I was given a 486DX50 that is in excellent condition. It runs Win31 but I am having some problems with the modem. I have it connected to a phone line and am sure that the phone line is live, cause I connected a phone to the Fax/Modem card and got a dial tone and was able to make a call from the phone. My software (AOL and Fax) says that it can not detect the modem. I don't know what kind of modem it is, I suspect US Robotics (but not sure) I was finally able to find the Bios sequence to enable me to diable the COM1 serial port. This initially allowed the fax software to recognize it, but that didn't last long. From what I can see, the Fax/Modem card is still working, or I wouldn't be able to get a dial tone. Right? I don't see any IRQ conflicts as it is connected to #4. Any suggestions would be appreciated. ghro

I've never used Windows 3.1 but generally, any operating system I've had needed specific drivers for the hardware that was connected. You will need to identify the exact model modem and try to find appropriate drivers for your operating system. There is a Win 3.1 forum where you might like to seek answers Goin' Fishin' (Some day)

I believe Win3.1 needs a hardwarw modem not a Win9x type software modem. The software type modems require drivers. Check to model of the modem.

Shutdown Win3.1 on the machine and from plain DOS run MSD.exe and see if the serial port for the modem shows up. In other words, if you used the BIOS configuration to disable the onboard COM1 on the motherboard, and have the modem set up as COM1 (IRQ4, 3F8H), then MSD.exe should show a COM1 with the correct IRQ and address. If it doesn't, then that's your problem. If it does, then turn off the computer and physically remove the modem. Then restart the computer and check if MSD still sees a COM1 (at this time carefully study the modem and see if you can determine it's make and model). If MSD shows that there is no COM1 with the modem removed, then replace the modem. You now know that the modem is good at the hardware level. With the information you got from taking a close look at the modem, see if you can find configuration and driver information about it on the Internet. Oh, if MSD.exe DOESN'T see a COM port for the modem, then either the modem is broke, misconfigured, or is a software modem which will require a special Windows 3.1 driver to make it work.

Thanks everyone I will try to detemine the make/model of the modem. I will have to open it up after checking with MSD. I have already added a 5.25 floppy to the system. On another issue, there is a set of 8 jumper switches on the back of the computer, with 3,5 and 8 set to the 'on' position. I've never seen this before. I have heard that some IRQ's are set with jumper switches, but why would some be set to the off position when other systems will need that setting to be on. I don't believe these are IRQ's though for that reason. Without documentation it's hard to know except by trial and error. ghro

This is what I found when checking MSD: Class 1 Fax/Modem Port Address 02F28H Baud Rate 2400 Parity N Data Bits 8 Stop Bits 1 Carrier Detect No Ring Indicator No Data Set Ready Yes Clear to Send Yes UART Chip Used 16550AF I changed the baud rate to different settings and restarted the computer several times, the above info is what was recognized. AOL {v3) detected a New Media 14.4 PCMCIA at setup, but when this was tried it failed to sign on. The port was changed in the control panel and system restarted, but MSD did not recognize this so it was changed back to 2400. I guess I will have to open it up to hopefully find Make/Model info. I'll keep you posted ghro

The port address 02f8h is for COM2 (IRQ3). If you have it trying to use IRQ4 with that address, it won't work. Here are the COM Port "rules" for PCs: COM1....IRQ4/03F8h COM2....IRQ3/02F8h COM3....IRQ4/03E8h COM4....IRQ3/02E8h It is best to avoid trying to use COM3 and COM4, a lot of software/hardware really doesn't support it. But, if you "tell" a piece of software to use the modem at COM1, it will look at IRQ4/03F8h and if no modem responds (which it won't if it's set on address 02F8h) then the software won't "find" the modem. Your computer's mainboard also has built-in UARTs. If they are enabled and assigned the same address or IRQ as the UART on your modem, they will block software from finding the modem's UART. The 16550AF is a high speed UART and should be able to work up to 115200bps (or baud), typically a modem's UART speed will be set by the firmware's negotiation with another modem, the BAUD you set will be the MAX speed it will use. The jumper switches on the back of the computer are unique to that make/model of computer. Don't mess with them until you find a manual/description of what each switch does. It's possible that some of them have something to do with IRQs, but they are just as likely to have something to do with processor type, memory, math coprocessor, etc.