com port question about modems need help

Hi and thanks for any help in advance,,

My wifes PC decided it didn't want to go online anymore, it dials but can't establish a connection, sounds like static through the modem,, BUT my phone line has no static and all our other PCs dial up just fine.

SO,, I figure the modem is shot, it is on COM5,,,

I remove the modem from control pannel, instal my new one and turn on the PC,,, all goes well and no exclamation points in the device manager.

BUT,,, when you go to modem diagnostics on modem properties my new modem is on COM3 and it pops up a box that says "couldn't open port"

Needless to say it doesn't dial or anything,,,

How can I put it on COM5 and why didn't it go there on it's own,,,, and why don't COM3 open??

This is a Dell with a P3 700 running ME that is current on updates and I put the new modem in the same slot as the old and then tried an empty slot with the same results.

Is there a program that will let me change assignments? I looked in my BIOS and saw nothing there and can't figure out a way in windows either.

THANKS

Lee

 

Try checking the modem for a jumper setting (little plastic and metal tag connecting 2 pins on the card ) should say something about com on the board.Then switch it to com 3 (make sure your jumper settings are correct per manufacturers specs)


mabyethathelped?

 

I thought about that earlier but there is nothing on it that I can switch, also this is a hardware base modem not a win modem.

 

I used to use Me before, but eventhough I had it updated, always had one or another issue, so I whnet back to W98SE and Xp Pro.

I used to have that kind of problems and (I know is going to sound stupid!) what I found usefull is Installing the modem 2 or 3 times, until the modem found the rigth port, then deleted the other "modems".

 

Hey I fixed it and it was easy, I just shutdown Windows ME, reformated partition "C", loaded XP and now the modem and everything else works real good,,,,, Heh Heh!!!