Hmm a modem problem

[Mid - Kirinia]

Not really DAOC related, but me and my friend recently tried to help my other friend (aren't I popular?) sort out her computer by formating it and upgrading her to windows xp.

Now then, she didn't have any driver discs or anything, but we went ahead and installed xp. Everything was fine, however windows could not seem to find a driver for the PCI Modem. It would recognise that there was a PCI Modem in the computer, but could not install it.

Unfortunately we really couldn't work out what brand the modem was or anything so I couldn't even attempt to download a driver for her, so I installed a spare modem that I had onto her computer.

Booted windows up, and it found the modem and installed it straight away using one of it's own drivers. Super.

But....when we try to connect to the internet, the little window pops up to say 'dialing...' as usual, but it doesn't manage to make a connection, and the modem doesn't seem to 'click on' or make the dialing noise or anything.

The phoneline works fine, checked it with a normal phone.

Any ideas what the problem is? Windows reckons the modem is working fine, but when you try to connect it doesn't seem to activate the modem at all.

And no the connection settings aren't set to 'never dial a connection'.

It's a normal 56k PCI Modem.

 

[chretien]

Make sure the old modem has been removed from dialling properties so the computer isn't trying to dial out through hardware that doesn't exist.

 

[frogster]

There wont be an old modem in the dial up properties. The moment wasnt recognised as a modem.
If it were trying to use hardware that didnt exist then you would get no dial tone at most.

Just out of interest..
Are you getting dial tone?
Are you getting the modem spectrum 128 hardshaking noise?

And the classic
The ISP cd you choise to install, was it one you found lurking under your desk behind a now green cheese roll?
ISP numbers update, you could be dialling a non existing ISP
That is ofc assuming you didnt use the xp connection wizard to dial a list of Windows ISP directory.

 

[Mid - Kirinia]

The modem doesn't seem to be getting a dial tone no.

Hardshaking noise? no idea what that is, but the modem doesn't actually make any noise at all so I assume I am not getting that noise.

As for the ISP, well we took the details (isp phone number, username etc) off the computer before we formatted it and then input them again after installing xp, and it all worked fine the day before on Windows 98.

 

[chretien]

Ok standard modem troubleshooting:
Was the old modem one of those software modems that fits on an AMR slot? (looks like a really short PCI slot)
If so make sure you've disabled it in BIOS.

 

[frogster]

What I'd suggest is....

Assuming The Modem is listed in device manager

Control Panel
Phone and Modem Option
Select the Modem Tab
Then the modem you want to test
Then
Properties>Diagnostics>Query Modem.

This tells windows to chat to the modem using the AT commands (which is basically modem speak to the layperson)

If windows reports all ok.. then its a connection problem.

No dial tone? (ie the brrrrrrrr noise you hear when you lift your phone for example) Check that (assuming you have both modems installed still) you have connect the phone line to the modem windows has detected and installed. Then check that the cable is all the way in and makes a nice click noise.

If it says dialling, you hear the dial tone and then the screaching handshake sounds after but it fails to connect then its more than likely the ISP number you are using.

If it connects and then bombs out after verifying username and password then guess what :O

If the modem is listed but the diagnostics fail then, the driver windows chose to install is actually incompatible and i suggest you use your internet connection to find a driver for her..

 

[Mid - Kirinia]

Okay I have disabled the really small old mini-pci modem slot thingy, but it still doesn't work.

Having looked at a few things, I noticed the new modem is apprently on COM port 3, however according to the computer there is no COM port 3, there is only a COM port 1 (which is currenlty being used by something).

How do I get the other COM ports installed? Shouldn't they be on there already?

 

[chretien]

Com port 3 is quite normal for a modem.
Running Windows XP do this to test your modem outside any dialling software your ISP may use.
First of all test in in windows by querying it, this is on the diagnostics tab of the modem properties screen. You should see a white screen fill with text as the computer sends loads of AT commands to the modem and the modem responds to each. Occasionally you may get 'Command not supported' Against some entries that's fine. The window is in two halves - Command and Response. Scroll up until you see AT13 in the command section, you should see driver files listed in the responce opposite.
Go to the Modems tab and under Dialling rules remove the check for wait for dialling tone then click ok.
Close down alll open windows and go to start=>run then type hypertrm in the popup box then click on OK. If it gives you the option to make hyperterminal your default telnet program choose no and continue.
Where it says connection description just type the word test, it doesn't matter what you type here but for the sake of argument we'll call the connection test. Then click OK
Now it asks you for a phone number. Firstly check at the top that it says 'Dialling from United Kingdom (+44) - or whatever country you happen to be in obviously and at the bottom it should say 'Dial using' and give the make and model of your modem.
If you have a mobile phone with a strong signal or a second land line then put that number into the telephone number areas - carrier code in the area code and the rest inthe telephone number box. Click OK again.
Make sure no-one else is using your telephone line for anything and that the modem cable is properly connected then press 'dial' After a few seconds your mobile or second line should ring. If so then your modem works and the problem lies with the buggy and crap software ISPs insist their users have to suffer with.

edit:- If you don't have a handy telephone number and you are in the UK then use this one:
In the area code put 0845
In the telephone number put 0796699
This is the Freeserve dialup number. If your modem works it will connect to this computer who will ask you for authentication. You should get a login screen which will time out after a few minutes. If so then your modem is working properly.
If you're outside the UK then I'm sure someone will know a dial up number for your country you can use.