device mgr mess...modem instal (win98)

hello,
trying to help friend w/ 100 mHz (PI) PC running windows 98SE instal a modem and have a few problems:
acer mBoard, P100 MHz (32 MB RAM)
problems:
1. device mgr has a yellow splat through the apm (system) it's disAbled in the bios and the version of BIOS is award v.4.51pg -- not sure whether to enable it in the bios (apparently has required the shut off button always)
2. installed a brother printer (pc communicates but printer has hw problems)
3.next put in a us robotics snr-4100 (not on google) which i need drivers for since there are only 2 options but that can wait
it initially showed up as being on lpt1 (2 times) (it is in an isa slot)
4. unfortunately (or fortunately i am not at the pc but from memory: it still boots (6 months later -- not changed) has 1 POST (pass)
the mouse is listed as microsoft intellimouse serial version and is using com1 --
under the modem in dvc mgr is the courier modem 14,400
and lpt1 printer cable on lpt1
irq's (iirc) com1 using 04 com2 using 03
the mouse and the modem are not shown.
apparently 9, 10, and 12 are not being used???
every time tried to test the modem the mouse freezes (no ctrl alt delete)
basically i think i have a real mess w/ the device mgr and irq's.
is it advisable to manually configure the irq's to what they are usually (for ex: force the mouse to 12? and the modem to 4?
also the question re: whether i should enAble the apm in the bios i don't want to break the system and haven't encountered this before. (having the yellow spalt in the expanded system deives (windows apm is also disAbled)
finally is there a realistic chance of actually having a P100 MHz (32MB RAM) running win98SE do anything positive on the internet?
finally if anyone can tell me how to figure out what the modem is (it is us robotiks snr-4100 5F+ (isa)) so i can dLoad drivers for it? (it's using the windows drivers (incidentally the courier name was just the fact that we did not scroll the us robotiks list -- it was at the top on the right side (in the win98se drivers)
i apologize for the length hopefully someone can help me
THANKS!

 

If my computer were that wigged out, first I'd go here:

http://www.jermar.com/

Get WinDriversBackup. Get all the drivers into one central location.

Copy all the Windows .cab files onto the hard drive from the Windows 98 disk.

Go into the Registry...H Key Local Machine\ Enum

Delete All the Entries

Reboot the computer and let it plug and play itself back into shape!

Use the mouse to point to the cab files and to the drivers when called.


Any other suggestions?

 

I would go with a full format and and clean install. That computer has way too many hardware conflicts to try to resolve one by one. Remove the modem and sound card before installing, get the video drivers installed first, then add the sound and install the drivers for that. Then do the modem. The printer will be easier when all this is done.
If that is not possible, do as suggested by RayH.
You can find the modem drivers and other hardware drivers at http://www.driverguide.com/ , log in as "drivers" as the user and "all" as the password.
The computer will surf the net, and will run better with a clean install of windows.
Have the modem in your hand and look for the FCC ID number, and use that number to search at the above site, it has a link for that. I used "robotics+4100" in the Basic Search and got 41 hits there.

 

Wait! There's no need to reformat and reinstall.
Windows98 has a key in the registry called the ENUM.
It contains every known bit of hardware that's ever been in that computer.
If device mangler is in such a mess, it's because of rogue subkeys under the ENUM key, and the fix is usually easier than you think.

That modem probably has jumpers, or dip switches to set the com port, and IRQ. You'll have to get it on com 2, IRQ 3 if possible, and DISable com 2 in BIOS setup (mentioned below).
The modem currently is in conflict with one or both of the onboard com ports/IRQ's, and this causes both the modem, and the mouse to quit, because they're fighting over resources.

Get the Windrivers backup tool mentioned above, and run it.
You do NOT need to download a driver for that modem, it's contained right within Windows 98.
Boot to Safe Mode.
Open Regedit, and browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum.
Remove (delete) the WHOLE key, and all it's subkeys!
Restart, and go into BIOS setup.
Disable com 2.
Set "PnP OS Installed" to NO.
Set "Reset configuration data" to YES.
Set "APM" or ACPI" ON.
Now restart.
Let things install, and if prompted, let it search through the drivers backup you made with the windrivers tool.
This may take a while, and require numerous restarts, but each piece of hardware will reinstall.
Make sure you restart often, even if it doesn't prompt you. Once for each device is normal.
If you have any flaky devices, or any more yellow ! in device mangler after it thinks it's finished, just boot to safe mode, and remove the device from device mangler, and restart.
You can repeat the process, one device at a time, until everything is back to normal.
If, after all this, there's still a problem, open device mangler, system devices, PCI bus, PCI steering tab, and take the tick marks out of all, except "Use MS Steering Table ". Restart.
This will force a reassignment of IRQ's based on the BIOS settings.
Hope this helps, and may save your data.

 

Wait! There's no need to reformat and reinstall.

reboot may well be 100% correct.

Just removing the Modem may very well fix things nicely.

Internal Modems are indeed known to be the cause of these problems.

An External Serial Port Modem is the better way to go an an older machine.

BillyBob

 

(interim post)
just wanted to THANK everyOne for the advice, url, suggestions etc... also for the fcc # to id it... etc etc etc
will be seeing the pc in a few days and will troubleShoot as per your instructions
(have dLoaded the winDriver)
i thank you all again and i'll post the outCome
sincerely
Tanya

 

I think the CAB files from the Windows disk have to be on the drive also. The principle of what is being suggested is how a Windows 9x hard drive is moved intact.

 

I do not believe that reinstalling Windows will fix this problem. And could even make it worse.

Re-installing Windows WILL NOT fix a hardware broblem.

Yellow marks in the DM are 98% hardware or drivers for same realted. Which re-installing Windows may well not fix.

That alone indicates a hardware ( IRQ ) problem which is 95% possibley caused by the Modem. And a reinstall may not fix that.

Many times a modem that has been working for years and something goes wrong it will not reinstall and work properly.

Many internal Modems either are ( or become ) hard coded and will not change.

BillyBob