[RESOLVED] PCI winmodem and PCI network card IRQ conflict

[jasonren]

Help!
I have a Zoom 56k PCI faxmodem and a D-Link network card. When ever I have both of them enabled on my system and I go on the internet my computer locks up. The only way I can get around this is to disable my network card in the system settings. The system won't let me change the IRQ settings for either device. My wifes computer did the same and I happened to have an ISA modem that she could use. This fixed her problem. But now for mine I really don't want to BUY a new modem and finding an ISA modem is rare now. Does anyone know of a way to fix this problem. Please let me know I really hate being crippled when online cause I have a lot of stuff shared between my two computers. Thanks for the help

[shawnMt]

when you say that the system will not let you change the settings, do you mean the bios or Windows?

Most newer bios will let you force the IRQ of at least the top 3 pci slots. What settings are they on? Go into your bios and if you can force pci slot 2 (nic) to IRQ 9 and let the modem stay where it is (usually 3-4 for pci modems.)
Hope this helps
shawn

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I ripped the head assembly out - it spins up fine now...

[ReBoot]

If you have no external serial devices, go into bios setup, and disable com 1 and 2.
that will free up 2 more IRQ's to use.
go into device mangler and remove the modem, and all com ports.
shutdown, and take the modem out.
restart, and install the com ports (automatic), and make sure your NIC is working.
shut down, put the modem back in and restart.
reinstall as needed.
If THAT doesn't work, go into BIOS setup, and disable MS IRQ routing.
Restart, and go into device mangler, system devices PCI Bus, properties, IRQ steering, and disable it.
Restart.

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Who needs a life, I have Internet!
members.cnx.net/reboot (http://members.cnx.net/reboot)

[bdunn]

ISA modems are not as rare as you think. I also recommend them unless you would prefer an external modem (serial, not USB).

The external modems I would recommend are either Zoom or Multitech. I've had no provlems with either.

I wouldnt recommend a winmodem to anyone. USBs have the same problem they are overly CPU dependent.

[jasonren]

Thanks for all the advice. Unfortunately the computer is a compaq and there bios um what can you say SUCKS it doesn't give you any options to adjust IRQ's. I will try to do the remove the modem and then reinstall. Thanks again for all the replies if anyone else has any other answers let me know. Oh and to answer the question about what I mean by not letting me change the IRQ settings. Neither the hardware, OS, or bios will let me. This is the big problem.

Jason

They have us surrounded, outgunned, and outnumbered........the poor bastards.

[RGK01]

Do as Reboot suggests, go into device manager, system devices - pci bus - properties - irq steering and disable it.

Reboot computer, if it's not fixed, remove the modem, and or network card from device manager, reboot computer and reinstall modem and network card. This should take care of the problem if you have the irq resources available.

[CyberTech]

If IRQ conflicts is your problem, often the simplest solution is to move the modem to a different PCI slot. This will force the system to assign it a different IRQ, hopefully avoiding the conflict. You should also probably turn off IRQ routing in Windows as mentioned by the others.

If you really want your system to perform well, I would get a real modem. I usually refer to 'Win' modems as 'looser' modems. :-) It is really forcing your CPU to take over the role of a modem, which will degrade system performance.

[TRICKPLAYER]

I'm with "reboot" on this one also if you
have a usb mouse will free irq 12.
but usb is not a lot of good in DOS.