Hi Kees, just trying to help out by remarking on
some of your statements.
-yui shin

----- Original Message -----
Kees Kouwen wrote:

KK> But isn't one of the features of PCI the plug and play
> option...

Plug and play is not a feature of PCI, but a standardized
method of auto addressing which requires compatible
BIOS, Oper. Sys., CPU and device (ISA or PCI).

KK> and doesn't this mean the IRQ is assigned at startup
> rather than by Windows (as many people think) this would
> mean a pci modem would be able to function in DOS...

It takes more than IRQ allocation to make a device
work in any operating system. Most devices have an
instruction base or code protocol stored internally in
their chipset or similar, but softmodems access similar
unitary instructions in Windows itself. This means without
Windows they will not operate beyond factory level
testing.

KK> e.g. just like a graphics card.

Unlike modems, video cards tend to initiate from
their own internal BIOS/ROM and final translation
is set by the motherboard BIOS.
regards -yui shin



> ----- Original Message -----
> Jim Woodford wrote:
>
JW> A winmodem is called a winmodem because all the
> software/firmware needed to
> run the modem are not found on the card. It requires >drivers and CPU
processing time in order to complement >the hardware on the card in order
for
> the modem to function as a modem. Hence the need to >have Windows in order
to use the modem...>
(snip)

> > -----Original Message-----
KK> > Here's what i don't understand isn't a winmodem >>called a winmodem
just because it only can be used in >>windows sounds strange to me that a
PCI modem can't be >>used in DOS just as well (apart from the fact that you
like >>a PCI modem or don't like a PCI modem). PCI modems >>are not
jumperable as far as i know.

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