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infieri

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PCI Serial Controller problem

 While uninstalling network components from a recent attempt to install a Null-modem serial cable, I somehow removed my PCI Serial Controller drivers.  My modem does not work (I'm assuming that is because it is a PCI board) and when I start windows, the PCI Serial Controller is recognized, but the install wizard cannot find the drivers on the Win98 2nd Ed CD.  I then bypass the driver installation and under Device Manager the "PCI Serial Controller" is yellow with a yellow (!).  
  I removed the yellow serial controller and tried to install manually but still could not find a driver.
 Here are my two questions:
  1. Is this why my modem doesn't work?
  2. Where can I get a driver for PCI?
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Cy H
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How about some information about your PC...usually this driver is available on CD for motherboard.
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Davy070599

The 'PCI Serial Controller' driver refers to your modem.  The drivers should be on the cdrom (or floppy) that is delivered with your modem or like neoprym said, on the cdrom of your motherboard.
Unless you actually deleted the .inf files, they are still on your hard drive.  You may have to do some jockeying around to make Windows find the .inf files, but it can be done.  First, make sure you have "show all files" chosen in the view menu of Windows Explorer, then go to "Modems" in the Control Panel, remove all references to a modem, then click "add", and choose to "select from a list".  click "have disk", and click "browse".  Make sure you're looking at the C: drive, click on the Windows folder, and scroll down to the INF folder, click on it to highlight it, and then click "OK".  Windows should find the .inf file if it's in there.  

If that doesn't work, you could go directly into that file in windows Explorer, but many times there are so many it's hard to know which one it is unless you're good at translating the sometimes cryptic names of the files.  If you still have your installation disk, that's the easiest way.  

By the way, what modem is it?  If it's a Zoom 56K PCI, you may need to remove the modem entry from the Device manager under System Properties, shut down your system, then physically remove the modem from its slot.  then reboot, run the Modem installation disk (usually a CD, with Zoom oem's it's on a disk called Battleship), then shut down the system, put the modem back in, and reboot.  Windows should then find the modem, and set it up.  

Hope one of these methods works for you!
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ASKER

 For neopym:  I have an AMD K6-2, 300 and a Rockwell HCF 56K Speakerphone Modem.  It was installed in the system when I got it and has worked perfectly.  I have drivers on a floppy that says: "Amquest H Series Hypermodem AM56HCF/SP Driver & INF for Win 95/98."  I took this modem out to use it in another computer and when I re-installed it, is when I got the PCI Serial Controller in YELLOW in Device Manager.  
  I have removed and added this modem several times in the past and never had a problem until I uninstalled the network components.  The only network components that are  now isntalled are: "Microsoft Family Logon, Dial-Up Adapter and TCP/IP"

  For davy: I can install the modem from the "modem" icon in Control Panel, using my floppy drivers.  But when I do and then double click on "Rockwell PCI MODEM" in Device Manager, I get the message "Cannot read Port from Registry".  PCI Serial Controller is still yellow with a !.  An istall using the CD for the Motherboard returns: "No information pertaining to device".

  For nbdyfool: I did not delete the inf files from the HD.  Following your directions in paragragh one of your answer, I got to the Windows folder but there was no inf folder.  However if I browsed to Windows/System/drivers, an inf came up in the box, but it would not load.  As for paragragh two, you are corect that I can not identify the right file out of the many listed.  However I have my original driver floppy and that still won't load the PCI Serial Controller.  Paragragh three: even though I don't have a ZOOM modem, I followed those instructions and the installation will load from the floppy but when I install the modem and boot up, I get the same results.  The results are that the modem is listed in device manager and PCI Serial Controller is again in yellow.  When I double click on Rockwell modem, I get the message "Cannot read Port name from Registry"
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Infieri, boot the PC into safemode and then go into device manager. Are there any duplicate or multiples of any devices in any area?
Dennis
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ASKER

 For Dew associates: yes these are  the duplicates:
(3) COM1
(3) Com2
(2) LPT1
(2) generic nec floppy disk
(2) standard flop[py disk controllers
(2) usb human interface devices
(2) plug and play monitors and (1) unknown monitor
(2) Microsoft streaming tee/sink-to-sink
converter
Try some of thise tactics.

