I was only able to complete upgrades using another machine. The one that fails is a Dell Lattitude cPX, and the one that succeeds is an IBM Thinkpad (both are laptops). Both have exactly the same com1 driver version and settings. Both are running Win2k Pro.

On the Dell, I have Xircom Cardbus Ethernet/Modem PCMCIA, but I think problem occurs regardless of if it's installed.

Minimal other apps running, nothing that takes COM1 that I can tell.

Anyway, not too worried since I can find a way to upgrade, but just in case someone else needs some data to work from.

-Joe