I had a similar problem where my computer (running Win95) could
not communicate with my Picstart Plus.  But, as somebody suggested on
this list, that there is an alternate driver available at the Microchips
Website for the PicStart Plus.   Hopefully, this alternate driver
(MPPLUS.DLL) will solve your problem as it did to mine.

Alvin Tan

howard e. michel jr. wrote:

> Dear Piclisters:
>
>     I am in need of advice, I am tring to install last years picstart
> plus on my computer at home running Win95. The problem is that MPlab
> with the picstart software installed insists that the programmer in
> not
> attached to com2. I can get it to work if I pull my modem card out
> which is on com4.  The IRQ's are as follows: com1 (mouse) IRQ 4, com 2
>
> (picstart) IRQ 9, com3 (nothing), com4 (modem) IRQ 3, also a sound
> card
> IRQ 5, and a printer IRQ 7.  I have tried reinstalling Mplab as well
> as
> the other devices also I have tried an I/O card so that I could
> hardware configure it, I can't get it to work with the card at all.  I
>
> would greatly appreciate any input, thank you.
>
>                                 Friendly Regards,
>                                 John Reasoner
>                                 Solid State Instruments