Remove all the modems in control panel they may be attached to all sorts of ports.

If you are trying to install an add in serial card then disable the comms ports on the motherboard before adding it.  There is usually no drivers in addition to Windows own for serial ports (unless it's an 8 channel device or something). Remove the com port entries in device manager and reboot. Win should detect and install the comms ports on your add in card.

If you just mean the coms ports are the MB ones and you are installing an add in modem then diable one of the comms ports and install the add in modem in its place as the same comm port. Win will see it as a com port so when reboot after remove from device manager Win installs a com port and not a modem.
If that gets it then add the modem and select the com port for it's use as the one u installed the modem card as.
You may have to remove garbage from the registry. Search for com1 and you should find stuff in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum\BIOS\*PNP0501\00 etc.
Remove the keys with the com ports settings. They will be recreated when you reboot.

I always try to get everthing on fresh if I come across one of these so remove all modem/port and reg entries before turning off and setting up the cards properly. Then installing the cards. Then boot up andgo straight into BIOS setup don't let boot windows, in order to disable any MB com ports. Then len Win boot up. It will install com ports. Then plug modem int com port and add modem. Or if internal, run add modem and give it the port your modem is pretending to be.
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dew_associates
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Dew associates: That fixed my PCI Serial Controller problem so I thank you and "acceped comment as answer".
  But (there's always a but isn't there?), I am still not online.  Everything looks good in Device Manager and my modem dials out normally.  In the Modem staus window I get:
dialing
connected to remote computer
verifying user name and password
unable to make connection

My ISP was closed so I could not call them and I did not want to start making changes until I talked to someone, but I did try a couple of things.
  In the Dial-up network box under MY Computer, I went to "Server Types" and made sure that only TCP/IP was checked and not the other two.  Then I went to TCP Settings and UNCHECKED the two boxes at the bottom: "Use IP header compression" and "Use default gateway on remote network".  Now when I attemped to go online, it connected to my homepage, but if I attempted to make ANY new link, I would get the message (across the very top of the web page): "windows\system\shdoclc.dll/ dnserror.htm-microsoft internet explorer".  I then went back and CHECKED the two boxes (like they were before) and rebooted.  When I attempted to go online I got the same results as I described the first time: "unable to make connection".
  Then I compared all the settings that I could think of, in a side by side comparison with my other computer that connects online properly.  They are identical.  I aslo unplugged the phone line from the non-working computer and plugged it into the other one to make sure that the problem was not at the ISP.
 Any suggestions?
Okay, then let's deal with what we have. Your able to log on, but your getting errors when you try to change pages. Can you move through pages by let's say going into favorites and moving from one favorite to another to see if you can move between websites?
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ASKER

 I don't think I am actually online. I think by changing the TCP settings, I am just "fooling" the modem into thinking it is online.  Remember that with the TCP settings at the default settings, I get the "unable to make connection" message.  I think that I am not online because when I tried to access pages from Favorites (to answer your question), I found that even my Homepage is not loading.  I get the white screen "this page cannot be displayed" message.  I think that the first homepage that I thought was loaded from online was maybe from saved pages.  Also the modem status box that pops up when I double click on the icon in the tray, only shows 1,089 bytes received.  
  To answer your question, no I cannot access pages through the Favorites tab.  
  Should I change the TCP settings back to where they belong (both boxes checked like the computer that is working properly) before I do any more tests?
Yes, make the changes and then try it. If you have the modem icon in the tray, then you are online. Does your ISP require any server settings such as IP address etc?
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ASKER

dew associates:  My ISP tweaked some settings for me and got me connected, but your original answer is what fixed my PCI Serial Controller problems.  Thank you.
Thanks for letting me know. What you may want to do is write down what your ISP had you do just in case you need it again in the future.
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ASKER

 Dew associates: When I was accessing this last message from you, I noticed that the points for the "PCI Serial Controller" session was 7.  I had upgraded the answer to 75 not seven.  I do not remember what my total is so I don't know what you were given.  You were supposed to get 75 not 7, so please check that and give me instructions on how to increase the points to you if necessary.
I believe the page defaults to round numbers 75=7 85=8 100=10 etc. In any event, please don't be concerned, your PC is fixed which was my concern.