Windows 98 Conflict

wWindows 98 Conflict

When I start my computer I get a " CONFLICT I/O 2F8 message.
It shows to be COM port 2. I have nothing plugged in it. It started when I installed a new ethernet card. I pulled it and reinstalled and no change. There are no conflicts showing in the device manager. I have to press F1 to bypass the message. I stopped all the items on the startup and still no change. I even used selective startup and no change. Nobody can seem to help.

 

If you aren't using com 2 you can disable it in your bios. That would probably take care of it. Otherwise, you could try moving the card to a different pci slot and it might straighten it out for you.

 

Go into CMOS/BIOS and find the com2 port and set it to disabled.

When you reboot don't go stright to full windows but F8 to chose safe mode.

Go to control panel device mgr Ports com and lpt. Select and remove com2. Reboot to full!

You are sure there is no modem on com2?

Mike

 

Zander

Smile!

Crossed in the either!

Same track!

Mike

 

An NIC does not use a COM Port. the Modem does.

My fix for the one time I had that problem.

The NIC * MAY HAVE * forced the Modem to change ports ( or IRQs )

As in my case your Modem has may have gone sour on you.

I had the message ONCE and pulling the Modem fixed it. And it made no difference if COM2 was or was not enabled in the BIOS. The machine still would not boot properly with the Modem plugged in.

Finally fix was a new modem. An ( better anyway ) External at that. Which was plugged into COM2.

BillyBob

 

Great......glad to get some feedback on this. It seems all I had been getting for answers is to contact microsoft. Just don't have the funds to pay them for answers. I have already changed PCI slots, and even removed the NIC all together and tried it. No change. I do not use a modem in the computer. I have a cable connection with the modem external. Nothing is plugged into com 2. going to try these few things and will get back one way or another.

Shorty

 

Something I forgot to ask...........Since I have an external modem that the cable and NIC is plugged in, would it be using com2. I guess I need to know it before I disable it huh,

Shorty

 

Please help. I am lost.

Did the Cable Modem allready exist ? I assume if so if was connectied via an NIC.

Were ( are ) you trying to install a second NIC.

Just a question ( or wild guess ) or two.

Are you sure there is no Internal Modem installed ?

Also is it possible there is an Intergrated ( built into MB ) Modem that may have gotten activated. ?

To the best of my knowledge an NIC should not effect COM ports. But again I am only going by my own past experience.

Just caught this.

To the best of my knowledege the answer is NO.

BillyBob

 

Unless by some chance the NIC might be using the 02f8 address. I don not think it should be but * MIGHT * be .

I t might be good to go to the device manger and check on it.

That would make two things trying to use the COM2 address.

BB

 

I checked the device manager and COM 2 has IRQ-3 and I/O range-02F8-02FF. The NIC has IRQ-10 and I/O range 6800-68FF. I checked the drivers and the closest match to them both is COM 2 Windows System VMM32.VXD ( vcomm.vxd) and NIC VMM32.VXD (ntkern.vxd). So, will it be safe to delete com 2

 

I myself am out of ideas.

BB

 

I guess I would try disabling it in the bios and boot to windows without removing it. If windows doesn't complain about it and everything works you could then remove it in the device manager if it's in fact there after you disable it. If it gives you problems you can always go back and re-enable it.

BillyBob or Mike
Is it possible that installing the nic forced something else that was using IRQ 10 out and pushed it there? Could explain why the nic itself is not in conflict with it.

 

Is it possible that installing the nic forced something else that was using IRQ 10 out and pushed it there? Could explain why the nic itself is not in conflict with it.

Anything can happen with these PCs.

If it were an IRQ creating the conflict I would tend to think maybe.

But if the problem shorty563 is having is anything like mine it is the actual address of 02f8 that seemed to be where the conflict is.

shorty563

Just for checking sake. Look in the BIOS and check to make sure that COM1 is not set to 02f8. It should be 03f8.

And/or check the drvice manager for any other possible COM ports being installed and may be asigned to 02f8.

I have found windows to do some VERY strange things with COM ports.

BillyBob

 

Yes it could force the IRQ on an older system.

Will do no harm to remove com2 in device mgr. Do so only after diabling in BIOS. Even if disabled in BIOS it may come back anyway.

Actually you should remove it and any NIC's that are installed and any unknown devices "IN SAFE MODE "!!!!!!! And when you remove it from device mgr the NIC should already be removed physically from the computer. Then the computer should be rebooted from safe mode TWICE before reinstalling the NIC.

Ahhhh, reread just now are you replacing a nic or adding a second?

In any case it will come back easily after reneabling the com2 again. You could not stop it!

Do you have an internal modem at all even tho you said you did not use one since you have broadband.

If you do you should remove it if so.

Mike

 

OK........Gonna throw all the chips in....Went to Bios and disabled Com 2, and rebooted. Behold..... the conflict is gone. I have not disabled it in the device manager, but, there is no conflict right now so I am going to leave it alone. Thanks for all the input and advice. Also, the problem I was haveing with the browser, Internet explorer, well.......its off and on. I redownloaded explorer 6, works a little better, but, still locks up sometimes, and sometimes still don't display pictures. I downloaded Mozilla and I have no more problems plus, its faster. So I guess I will see where the wind takes me next.

Thanks again,

Shorty563

 

10-4 Shorty

If it floats sail it!

Glad it worked out!

Mike

 

Thanks for the feed-back!!