Com1 in Ports vs. Com1 in Modems

[byzantine]

Hi, My current challenge is to get a 56K modem working in my new (bought used) desktop running Windows 7. My question is: Is the Com1 referred to in "Ports" in Device Manager the same Com1 that is referred to in "Modems" in Device Manager? Should I have Uninstalled and Reinstalled Com1 in Ports as part of the process of adding the modem? (Getting an error message currently when trying to query the modem). At this point I have not Uninstalled anything. Would it be safe to Uninstall and Reinstall the Com1 in Ports? Before I added the modem there was no entry in Device Manager for Modems, now there is, and it is assigned to Com1. I think there was an entry for Com1 already set up in Ports before I added the modem, but I am thinking I may need to let Windows 7 Ports know that Modems now has a Com1 also. No? Thanks

 

[fireberd]

Have you tried changing the modem to another port? for example COM2 or COM3? You can do that in the Device Manager for the modem.

I have a USB connected RS232C adapter and I had to reassign it to a different port to work properly.

 

[byzantine]

Thanks for the reply. I can click on modems in Device Manager and it tells me the port is Com1 but it won't let me change it.

 

[rvcjew]

Can you give the model of the modem and a screen of its hardware ID? Have you installed any drivers for it besides the ones windows did for you?

 

[byzantine]

Thanks for responding, rvcjew. Device Manager says the hardware ID is "moto1_gen". The actual modem has no brand name on it, but is model number 1456VQH87. The chip is a Conexant RH56D-PCI. After I ran Wizard, drivers that Wizard loaded for the MODEM were windows\system32\drivers\modem.sys and windows\system32\drivers\RootMdm.sys. I noticed the drivers for PORTS are different. They are windows\system32\drivers\serenum.sys and windows\system32\drivers\serial.sys. I have not added any new drivers. I let Wizard do whatever it did. I'm trying to be very sequential and minimalist here, to make it easier for me. I have not yet uninstalled anything. Wondering if doing something with Ports to let Ports know there is a new modem on Com1, would fix things.

 

[fireberd]

After going back and re-reading your initial post. Many motherboards have a Com port on the motherboard (a motherboard connector) that can be enabled or disabled in the BIOS. If one wanted to use this port you would need the adapter to connect to the jack on the motherboard and provide the RS232C serial connector. Thus the listing in the Device Manager for COM 1 is most likely the com port on the motherboard. If that is the case, it can be disabled in the BIOS.

The Modem listing is separate and is the modem you are trying to attach. Disable the Com (serial) port in the BIOS and then see if that makes any difference with the modem install.

 

[byzantine]

There is a silver box about 1 inch by 1 inch by a half inch that looks like it is connected to the motherboard, which also has a jack input going into it. You can connect a phone line into it from the back of the computer. The port to the silver box looks like a phone jack, but has more fins inside and has a different symbol next to it, but you can click a phone line into it. Maybe this was what the previous owner was using for internet access. He disabled an entry for an ethernet adapter when I told him I would be using a dial up modem. Don't know if he used BIOS or DM to disable it. The entry in dev manager for the disabled device is under Network Adapters: SiS 900-Based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter. Location is PCI Bus 0, device 4, function 0. DM doesn't say anything about Com ports associated with the adapter, in Resources it says it isn't using any resources because it is not currently enabled. I'm assuming if I enable it, it will say it is assigned to Com1. I'm still back at sqaure 1, trying to make sure the com1 in ports is the same as the com1 in modems. I'm thinking I have to "re-enable" Ports to get Ports to pick up the new assignment for Com1 at the modem, as opposed to the ethernet adapter. Don't know if this helps the discussion, but the location of the Com1 device under Ports is "on PCI standard ISA bridge". I apologize if I have provided a lot of much non-useful information. I'm all for trying to reassign the modem to Com2, if possible. The pc I am currently posting from is using Windows ME and has Ports assigned to Com1 while the modem is assigned to Com2, and works fine. No conflicts. And Device Manager in Win ME lets me click on Modems and change the port. But Modems in Windows 7 will not allow me to change the port. I can, however, In Win 7, go into Ports and change the com port to some other number desired. Maybe I'll change the com port in Ports to Com2 which will take the ethernet adapter away from Com1 and onto Com2, freeing up Com1 for the modem ?? Any risk in trying it?

