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[ Installations Plus+ PC Forum ] [ Archive 010598 ]

Posted by: Louis Bruno on April 26, 1998 at 21:45:59
Homepage: Installations Plus+ (websites, upgrades, PCs, repairs, training)
In Reply to: Replacing Packard Bell modem posted by TIM MEEK on April 26, 1998 at 21:21:29

Subject: Re: Replacing Packard Bell modem

On many Packard Bell and Compaq computers, the modem is either a daughterboard on the main motherboard or in a special extension slot.
It offends the neatness instinct, but the best way to deal with these modems is to leave them intact and install the new modem -- in your case the Supra Express 28.8 -- as an additional modem.
Your original modem uses either COM1 (IRQ4, port 03F8) or COM2 (IRQ3, port 02F8). If you feel comfortable entering the BIOS setup (hit DEL as the computer first boots up), you can disable the COM port used by the original modem. If not just remember, not to use the old one!
If your original modem was on COM1, install the new modem to COM3 (IRQ4, port 03E8). If it was on COM2 the next setting should be IRQ3, port 02E8 (COM4).
These settings are necessary for DOS/Windows 3.xx installations. For Windows 95, in most cases, you can simply ignore the old modem and set the new one for PNP (plug-and-play) and Windows 95 will find the modem and install it in the next available location. (You'll need to pay attention to see which COM port is used.)
In Windows 3.xx, you'll need to go into "setup" for each software application and specify the modem make, model, and COM port. Use "Hayes compatible" when you're not sure.
In Windows 95, you won't need to specify the modem, except for AOL, which does not access the modem through the Windows 95 operating system.
Good luck!


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