comm port changing

[sggaunt]

Does anyone know a reason for this, I have a PC which has an external modem connected to COMM2, however after any restart it replaces COMM2 with COMM3 in device manager and the modem no longer works.
If I manualy remove the COMM3 and refresh, Windows (98) then finds COMM2 and all is fine until the machine is powered down.
On the next switch on COMM3 is back.
Can anyone help??
Steve.

 

[grygst76]

make sure in bios your com ports are not set on auto if they are manually set them to the respected address i.e 2f8/irg3 2e8/irq4 or vice versa

 

[Klick]

Remember a "COM" port is just a label for an IRQ/Base Address combination. If you've recently added a new card, it may be conflicting with the automatic assignment of IRQ on a "COM" port. Set to manual should correct it. You may also try the BIOS "Reset PCI data" thingy - can't remember exactly. This is the procedure that causes the PCI bus to re-assign all the IRQ sharing junk.

 

[sggaunt]

Thanks for your help Guys

All four answers I have recived to this question suggest a problem with BIOS Settings, unfortunatly the Now 'Out of Business' PC manufacturer has password protected the BIOS, so we will have to re-set it.

No new hardware has been added, but the problems started after a 'PGA Tour golf' game was installed.
(this is not one of my own PC's)

All Attempts to get the modem to work on COMM3 have failed (so far).

I forgot to mention before that the PS2 mouse port is also none functional, I suspect this may be related to the same problem.

Steve.

 

[heyewe]

Funny you should mention the PGA golf software - I have a very annoying client (the one that tinkers with hos PC and swears he never touched anything - then never pays the bills), but he has a PGA Gold CD and it stuffs his CD-ROM (like the drive disappears) when he next reboots. I think I should turn the golf CD into a coaster !@$$%%^&&*

 

[spacekowboy]

did u get this fixed yet?

and there shld or may be a place to set the port in the isp software, as long as they agree the modem/process shld work--like shaking hands.

pls let us know.

:-Q x->

 

[sggaunt]

Update

We had to wait for the boss to buy his new machine then transfer stuff over.

Turns out the the PS2 port was NF because of a disconnected lead !!

The PS2 port shares a sub panel with couple of USB ports and an IR port, so the who lot was disconnected , but refitting the plug did not cure the port switching.

But this was OK after we reset the BIOS

The motherboard info shows that there is a Serial port 2 Mode setting.
This can be set to redirect Port2 to the IR Port,
So my conclusions are.

1. The Golf game detected the IR port and reset the BIOS to attempt to use it?

OR

2. The BIOS couldnt find the Port hardware (as it was disconnected) and set itself to redirect the port to IR?

OR

3. The BIOS or Battery is flakey.

Thanks again for you help.
Steve..