 

[byzantine]

OK, went ahead and changed Ports to Com2, then got a "conflict" error when querying Modem which is still on Com1. This implies Win 7 wants modem and ports to be assigned to same com port? But in Windows ME I can have modem on com2 and Ports on com1. I give up. Wait, there has to be a way to change the com port assigned to the modem in Win 7. Maybe uninstall and reinstall the modem in Device Manager, and ask for com2 when reinstalling?

 

[fireberd]

I've changed ports in Win 7 without a problem. I have a USB/RS232C adapter. I've changed to the port number in two different Win 7 desktops. I have the motherboard com port disabled in the BIOS.

The Ethernet adapter is for broadband internet connection (e.g. DSL or cable modem connection). It should have nothing to do with the com port, either the Ethernet adapter enabled or disabled.

 

[byzantine]

From googling, it looks like I have one of those modems that cannot have com port reassigned by Dev Mgr, but can be reassigned by uninstalling and reinstalling the modem and selecting different com port when Wizard asks me. So I will try that now.

 

[byzantine]

I just uninstalled the modem (without physically removing it) and reinstalled it using device manager. I was trying to install it as com2, but Wizard only allowed Com1 or "all ports". Since I chose "all ports" last time, and it assigned the modem to com1, I chose com1 this time, just for kicks (to the head). I did get Com1, as expected. And, also as expected, I am getting the same error when querying the modem, some generic stuff about be sure modem is turned on, and irq interrupt is set properly. Anyone know how I can change the modem to Com2? Thankssssss. (Wizard will show me com1 but won't offer any other ports to change it to).

 

[fireberd]

Have you disabled the com port in the BIOS? If not that is one thing that must be done.

 

[byzantine]

I have not disabled anything in BIOS. Don't know how to get into BIOS. Are you referring to the physical com port on the motherboard? I assume I would use this motherboard com port if I were to, in the future, want to use the ethernet connection. So I would be able to re enable it, right? Also, what's the difference between disabling com1 in Ports in Device Manager and disabling Com1 in bios? Thanks.

 

[alphaniner]

Com ports are serial ports, not ethernet ports. If there's one on the IO panel, it'll be shaped like a VGA port but with 9 pins instead of 15 holes. If not that, then there will be an internal header.

It's not clear to me whether the modem actually needs to use COM1 or usurp its resources. What resources (DevMgr -> r-click device -> Properties -> Resources tab) are in use by COM1 and the modem?

 

[byzantine]

Alphaniner, Thanks.

There isn't any vga port on the back of the computer with any pins. There is one with 15 holes avail. The other 15 hole vga port is in use for monitor. I'm using a phone line plugged into the internal modem, in a PCI expansion slot.

Device Manager for Ports tells me in Resources tab: "Communications Port (COM1)" next to an icon of a large connector (not a phone line). On same Resources tab it shows the I/O range of 03F8- 03FF and IRQ of "(04)". Conflict device list box has "no conflicts". "Use automatic settings" is checked. In General tab, also still in Ports, it says the location of Com1 is "PCI standard ISA bridge". Device Status is "working properly".

When I go to Modems in Device Manager I can't get the word "Resources" to appear anywhere. It does say the port is COM1, and location is "Unknown", and device status is "working properly".

 

[alphaniner]

I have a slightly better understanding of what's going on now. External modems need to connect to an actual serial (COM) port on the motherboard. Internal modems "provide a serial port" for all intents and purposes.

I came across information suggesting that generic drivers may not be enough to make internal modems work... but I also found this which may help in your troubleshooting.