Hi folks...I'm new to the forum. We were downloading some updates to ME for a PC that we got from a deceased relative. There was an updated driver for the modem (Conexant Soft 56K) and while doing the download, it asked a question about whether the port should be turned off. My wife didn't wait for me and said yes. The PC froze and since then, I cannot get the modem to work. You can hear the dial tone but no dialing. After about 2 seconds, it says that the modem is disconnecting. I get error 629----disconnected from the computer you dialed. I tried re-installing the old driver with no success. The modem is using com3, IRQ 10. I went thru BIOS to see if there was a way to enable/disable this port, but no option was available. There are no files worth saving on the PC, so I don't mind restoring from the CDs. The restore point feature does not appear to be working either. Any other ideas before I restore? Thanks in advance for any replies.

Try to find the INF file for the bad driver, delete it, then remove the device in safe mode, restart and reinstall the old driver.

Hope this helps.

P.S. Have you looked for port settings in the driver properties ?

This is an unusual use of IRQ for COM3, because by default COM3 uses IRQ4 on most X86 motherboards/chipsets that I know of.
You may need to reassign another IRQ [10 in your case] to COM3 if it will allow you to do so, from Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager tab -> Ports -> COM3 [highlight it + click Properties button near bottom] -> if IRQ is anything else but 10, you may need to access the Reserve Resources dialog:
Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager tab -> double-click on My Computer -> Reserve Resources tab -> Interrupt Request (IRQ) box must be checked -> click Add button at bottom -> scroll to 10 -> click OK/Apply [twice] -> reboot.

FYI:
Might be a hardware conflict [you will see a red X or yellow ? in Device Manager list] if IRQ10 is already used by another hardware device and is not properly shared.
To make sure IRQs are shared in Win95/98/ME, must enable IRQ Steering:
Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager tab -> double-click System Devices -> double-click PCI Bus -> IRQ Steering tab -> make sure Use IRQ Steering box is checked -> reboot if you changed this setting.

Another thing to do [if possible]:
If your modem card allows to change IRQs and/or COM ports from the card itself, like DIP switches or jumpers, you may want to do so. Try to change from COM3 to [for example] COM1, or if that doesn't work, try to change COM3 IRQ number to something else, usually selecting an IRQ number you know is not in use by any other hardware device.
The list of used IRQs:
Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager tab -> double-click on My Computer -> View Resources tab -> Interrupt Request (IRQ) box must be checked -> look at the list.

More stuff to try:
http://www.mdgx.com/newtip4.htm#KILLER
http://www.mdgx.com/last2.htm#FAST
http://www.mdgx.com/newtip6.htm#COMASSIGN

Hope this helps.

For future reference, never accept updated drivers from Microsoft.....NEVER!

In many cases where an old modem was a problem, for whatever reason, I've found that
removing it from windows, then removing it physically and replacing it with a newer and more
capable modem was a most workable solution.
And it's much cheaper than futzing with a non-working modem.

I just picked up six new modems this weekend for $10 ea.
They were from four different manufacturers, including Intel.
If one doesn't work on a particular PC or phone system,
I just try a different one.

If you ever need drivers for a modem, always get them from the makers web site if possible.
Drivers.com is another possible source. But, NEVER from microshaft.

Good luck to you,
Andromeda43