Have set up a broadband connection (ntl) for a friend on a Micro Star board (MS-6165 1.X) running Win98SE via a USB modem. An elderly machine with an Award BIOS dated 10/20/98. All set up OK. However, when turning off the machine and then restarting it it WILL NOT load Windows UNTIL I remove the USB connection from the modem and then it will load fully. Then I have to reconnect the USB lead to the computer when the modem will power up and be available for internet connection. Pain in the ****!!! Any ideas gratefully accepted!!

Hi Ray, Not exactly like your case, but I have a USB printer which if hooked up and POWERED UP at boot in w2k, blows up [BSOD]. Maybe closer to your case, I have a USB BB modem, which when connected to USB 2 card, dumps the drivers on every boot. But on mobo USB 1x it's happy as a clam. I think my problem and maybe yours lies in a shared IRQ. Look in device mgr to see what is using which. HTH M2 If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

Many thanks for your reply, M2. The modem in question is not on my machine and is connected to a USB 1 port. As a matter of interest (???) I do have a card reader attached to my own system which, if left connected, will not permit WinXP to loasd till it is disconnected first!

Hi Ray, Just when you thought things couldn't get any weirder with Mr. Bill's favorite product... M2 If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.