How to install a winmodem.

[reboot]

Boring day, nothing to post. Questions have all been asked and answered multiple times, and I'm tired of typing the same thing over and over again.

Seems everyone else has had a bash at this, I guess it's my turn.
Boot to safe mode, remove the modem(s), all com ports, anything in "Other Devices" from device manager.
Restart, go into BIOS setup.
Disable com 2, set "PnP OS Installed" to NO.
Set "Reset configuration Data" to Yes (enabled).
Restart.
If it still has troubles, go back into Device manager, System Devices, PCI bus, Properties, IRQ steering tab. Uncheck all except "Get IRQ table using MS Spec...".
Restart.