Problems installing a PCI HCF Modem

Hi All,

Just joined the forum as I have been struggling for DAYS on this issue, internet researching and fiddling with Device Manager.

I have a Rockwell HCF Data/Fax/Voice modem installed on PCI slot 2 with the RCV56HCF chipset on it. Yes I know its old and has sent faxes from Windows 95, W98se, Win XP no problems. With the demise of my old mobo, I've upgraded somewhat to a Foxconn with an AMD Athlon and took the opportunity to upgrade to W7 as XP no longer supported. Can I get it to install? No way!

On the previous Windows versions it was truly pnp but not W7. The hardware recognition comes up as a "PCI serial port" in Device Manager with exclamation because no drivers. In update drivers I point it to the installation disk but reports no suitable drivers found on this disk.

I then tried "Add Legacy Hardware" > Modems > Rockwell and picked the modem on the list... only the one (must have got that from the install disk) and starts to install then stops at a dialog prompt where I have to choose what port to assign it to... except the box is empty, no ports to choose from! Can't go on from that point.

So I tried creating a virtual port in add new device > comms port. That added a 2nd comm virtual port (there's only two real ports on the mobo: Com1 serial mouse, & LPT1 printer). That gave me a Com5.

I then went through the process of installing again thinking I would now have a choice of ports in the dialog box, or at least the one I created... zilch!

I've really come to the end of knowing what I can do on this one. If someone were to say W7 no way will install it for whatever reason, then so be it, I can't find a way.

Can anyone help me out here?

Thanks for any support. Cheers.

Hi Wharf,
You MIGHT be able to use the Conexant drivers, same company, that are allready on your comp.

Update Driver >> Browse my comp >> let me choose >> UNtick show compatible hardware >>
scroll to Conexant (left column) Then in the right hand box scroll down to the PCI CXxxxx-xx click on next.
Where xxxx is the closest match to your model no:.

Roy

Thanks for replies guys! Fireberd that could account to why I'm struggling. I have to say it didn't make sense that all previous MS OS's never had an issue albeit on different motherboards, and Window 7 was having none of it! As you say, maybe it is the Foxconn (can't say I've been too impressed with it compared to Asrock or MSI).

Torchwood, your link downloads a Driver Agent tool rather than any drivers. Do your instructions apply when using this tool or are you talking about Device Manager? I did try the tool over the weekend but didn't pick up anything on modems, but that was just using the SCAN button.

Cheers for your response! :)

Straight from Device manager,
AS I SAID >> THERE ALLREADY ON YOUR COMP <<

Roy

Hi Guys,

Been experimenting again the last few days. Sorry Roy (Torchwood), none of those drivers pre-installed in W7 worked. HOWEVER, have had some success... I found a driver from Driverguide that installed correctly (after downloading tons and trying them all), I found a driver from the MS Driver Database that also installed, and I managed to get my original driver to install from the OEM disc after disconnecting the serial mouse (it saw COM1 as available!).

BUT, although Device Manager shows all these "modems" as correctly installed (trying each one in turn, not all together!), they don't work because "cannot find the hardware device (code 41)". Well it's no surprise since it can't assign itself to a virtual COM port although it does recognize the actual PCI card [PCI serial port/modem on PCI bus 1, device 8, function 0].

So, does anyone know how to do this? I've tried creating a second virtual com port in Add Legacy Hardware but cannot get the two devices to link together. I've tried installing the .inf file for the modem enumerator which I believe creates the virtual com port for the modem to install on, but for some reason Windows won't install it/fails... all the drivers have this/these additional files with them which I tried to install first.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Hi Layback Bear,

However did you find that?!! Well it seems to be the closest so far, installed successfully, apparently, modem diagnostics tested good, assigned a virtual com port to the 'PCI serial card' (modem), is this for real?

It was getting late last night and I need to test it properly by sending & receiving faxes. I'm away for a few days but will get on it later this week. Interesting, there was NO .inf files linking to any enumerator at all amongst all the drivers and yet it produced a com. I wonder how that works...

Anyway, I'll keep you posted when I have more news.

Cheers. :)

Hi All,

I was just about losing the will to live! As I said in my previous post, the modem 'appeared' to be working according to the software (Device Manager) but on testing was actually quite lifeless!

I was just about to give up at that point thinking that what Fireberd said at the outset was indeed the case... then research would suggest that different PCI slots give different addresses (irq's etc.) so I swapped it with my graphics card. Plug-n-Pray came up with the "PCI serial card found" & "no drivers available". Went through the same rigmarole with both my driver disk and the downloaded driver file from Layback Bear... my driver disk wouldn't pick it up BUT THE CONEXANT DOWNLOAD DID - result: modem buzzed back into life! PROBLEM SOLVED.

So after all that, correct enumeration is critical to the slot the card is pushed into. Job done.

Thanks to all you guys for helping/supporting me; a great help to know in these sort of cases you're not on your own.

Thanks. Best regards,

Sandy.