics 5610B modem was on Comm 6 and Win98SE will only search on Comm 1 and Comm 2. Win98SE continues to boot up without reporting any "new hardware", BUT modem is not installed per Device Manager so there is no way to "uninstall" modem and force a search.

I remember modem was VERY DIFFICULT to install the last time and I don't remember how I did it. I have gone into BIOS and switched around Serial ports without any "luck".

The following link should provide you with what you need; (Drivers, Manual, etc)

http://www.usr.com/support/product-template.asp?prod=5610b

Quoted from the site:

USRobotics 56K Fax PCI modem (models 3CP5610-00, 3CP5610A, and USR5610B) will only install on COM 5 in Windows 95/98.
The USRobotics 56K Fax PCI modem will install on COM 5 only in Windows 95 and Windows 98 and cannot be moved to another COM port. Most communication applications will recognize and work with the modem on COM 5.
Some communication software, such as AOL, will not recognize or work with the modem on COM 5. However, when the modem is installed, DOS Box Support is installed. DOS Box Support identifies COM 4 to these communications software as the port the modem is located. If using this modem in Windows 95 or 98 with AOL, please use AOL 5.0. Upon launching AOL 5.0, click Setup and click Add or change modem device. The AOL software will take a few minutes to go through the process of identifying which port the modem is located and DOS Box Support will direct AOL 5.0 to COM 4. While AOL is going through this process, a message "searching for a way for you to connect" will be displayed.

If Device Manager was checked, the modem would list COM 5 as the port; the COM port 5 would show the USRobotics 56K Fax PCI modem. Nowhere in the Windows 95 or 98 operating system will there be a listing of the modem at COM 4. Yet, the DOS Box will direct the software to COM 4. DOS Box then redirects communications from COM 4 to COM 5 where the modem is according to the operating system.

The USRobotics 56K PCI DOS Box Support is listed under Add/Remove Programs. If it is not there or has been removed, remove the modem and restart the computer. Turn off the computer, replace the modem, restart the computer, and the modem and DOS Box Support will be installed.

NOTE: This modem will install on other COM ports in other operating systems such as Windows NT and Windows 2000.

danpenny,

Thanks for response, what you found is the OTHER problem that the 5610B modem has with AOL !!!

1) Modem insists on a "high" COMM port and AOL will only work with COMM 1 & COMM2.

My Setup:

Home-bilt tower has three hard drives selected by a TRIOS switcher and sharing one common Abit KT7A-RAID mobo and set of PCI cards [graphics/sound/modem].

Drive #1 = "Original" Win98SE OS with modem on COMM 6 and "working" [I'm using it now].
Drive #2 = "dual-boot" backup copy of Win98SE and Red Hat 8.0
Drive #3 = Xandros 3.0 OCE with 5610B modem installed and "working".

What I'm working on is Drive #2, Red Hat had no trouble finding modem and is installed & working. Win98SE doesn't even "see" that a modem is installed !!!

I "seem to recall" that on Drive #1 I got the modem on to COMM 6 by -
1) Shutting down and removing modem.
2) Booting up (without modem) then shutting down again.
3) Reinstalling modem and booting up.
4) Modem was found as "new hardware" and installed on COMM 6.

This is a lot of work based on a vague memory, I was hoping for something simpler.

Hi oldbob,

A trick I successfully used to force modems to com5 or higher was to create (add new hardware) com3 and com4 before plugging the modem on. This normally forces Win98 to install and use the modem on the next free (non existing) port.

In your case, I would try to install it to com5 by adding com3 and 4, and on com6 by adding com5 if it does not works on com5. You can uninstall the com3, 4 (and 5) afterward.

Chris

Well gang this is the "latest",

This morning I "bit the bullet" and pulled the modem card, this involved -

1) Pulling tower out of comp. hutch and carrying to kitchen table.
2) Opening tower and pulling PCI card.
3) Back to hutch to temporarily reconnect and boot up.
4) Back to kitchen table to reinstall modem and close up tower.
5) Tower back in hutch and reconnected.

Mystery point - after boot up WITH MODEM REMOVED, Device Manager still showed a modem ??? I had to "manually" delete the modem.

On boot up, Win98SE made no attempt to "find new hardware" !!!

Basic Problem:- Win98SE is "so old" it does not list a "late model" modem like the US Robotic 5610B - I have to use a "similar" model although this was NOT a problem when modem was "found" on COMM 6.

Side Note:- Red Hat 8.0 [which is other half of dual boot] is back to connecting just "fine" following reinstallation of modem.

Right now, I am reduced to "playing with" the IRQ interrupts trying to find COMM 6. This is a "pain" since it requires many, many shutdowns and boot ups !!!

Will keep you advised of my progress/success.

Have you tried to "add" the com3, 4 and 5 ports with the modem unplugged, as I suggested ?

Chris

Chris,

Could you give more "details" on how to add additional COMM ports. The only way I know is to manipulate the IRQs, then you still only get TWO.

Well, after "weeks" of trial & error, "dumb luck strikes again" !!!

Background: My home-bilt desktop has three hard drives with a TRIOS switcher. the drives are: #1 = Win98SE, #2 = Win98SE & Red Hat 8.0 (dualboot) #3 = Xandros OCE 3.0

The "problem" was #1 [I have been using #2 all along] and after removing & reinstalling modem card a half a dozen times I ran my sound card software CD [don't know the connection !!!] and SUCCESS !!!!

The Control Center modem icon now shows -

COMM 1 - No modem
COMM 4 - No modem
COMM 5 - US Robotic 56K FAX INT

The "only reason" I have this modem is it works with BOTH Windows & Linux. All three hard drives share one mobo, PCI cards and CD drives all in the same tower.

Thanks again, for your interest and advice.