Small modem disaster

I decided to try connectiong to the internet via a network modem. At
first it seemed to be working, but then I wasn't sure, so I decided to
turn off the local modem to see if a connection would be made via the
other computer.

That didn't work so I went back to re-enable the local modem and it told
me it was not functioning and didn't give me any option to enable it.
And there is no modem listing in the Device Manager.

I went both through (control panel) Phone & Modem and Add Hardware to
try to install it, but it always said it could not find a modem.
Finally I tried manually installing one from a generic list. The
installation seemed to work and it said the device was working, but it
would not connect. Then I remembered that the installer had forced the
installation onto COM1. That is, it posts COM1 in the window and
nothing I can do will let me change it. I do know the modem was on
COM3.

I'm utterly amazed that it tells me there is no modem, having used it
for days. In Win98SE (TP770E) all I had to do was turn on the machine
and it would find any hardware that wasn't installed and install it. In
XP Pro (T42) It simply boots up and neither does nor says anything about
a modem or anything else unusual.

help?

Jim L

--
"Feel inadequate? Destroy stuff and kill people." Confucious, Socrates, Benjamin Franklin.