Is this problem just a bad modem?

[Floogeldy]

My sister was given a used E-Machine. She was able to get on line with AOL dial up through the Conexant 56K internal modem. The computer was so slow and had so much crap on it, we decided to use the recovery disk, wipe the hard drive clean, and reinstall everything as it came from the factory.

After we used the recover disk, AOL could not find the modem. We ran Windows 98 diagnostics. The modem and original driver are installed okay. But when Windows 98 attempted to communicate with the modem, it told us that the port could not be opened. We plugged the phone line going to the computer into a phone and got a dial tone.

It looks like the modem went bad, but what a coincidence that this happened only after we used the recovery disk?

Any ideas, besides replacing the modem?

Thanks,

Floog

[BlueHandDuo]

1. I would check your port assignments...

...make sure the modem isn't trying to share the same port with another device, like maybe the mouse.

[Floogeldy]

2. How do I check port assignments with Windows 98?

Your input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Floog

[Berserker]

3. Have you tried

to update your modem driver?

Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click System.
Click the Device Manager tab.
Double-click the Modem branch to expand it, if it exists. If the Modem branch does not exist, look for an Other Devices branch, and then double-click the Other Devices branch to expand it.
Double-click your modem, and then click Update Driver on the Driver tab.

There are more trouble shooting tips for your modem here
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q190554/

On edit:
Here is another area to check
Check that the correct modem is chosen in the dialup connection:
# Open the Control Panel and double click the Internet Options icon.
# Click the Connections tab, highlight your Expedient connection and click the Settings button.
# Click the Properties button in the Dial-up Settings section to open the connection properties.
# If necessary, select the correct modem in the Connect using option and click OK.
http://help.expedient.com/dialup/dun630.shtml

[BlueHandDuo]

5. Sorry about the reflexive response...

...but after I posted, it occurred to me that those kinds of port conflicts were pretty much limited to the DOS/Win 3.x platform. Win98 does a good job of sorting out those things during installation.

However, a flicker of an almost-kinda-memory-like thingy woke up in my head. It's been a long time since I've used AOL, but I seem to recall that at least one version of their software was hard-coded to look for the modem on a specific COM port, and woe to you if your modem was installed and working perfectly with everything else on a different port.

I have no idea what files come with a typical AOL installation these days, so I'm afraid I can't just tell you to fire up Notepad and change one character in some .INI file. You may just have to bite the bullet and call tech support, as the other person suggested.

Oh, one more suggestion: if you have fax or phone-answering software on the same machine, you may have to disable it (temporarily) before trying to dial with the AOL software.

But there's almost no chance at all that the modem itself went bad.

[SKKY]

4. I know this is going to sound so very Gay, but you may have...

...to call AOL tech support. I remember so many moons ago I had to call for my parents because the AOL software had to be configured to recognize their modem (Dell Win 98) and it wasn't readily accessible nor easy to find. I with I could remember off the top of my head what I did but I can't. Now, having said that, the guy on the other end was VERY helpful and I was quite surprised with AOL support.

[Floogeldy]

6. Thank you all. She chunked it and bought a new E-Machine

We tried everything, short of replacing the modem.

We'll see how the new one works. I've heard they aren't too reliable.

Thanks again,

Floog