IBM Thinkpad 380E Modem Problem

[wilder]

Hi,
I have searched this forum and can't find anything on this problem. I have been trying to set up an internet connection, dial-up for now, on my older model Thinkpad. I have tried two different PCMCIA cards so far and still my laptop will not detect a modem. The first is a 3Com® Megahertz® 10 Mbps LAN PC Card with XJACK® Connector, 36.6, the second one is a Xircom® Cardbus Ethernet 10/100+Modem 56 Adapter. I was told that the Xircom card will not work in an older laptop like mine anyway because it has the gold strip and the older ones do not. I have ran all the diagnostics on both cards and neither shows a modem. The 3Com card shows in PCMCIA folder in control panel, but in the install modems it won't let me click "next" after "insert card now". I found this otion, but it didn't work either.(Q:What should I do if a Laptop LAN + Modem PC Card - Microsoft Windows 95 / 98 - Modem is not responding after FAX software program is installed?
A:In a situation such as this, the comm.drv=comm.drv line in the system.ini file needs to be removed. Click Start, Run and type sysedit and then click OK. From the Windows drop down menu select system.ini and then select Find from the Search menu. Type comm.drv and press Enter. Place a semicolon in front of the line referencing comm.drv. Add a new line below it that says comm.drv=comm.drv Exit SYSEDIT by selecting Exit from the File drop down menu. Reboot the computer and reinstall the PC card.
I have been trying to set this thing up for over three months and I'm lost as what to try next! I can't even find a user's manual for this laptop anywhere.
IBM Thinkpad 380E
Windows 98 SE
(below copied from Belarc utility)
3Com Megahertz LAN PC Card (589E) (Ethernet)
IBM ThinkPad Fast Infrared Port
Microsoft PPP over ATM Adapter
Microsoft Virtual Private Networking Adapter
Thanks in advance!

[glc]

The 3Com card is not a modem - it's an Ethernet card.

To get true compatibility, you may need a modem card that's standard 16 bit PCMCIA, a 32 bit Cardbus card may not work in that old a laptop.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...130-001&depa=0

[wilder]

The system requirements for the 3Com card says "Notebook PC with a 16-bit PC Card slot or 32-bit CardBus PC Card slot".
The 3Com card is Bus type: 16-bit (36.6k I think).
The Xircom is 32 bit 56k. So I have tried both, right? Or is there yet another type of card I have to get? Sorry, but I'm not too familiar with cards...this is my first experience with a laptop.

[glc]

As I said already, your 3Com card is NOT a modem, it's an Ethernet card. Your Xircom card is 32 bit Cardbus. I provided a link to a card that should work, it's 16 bit PCMCIA and comes with drivers for Win95 and newer and it's quite cheap.

[wilder]

Ooooh..I get what your saying..finally! I thought ALL PCMCIA cards were modem cards, but like I said, I don't know anything about laptops..yet. I hope getting another card does the trick. Looks like I have two extras now to list back on eBay, where they came from. Sometimes I'm an idiot Thanks very much for clearing this up for me!!!

Darlene

[glc]

Keep the 3Com card if you ever want to connect the laptop up to a network - it looks like it installed just fine and it's a quality card. The Xircom is a turkey - sell that sucker for whatever you can get.