Err Msg: Another Program Is Using the Selected Telephony...

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     This article discusses a Beta release of a Microsoft
     product. The information in this article is provided as-is
     and is subject to change without notice.

     No formal product support is available from Microsoft for
     this Beta product. For information about obtaining support
     for a Beta release, please see the documentation included
     with the Beta product files, or check the Web location
     from which you downloaded the release.

     BETA INFORMATION  BETA INFORMATION  BETA INFORMATION  BETA

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to use Phone Dialer, HyperTerminal, or another 32-bit communications program in Windows 95, you may receive the following error message:

   Another program is using the selected Telephony device. Try again after
   the other program completes.

CAUSE

This problem can be caused by any of the following situations:

• If you are using an internal modem, the resources that the modem is configured to use may not match the resource settings for the serial port that the modem is configured to use in Device Manager.

  Under normal circumstances, Windows 95 is able to determine which resources the modem is using and configure the serial port accordingly. However, if a resource conflict exists between the modem or the serial port that the modem is configured to use and another device installed on your computer, Windows 95 may be unable to determine which resources the modem is using. In addition, this problem can occur if the resource settings for the serial port are modified manually after Windows 95 configures the port, but the modem is not configured to use the same resources.

• The Unimodem.vxd file is missing or damaged.
• There is another communication program currently running on the computer.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, use the appropriate method:

• Verify that the resources the modem is configured to use match the resource settings for the serial port that the modem is configured to use in Device Manager. For information about how to determine which resources the modem is configured to use, consult the documentation included with the modem, or contact the modem's manufacturer. To determine the resource settings for the serial port that the modem is configured to use, follow these steps:

  1. In Control Panel, double-click System.

  2. Click the Device Manager tab, and then double-click the Ports

        (COM & LPT) branch to expand it.
  

  3. Click the serial (communications) port the modem is configured to

        use, click Properties, and then click the Resources tab.
  

  To determine which serial port the modem is configured to use, click the modem in Device Manager, click Properties, and then click the Modem tab.

  If the resources that the modem is configured to use do not match the resource settings for the serial port, physically configure the modem to use different resources or modify the resource settings for the serial port in Device Manager. For information about how to configure the modem, consult the documentation included with the modem, or contact the modem's manufacturer.

  If you are unable to resolve the problem by physically configuring the modem to use different resources or by modifying the resource settings for the serial port in Device Manager, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

        ARTICLE-ID: Q152064
        TITLE     : How to Install an Internal Modem in Windows 95
  
  

• Verify that the Unimodem.vxd file in the Windows\System folder is not missing or damaged. To do so, rename the file (if it exists), and then extract a new copy of the file from your original Windows 95 disks or CD-ROM. The Unimodem.vxd file is located in the Win95_03.cab cabinet file on the Windows 95 CD-ROM or disk 3.

  For information about using the Extract tool, type "extract" (without quotation marks) at a command prompt, or see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

        ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
        TITLE     : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
  
  

• Quit any running communication programs. To verify there are no communication programs running on the computer, follow these steps:

  1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to open the Close Program dialog box.

  2. Close all communication programs. To close a program, click the

        program, and then click End Task.
  

  3. Repeat steps 1-2 until all unnecessary programs have been closed.

REFERENCES

For additional information about troubleshooting serial port and modem problems in Windows 95, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q124075
   TITLE     : TAPI Programs Can't Dial Unless UniModem Is First Listed
               Provider

   ARTICLE-ID: Q130796
   TITLE     : Cannot Set Up Internal Modem