You are correct that COM1&3 and COM2&4 by default use the same IRQ,
however most I/O cards allow you to change the IRQ of COM3 & 4.  The most
popular alternatives are 2 and 5 (which is only used if you have a second
parallel (LPT) port) or 10 and 11.  Once you have made the hardware
changes you also need to change the setting in Windows95.  To do this
simply:
 
Click the Start button
Choose the Settings menu
Choose the Control Panel Menu
Double-Click (DC) the System icon
Click the Device Manager tab
DC Ports (COMM & LPT)
Click the Resources tab (if Use Auto Settings is checked, de-select it)
Click the Change Setting button
Click the up or down button to choose the Correct IRQ setting
 
When Click say OK to all of these you will be asked to restart the
computer and when it comes back up the new setting will be active.
 
Brian Rosenow
Information Officer
UAB School of Optometry
[log in to unmask]
 
 ----------
From:  Nick Demos[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:  Friday, January 19, 1996 10:07 AM
To:  Multiple recipients of list HP3000-L
Subject:  Re: Windows 95 with COM3 and COM4 Serial
 
I believe the problem is an overlap in IRQ addresses.  Doesn't COM3 use
the same address as COM1and Com4 as Com2 (normally)?
 
NMD
 
On Thu, 18 Jan 1996, Steve Dirickson b894 WestWin wrote:
 
> <<Is there an update for Windows 95 to make COM3 and COM4 functionally
> equivalent to COM1 and COM2 serial ports?>>