need help booting a computer into speakup with an unresponsive cerial connection.

[Sean M McMahon]

        I have this computer where  my bns will not talk after I issue the 
command to boot linux and the proper synth keyword.  The speakup boot 
flopy recognizes the command because I hear the disk spin but my bns 
doesn't talk.  I no it isn't the floppy because I had no problems when I 
tested it on another machine.  Could this computer have its cerial port 
disabled and if so, how would I check for that?  Is there something else I 
could try entering from the boot prompt to get this talking?
Sean