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Laptop has no COM ports

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5 replies

by jusumprick

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Hey there, a laptop I am trying to fix is unable to connect to the internet through the internal 56k dialup modem. I get the error 633, 'unable to open port'. I believe this has something to do with the fact no com or lpt ports appear in device manager (I've also tried changing the COM port that the modem is assigned to, but nothing). Even with the Modem drivers uninstalled, there are still no COM ports. I'm using Windows XP SP2.

The BIOS has no option for enabling or disabling the ports. I have updated to the latest BIOS, but still nothing.

Also, I was wondering if installing a USB or pcmcia modem would be an easy way around this, or do they still need a COM port?

Thanks very much

5 replies

by thumbsup2

it will use the IRQ's of a COM port but not necessarily SHOW a COM port in the device manager.

Personally, since modems go out and you're probably beatin a dead horse, I would purchase the PCMCIA or USB modem and get it over with. They do not need a COM port, but they may assign a fake one durring install.

by jusumprick

When I try to change the COM port on the modem, which is anywhere from 1-100something, and press 'OK', a message pops up saying the port has been opened by another application and may cause errors.

Is this still the behaviour of a bad modem?

by thumbsup2

Can be bad modem. Can be bad drivers. Can be corrupt Operating System. Can be a lot of things. Without testing the modem, it's hard to say which is causing the problem.

by robo_dev

Locate/download the diagnostics for that laptop. That should give you a verdict.

A PCMCIA modem may work better, regardless.

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