FWIW, I use a USB-SER cable to use my
Kyocera cellphone as an AT-compatible modem,
not quite the same, but a similar situation.

If the connection barfs, I also have to restart the system
to clear the "port is already open" stuff. Even unplugging
and reconnecting the USB-SER cable won't do it. So, it's a
problem likely not specific to your setup, but more of
a flaw within the driver for the USB adapter cable.

You might try this (just occurred to me and I haven't):

Next time it happens, disable then enable the USB-SER
hdwe. from Device Manager.


"ShadowTek" <FAKE@EMAIL.ADDRESS> wrote in message
news:Xns9B0B55DB62CFpsistormyamatocscom@85.214.90. 236...
> =?Utf-8?B?QW5kcmV3IEUu?= <eckrichco@msn.com> wrote in news:A96AA5DD-6220-
> 4A70-9345-4E7DD2963550@microsoft.com:
>
> > Serial ports & paralel ports seem obsolete these days,why not purchase
> > a USB modem,the interface is much faster.
>
> It's just a dailup modem, so I don't need a faster interface. Besides, I
> bought this so that it would work with both Windows and Linux, as I have
> already gone through hell trying to get the old soft modem to work with
> Linux.
>
> I also wanted to have a serial modem around in case I needed to use it with
> any older computers.
>
> Besides, there's no sense in spending any more money if I don't know what
> the problem is. I might buy and install a new hardware modem just to end up
> having the same persistant issue to deal with.