How to manually edit the Modem setup?

[Kiwi]

Swapping drives around, a secondary from one becomes the primary to another, but I'm having trouble with the Add New Hardware Wizard wanting to do really goofy stuff with the modem (it's an Intel 536 EP V.92 of some sort). As I recall, it used Com2 or Com3 (probably 3) while running on the smaller, older hard drive. Now, I keep getting progressively farther away from that with each subsequent attempt after killing off a bad instance of the modem install.

The last try it jumped to Com6, before that it wanted Com5 -- both of those would literally crash the DUN function -- put it into freeze mode. There'd be a BSOD event, semi-recoverable, but STILL .. way more difficulty getting this existing modem back in service than I can recall seeing previously (incidentally, AFAIK this is the Real Thing, not a "WinModem" -- I am aware that those tend to be problematic on a regular basis).

I think I recall a way to access the modem file to make my own manual changes to which Com port it sets up for, but it's hidden behind a veritable wall of Senior Moments that are between right now and whenever it was I last might've used such a manual route!

[Kiwi]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Swapping drives around, a secondary from one (and both PC's contain the same model MB) becomes the primary to another, but I'm having trouble with the Add New Hardware Wizard wanting to do really goofy stuff with the modem (it's an Intel 536 EP V.92). As I recall, it used Com3 while running on the smaller, older hard drive. Now, I keep getting progressively farther away from that with each subsequent attempt after killing off a further bad instance of the modem install. The last try it jumped to Com6, before that it wanted Com5 -- both of those would literally crash the DUN function -- put it into freeze mode. There'd be a BSOD event, semi- recoverable, but STILL .. way more difficulty getting this existing modem back in service than I can recall seeing previously (incidentally, AFAIK this is the Real Thing, not a "WinModem" -- I am aware that those tend to be problematic on a regular basis). I think I recall that a way exists to access the modem file to make my own manual changes to which Com port it sets up for, but it's hidden behind a veritable wall of Senior Moments that are between right now and whenever it was I last might've used such a manual route!

Since this morning, I added another step to the process of (re-)Adding the modem to the system. It's not easy to access the PCI slots in this PC's enclosure unless I manhandle the case into another room where I have more workspace, so I avoided physically pulling the modem card out until now.

I removed the item from Device Manager, Uninstalled in Add/ Remove Software, shut down completely, leaned the case way over in place, and managed to get the modem out without carrying the PC to the other room. Rebooted, and then shut down again. Reinserted the card, rebooted. This time I got "Com2", which doesn't help at all. That also causes DUN to freeze.

Any hints?

[glc]

If you aren't using them for anything, turn the com ports off in the bios. Uninstall and remove the modem again, boot to safe mode, and remove ALL com ports in device manager. Reinstall the modem.

[ktkendall]

I do seem to remember that U can get to the modem settings in the control panel amd then go into modems and in there you can edit the particular modem settings, but unless U do as already instructed you won't be able to bump it to com 2 if com 2 is already assigned..

[Kiwi]

Originally Posted by ktkendall I do seem to remember that you can get to the modem settings in the control panel amd then go into modems and in there you can edit the particular modem settings, but unless you do as already instructed you won't be able to bump it to com 2 if com 2 is already assigned..

In spite of the inconvenience, I turned on some heat in a spare room where I have a work area with spare old display, keyboard, trackball, surge protection, etc. and carried the system in there. I did get to see the dialog box I remembered, finally.

I removed BOTH the modem, *and* a Sound Card as well (no real need for one of those given the current usage of the PC in question). I restarted, re-uninstalled, re-removed in Device Manager, etc. Instead of PCI-2, the slot that the modem has been in for 9-10 months, I used PCI-5, where the Sound Card had been.

The next time I restarted, part of the Intel-supplied software was already asking about setting up the modem (this had not happened since almost a year ago); it offered Com3 or Com4 (first time in the current period for either of those). That was the dialog box I had recalled, in which I could make the choice of the two Com Ports.

As to WHY this much effort was required, it beats me. But it's working now, thanks for the answers to all who offered suggestions!

[glc]

Why? Because it IS a winmodem, not a hardware modem.