Modem found/not found randomly in 2k

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Fri Oct 25, 2002 3:11 am

Ok I love 2000 (compared to 98) But it is still M$ and has the same bugs just like everything else, just different ones.

I have a creative external 56k modem (serial port). Only thing I could get locally in a hurry, or I wouldn't have it!

Anyway, why would it be that I can use the external perfectly fine now, shut the sytem down a few hours, boot up and 2k cannot find modem on port whatever. I don't do ANYTHING except shut the system off, then turn it on and whamo, I have the modem.

Later I shut down the system, boot it up in a few hours or whatever and maybe it finds the modem maybe not?

This is basically with absolutely NO system changes! Just boot, no modem, shut down, boot got a modem!

Boot have modem, check mail, shut down, boot no modem!

It is random and driving me nuts! Normally I have the modem on the second boot, so why not the first??

Logged in as same user id each time, though it happens with the other id's same way also.

What's really bad is when I have been doing tons of work and need the net, and the modem is not there! Have to save and close everything so I can boot again. I've been trying to remember to check and see if it is found when I first boot, but if I don't want to use the net at the time I often forget.

This is on my Iwill XP333 1700 XP (overclocked as a 2000 xp) system. All my bios settings stay put, not like anything is resetting.

System is stable as a rock, other than software problems like a new program over wrote my old programs KPCMS files so now my graphics program I use everyday doesn't work!

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Oct 25, 2002 6:41 am

That's been a problem with Windows since 95. There's no fix that I've ever found (other than leaving the computer running 24/7), although it shouldn't happen often.

I call it modem Alzheimers. One out of 15 times when you boot up it loses the modem. Reboot always fixes it.

It seems to only be a problem with legacy modems (ISA and enternal serial). I've never seen it happen with a PCI modem or an external USB.

DocSilly · Post by **DocSilly** » Fri Oct 25, 2002 9:14 am

Yepp, this can be really annoying sometimes, like when you finished to write a Fax and you have to send it out quickly and then you find out you're struck by modem alzheimers.

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Tue Oct 29, 2002 11:41 am

Rats,
I was hoping it was something I did wrong. Shoulda known it was something M$ done wrong!

Yep, I never had that problem with any other modem, but I hadn't been using an external serial since my Zoom 14.400 in win 3.1

I don't think I had that problem with this modem in win 98 though, just since I put it on the win 2000 system.

Oh well, just another reason to return it. Seams to be a bit slower than the internals.

Thanks

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue Oct 29, 2002 11:54 am

With an external the problem is generally NOT the modem itself but the COM port. Windows keeps misplacing it.

Some things that might help:

- In BIOS there's usually a setting for each Com port. If they're set to AUTO, change them to a specific IRQ and port number.

- If you're not using the 2nd COM port, disable it in BIOS (you'll also have to disable it in Windows' device manager). What often happens is that windows will swap the ports every other tiem you boot.

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Tue Oct 29, 2002 12:15 pm

Thanks FP,

I'll try that. I only use one port now (modem) so I'll disable the other. I'm using a optical PS/2 or bus mouse and just got a USB wireless.

Wanna bet in a couple weeks I'll be changing things around again and ask why I can't get a serial mouse to work on port ?

I hadn't thought of it swapping ports.