I have two computers (an ACER 450 P-III) and an IBM 1412 (Celeron 366) laptop both of which are running ME. The laptop had been running ME fine for sometime. The ACER I just loaded ME on .... however now both have the same problem with their modems and Com Port 1. Seems it is a known problem with the ACER and ME .... where (for some reason) on boot up the OS sees COM Port 1 as inoperative and then assigns the modem to COM Port 3. Neither the ACER or IBM have a COM Port 3 so of course neither can connect to the ISP as both modems are assigned to non-existent ports. Control Panel/Modems does not allow be to manually change the Ports to the correct one (which is 1). Anyone run across this before?? Help appreciated. S.

Steve see if this helps: CAUSE This issue can occur if COM1 is disabled in your computer's Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). Some Acer Aspire computers incorrectly report the disabled status of COM1, so that Windows still detects COM1 and may assign your modem to COM3 to avoid resource conflicts. RESOLUTION To resolve this issue, contact Acer to inquire about the availability of a fix for this issue. To work around this issue, disable COM1 in Device Manager: Right-click My Computer , click Properties , and then click the Device Manager tab. Double-click the Ports (COM & LPT) branch to expand it, click Communications Port (COM1) , and then click Properties . Click to select the Disable in this hardware profile check box, and then click OK . Double-click the Modems branch to expand it, click your modem, click Remove , click OK , and then restart your computer. When your computer restarts, follow the instructions on the screen to reinstall your modem. Full article link: http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q213166 GL

GL: Thanks for the quick comeback .... I have actually tried that technique, but each time ME reboots and puts the modems back on COM3. Also, though the procedure mentions manually installing the modems, the Port setting (on "3") is always grayed out so it doesn't allow me to change it to any other port. ??? S.

Okay... Maybe try this one...Article may lead to a solution http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q295/0/85.ASP GL

Have you tried to disable 3 in the bios and see what it does then? Just a thought.... jimi_l

Appreciated the comebacks .... have been fiddling around and actually have the IBM working with its modem now (now using it to type this in fact). Comparing both PC's more fully, I find that both modems connect through something called a "WDM Communication Device" and though the IBM modem still says it is using Port 3, in the properties for its WDM Device, it has input/output range of 7090/7097 and 7400/7477 listed ...... while the Acer WDM Device settings look just the same, but have no input/output range listed ..... also the Acer connects to the modem .... but does not go into the dialling sequence .... details say "no dialtone" but other PC dials out on the same line fine. Hints??? S.

As an added note: the BIOS in the ACER does not show a COM Port 3 at all. COM Port 3 must be some type of virtual port created by the WDM Commo Device?? S.