V92 modem

[johnprice]

I'm trying to install a new v.92 modem, the computer I have was previously used as a network pc. The problem I am having is that windows recognises the modem as being installed but internet explorer says that the newly installed modem is either turned off or not installed properly when I attempt to dial up. This pc has a single bank of dip switchs alongside the pci slots. I don't have any manuals on my pc so I dont know what to change to make my new modem work. Have looked for help about the motherboard but couldn't find the name, I am guessing it is an AT because it is about the right age and size (it runs a 166Mhz pentium mmx processor). Any suggestions how to solve the problem or does anyone know where I can get to an 'online' manual for the AT mother board?

[glc]

Is this a software controlled PCI modem? If so, a 166 is not powerful enough to run it, and those old bioses were not very good at managing "plug and play". The best way to put a modem in an old machine like that is either an external serial modem or a hardware ISA modem with jumpers.

[johnprice]

it is definately a PCI modem but i'm not sure how much the modem relies upon the software, how could i use these jumpers you mentioned before? any other clues? thanks for your help

[glc]

Jumpers on ISA hardware modems are used to manually set the com port and IRQ, the old-fashioned way. What brand and model is the PCI modem, and did you read the minimum requirements on the box?

[johnprice]

Thanks for your continued patience. This is a V.92 PCI modem. I went on the PC World website where I bought the Modem and the spec they give is that the minimum processor speed is 33Mhz. It also gives the minimum level processor as 486 so I should have a little to spare. Any ideas you have are welcome.

[glc]

That sounds like one of the few hardware PCI modems made - do you have a brand and model. please?

[johnprice]

This is a Phonic Pro V.92/V.90 PCI modem.

[ssahl]

What does it say about the modem in your device manager? When you put the modem in you computer and booted up did you have to tell windows where to look for the drivers? sometimes windows will not put the correct driver in for your modem and you have to point to where the correct modem driver is and manually install it for it to work right.

[glc]

Phonic Pro looks like just a distributor of Hayes and Zoom modems - if this is so, that's probably a Lucent Venus chipset modem. Properly installing the driver exactly as per instructions should get you up and running.

[johnprice]

Thanks glc and ssahl. I thought that the modem should install ok and the installation process appeared to go without hitch (actually there was little to do as the software just took over). The device manager finds the modem ok and when I run a diagnostic the software tests the modem and does not find an error. The problem is that when I try to dial out to an internet connection windows tells me that the modem is either switched off or not installed properly. I suspect that whilst windows is able to install the driver software the mother board isn't able to support 'plug and play'. Strangely the Phonic Pro website says that this modem has jumpers but I have just taken the modem out (again) and can find no sign of them. I guess it is just possible that the board is faulty - but not likely. As I said earlier the board does have a set of dip switches (jumpers) alongside the coms ports and I wonder if this has anything to do with the problem. However I don't have a spec for the board and so don't know what they are doing. Does anyone have any more ideas?

[glc]

I have never seen a PCI modem with jumpers - all PCI modems are 100% plug and play, and may require PCI 2.1 spec slots, which your old board may not have. However, that's strange that you get good diags but an error when you actually try to use it.

Try this - boot into safe mode and remove all modems except the new one from device manager, then reboot into normal Windows. Then open My Computer, then Dialup Networking, and right click on your connection, select Properties, and see how many modems are in the pick list. Choose the current modem and close out.

[ssahl]

What else do you have installed in your device manager--network adaptors? Is there anything aside from the 'dial up adaptor'? Are you running win98 or 95? Also how are your com (serial) ports set in the bios? You can always try downloading a newer (or different) driver from someplace like 'www.driverguide.com' If you are running win95 (try this even if your running 98) in your bios there is a setting that says something like 'plug n play aware OS' set it to NO.

[johnprice]

Sorry it’s been a while, work commitments.

Glc I’ve tried all your suggestions unfortunately with no success. Still any other ideas would be welcome.
Ssahl Originally the PC was used on a LAN and so did have a LAN card installed in port 2. I have taken the LAN card out and as far as I can tell windows isn’t looking for it. I haven’t tried the driver idea yet as I am not sure what I am trying to achieve through this. The Modem is new and so the driver should already be up to date. I am running windows 95 . I can’t find any reference to Plug & Play in BIOS. As before any ideas are welcome. If I do find a resolution to this problem I’ll post it.

[Evil-Lab-Monkey]

I had similar problems installing and external modem on a 486. Just like you guys I suspected it was a hardware issue. After playing around with the dip switches and many diagnostic tests it became apparent it couldn't poosible be the modem. It had to be a software issue.

It ended up being that the version of Dial Up Networking I was using was not compatible with my modem. Try going to Microsofts website and downloading the latest version of DUN. I beleive it is 1.3. That solved my problem and it will hopefully solve yours.

[ssahl]

I would say that the evil lab monkey has a good idea, especially since your using win95.

[johnprice]

Just a quick update to close this one out. Eventually I went along to PC World and threw myself at their mercy. The engineer simply re-installed the modem but also set the BIOS IRQ controller to automatic and it worked 1st time. £25 later (or $37 if your American) the problem appeared to be solved. However, although the modem now worked as soon as I tried to access a browser IE crashed. I have got round this problem by installing a ‘freeware’ browser which works fine. So, this is me, jogging sedately around the internet on my ancient PC. One last big thankyou to all who contributed.