In Win2000 OS, how I can I accurately determine what program/file is
initiating my COM1 port thus preventing my modem from working. There
is something loading to COM1 that is not my modem, just before you
signin to WIN2000 as the Administrator. I need a straight forward
step-by-step process to isolate this problem. I have no fax on the
system. I have WIN98 on Drive C: and the modem works fine, I have
separate boot for each drive; but on the boot into D: which is the
WIN2000 something is using COM1 other than my modem.

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Clarification of Question by spookf4e-ga on 12 Jul 2002 12:12 PDT

The system is a "dual boot" C:\ to Win98, D:\ to WIN2000 OS. The modem
works fine when booting through C(WIN98), but something is grabbing it
when booting it into D:\WIN2000 OS. I can access the COM 1 via a
terminal program and it has no problem in '98, only the 2000 OS.  In
2000, the terminal program will indicate that the COM 1 port is
"already open". To Answer the one question posed: Input/Output
03F8/03FF Interrupt Req 04.  Address Range Com Port 1 0x03f8 -0x03ff 
Address range IRQ's - 4  Com Port 1.

Any other clarifications..will supply.  So far we are still at square
#1 with both answers provided.

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Clarification of Question by spookf4e-ga on 12 Jul 2002 14:34 PDT

TO - AI
ISA 0 System Timer
ISA 1 Standard Keyboard 101/102 MS Natural
ISA 4 Communications Port COM 1
ISA 6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
ISA 8 System CMOS/Realtime clock
ISA 9 MS ACPI Compliant Systems
ISA 9 MPU-401 Compatible Midi Device
ISA 13 Numeric Data Processor
ISA 14 Primary IDE Channel
ISA 15 Secondary IDE Channel
PCI 9 C-Media CM8738 Audio Drive
PCI 9 SIS 630/730
PCI 9 SIS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller

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Clarification of Question by spookf4e-ga on 12 Jul 2002 15:27 PDT

TO: webbob
Good theory, but maybe not valid here. Removed the modem from C:
(98OS) and booted to D: (2000 OS) remember this is a dual boot system.
COM 1 was still "opened" by something other than the modem, with no
modem or modem software in C: (WS98 OS).

To converse, I had to reinstall the modem back onto C: (98 OS) - but
something is still grabbing COM 1 in D: 2000 OS just a milli-second
before the Adminstrator signon/login comes up.

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Clarification of Question by spookf4e-ga on 12 Jul 2002 15:38 PDT

TO AI - Mmmm?  So you think that the keyboard is grabbing it? 
Interesting. No there is no reason that I can think of of not using
COM 2 other than I will need to secure a connector to the AZUS
motherboard, reconfigure the BIOS etc. It's the best yet, but....why
isn't it causing a conflict in the '98 O/S?  There has to be a way to
see what is loading to COM 1 - I want to pass this by someone (your
theory about the keyboard) and for grins go pick up a connector
(motherboard to RS-232). I'll update.

Computers are a funny little thing. They tend to do things in order.
Drive C comes before Drive D and your computer may be reading Drive C
before Drive D before the boot command gets a chance to take control.
Therein may be the conflict.

webbob

Ok, here's what you need to do...
Right click on the My Computer icon
on your desktop. Select properties.
On the new window select the Hardware
tab. Click on the device manager button.
Click on View, select Resources by
type. Click the + next to Interrupt
Request (IRQ).

Tell us what you see...

-AI

Hmmm, I was afraid of that...
I actually had the same thing
happen to me yesterday, out of
the blue the Keyboard attached
to the Com1, the ONE I NEEDED TO
USE! hehe, it wasn't fun. I
relented and used Com2.

I have found on NT systems, when
you have to battle the Keyboard,
you usually lose, cause it's a
'standard device' NT doesn't like
to run without it, plus its one
of the first things loaded.

Any chance this is a laptop?

Any reason we can't move the
modem to Com2 or Com3 which
are available?

-AI

AI - This is to advise you that although we have not determined "what"
it was that was "body snatching" COM1 in the WIN2000 OS, you did in
fact provide the switch for the lightbulb and the simple soultion just
to initiate COM2..so for that I am grateful and award you the $25.00. 
I wish that would make it clearer how that gets done..anyhow, you
earned your money.  Thanks for your help.  COM1 can rot for all of me
at this point.