Windows Marketplace V.90 User Manual

Page 21

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21

If you receive an error message or the panel is blank, go to the Does Not

Install section.

STEP 4: Does Not Install.

The most likely reason for a non-installation in Windows 95 is a lack of

IRQ resources. The modem needs one IRQ and two I/O addressees in

order to function. Modern computer systems are usually equipped with

soundcard, CD-ROM drive, Hard-drive, floppy drive, video card, two

COM Ports, one LPT port, keyboard, and a mouse. Each of these de-

vices require at least one IRQ (interrupt) in order to function. Some models

of sound card require three interrupts. It is little wonder that when it

comes time to install a modem, there is nothing left. The addition of

special purpose peripherals (SCSI, Network cards, etc.) makes matters

worse. This section deals with the process of freeing IRQ’s and configur-

ing the system P-N-P (Plug-N-Play) which requires that you know how

to enter your computer system’s BIOS Setup Routine (read your com-

puter user’s manual for information on how to invoke and use the BIOS

setup).

Once inside the BIOS Setup, find the Plug-N-Play configuration. This

can be found within the Advanced, PNP/PCI Configuration, or Plug and

Play Configuration section depending on the BIOS Manufacturer. Next,

from the information you noted in STEP 2: Modem Properties, find the

interrupt selection for the IRQ your modem is using (some BIOS don’t

allow individual selection of interrupts to ISA, Plug-N-Play, or PCI).

You want to set this so that the PCI bus has access to this interrupt. This

can be called ICU/PCI, PCI, or PNP depending on your BIOS version

and manufacturer. Do not set this interrupt to “ISA” only or to “Legacy

ISA”. Since each manufacturer has a different way of handling this con-

figuration, you may have to use trial-and-error to get your modem prop-

erly configured.

If you do not have any free interrupts available, you will have to disable

some unused function of your computer system. If you are using a PS/2

style mouse, you probably can spare one of your internal COM Ports. To

disable a COM Port, find the BIOS Setup section for Integrated Periph-

erals. Locate the Serial Port settings and disable an unused port that has

nothing connected to it (usually serial port 2). This should free one IRQ

for your modem to use. You may also have to disable the COM Port in

Windows 95.

Special Situations: Under some situations, you will find that freeing an

interrupt does not solve your installation difficulties. This could be due

to another peripheral device stealing the interrupt you just provided.

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