[reboot]

OK, here's the order I would do things in.
Don't miss a step, or the next one may not work.
1.) Restart in safe mode.
2.) Remove all modems and com ports in device manager.
3.) Restart, go into BIOS setup.
4.) Set PnP OS Installed to NO.
5.) Disable com 1 and 2, you probably aren't using them anyhow.
6.) Set Reset configuration data to YES.
7.) In Power settings, set modem IRQ to NONE, or DISABLED, or NA.
8.) Restart, reinstall the com port and modem.
9.) In control Panel, Windows setup tab, remove Dial-Up-Networking.
10.) Restart, log in as ADMINISTRATOR!
11.) Go to Start > Run > and type in: inetwiz.
12.) Make a new connection, make sure you edit the advanced properties, so you DON'T use IPX/SPX, or NETBEUI, just TCP/IP. Also uncheck "Log on to Network".
12a) Connect.