Asus A7V modem Question?

[edrod13]

Friends,

In the past I posted something similar asking for help. REBOOT and GLC gave me some very helpful information about the following issue, but I have finally had it and this system is kicking my behind:

I have a PCHELL modem that was a bad choice to begin with so don't post ("Drop that $5 dollar modem, like a bad habit"). Every once in a great while my modem is not detected and the install wizard tells me that it has detected a new PCI card (which is the modem). I know this because when I hit cancel, there is no modem in device manager. Now, GLC mentioned that PCI/AGP/USB only have four available IRQ's. So, my question is since my USB's and the PCHELL modem are sharing IRQ 9 can I use an AMR modem since this board has a slot and will that use a different IRQ then the four mentioned above? I really do not want to use an external serial modem as I was advised so I am now thinking what other posibilities I have. I have also disabled all my COM ports and a bunch of other stuff so who knows. Finally does anybody have a ASUS A7V with a soft modem that doesn't share an IRQ? And if so what brand? For the most part the USB's and modem share nicely, but sometimes it makes me mad that I have this really sweet setup and I cannot fix something so stupid as this!

ASUS A7V
Duron 800Mhz
Esavage4 16MB Video card
Creative Sound Blaster LIVE
Maxtor 20GB ATA 100 7200 RPM
256MB PC-100
52X CD-ROM
LG 8/4/32 CDRW
100MB Internal Zip
56K PCCCCHHHHEEEELLLL MODEM

Thanks.

Edrod13

[glc]

AMR modems are worse than a PCHell - in fact, most of them ARE PCHells. They use one of the 4 IRQ's just like a PCI card.

If you want decent connectivity and no IRQ hell, bite the bullet and get the serial external. You have 2 com ports hanging off the back of that machine just waiting for something like that. If you absolutely must have an internal modem, get a hardware modem like a Zoom 2920, but you will still have IRQ issues.

[Alfie]

As far as software modems,the best are ones with Lucent chipsets,these are not as cpu dependant as others,use 1 irq and have drivers readily available in windows!
On the Asus A7V motherboard,it's possible to assign irq 3(com2) to your modem.
In bios (you'll have to search(pnp\pci configuration,I think)
Change the setting for pnp OS to no.
Change detection/assignment to manual(words to that effect)
A list of the pci slots should appear.
Knowing which slot your modem is on,change that slot to use IRQ3.
Save settings and boot.
Check to see if the modem is now using irq 3,if any devices jumped with it,change slots and re do the procedure.

I've done this procedure on the A7V and also on a Epox 8kta2,so I know it's doable.
You must make sure com 1 and 2 are disabled in bios.(unless your using a serial mouse,then leave com 1 alone and just disable com 2)
HTH

[edrod13]

Alfie,

thanks for the reply. I will soon try what you have suggested except I still have a couple of questions. When I set DETECTION/ASSIGNMENT to manual, will I have to specify all the IRQ's for every card or just for the modem. I rememeber going into the BIOS and having only PNP or LEGACY options for IRQ assignments. I could be wrong about what I just wrote but I am at work so I can't tell you just yet. I will go home for my lunch and I will check to see what options are available. A while back I just disabled both com ports and I remember the USB's and the modem taking IRQ 3 together. They both left 9 and took 3 at the same time so I hope I can get it alone. I will be a very happy person if this is possible so I hope you can respond to this post about my first question.

Edrod13

[Alfie]

No,just for the specific card,if the usb starts following the modem,try the modem in another slot and reassign the irq.
Remember to keep the pci slot next to the agp slot empty.
There is an option for assigning specific irqs to the pci slots,look under"pci configuration",in bios, you'll see slot 1,slot 2,etc.
You'll see auto after each one,knowing which slot your modem is in(look on the board,each slot is marked.)assign irq 3 to that slot(change auto to irq 3).
As I said if the usb starts following the modem,try another slot and reassign the irq to that slot.
HTH

[edrod13]

Alfie,

Thanks for the tips. I have the modem in the last slot of the MOBO. In PCI CONFIG, it has auto for all PCI slots but trying that didn't work. In the bios it has slots 4 and 5 together so I chose IRQ3 and made sure that both COM ports where disabled. When I do this I can only go into safe mode. It says WINDOWS DID NOT INSTALL PROPERLY or something like that then it gives me options:

1. Normal
2. Forgot
3. Safe mode
ETC...

Basically me PC does not operate when I do this so I switched everything back at it started fine. What could I be doing wrong or why won't it take IRQ3 and just boot up. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Finally I assumed that since the modem was in the last slot it would be PCI #5 or do I have it backwards, meaning the slot next to the agp is PCI#5

Alfie,

I have a PCI Video CARD so I have it on the first slot after the AGP slot, then a space and then SB live and then a space, finally modem. Could the video card be the problem? Thanks

Edrod13

[glc]

Slots 4 and 5 share IRQ with USB - so that's why it's following. Leave the video card in slot 1, that shares with AGP (which you don't have). If you disable any com ports in the bios, you also have to remove them from device manager.

Try putting the modem in Slot 2.