Dial up Problems

MotherNatureVer2 · 14-04-2005, 07:36 PM

I have been trying to help a mate of mine with a computer that was given to her ......

It is only an old system but has a 5 gig hd & 60mb ram ........ I reformatted & reinstalled windows 98se for her. The computer itself is running fine ........

I have tried 2 modems on it & on the 1st night we were succesful in connecting to the net using my analog modem...... the next morning it refused to connect using the same modem & hasnt since ....

I have used a USB type modem & it keeps on locking the computer up totally ... no error messages... nothing .... jsut a frozen screen.... I know all the drivers are loaded properly ..... It will dial and after about 10 secs the whole thing is just frozen ....

I have also used a basic analog modem & whilst it doesnt lock the computer it refuses to connect ...... My mate has just rang me to say that she tried running a diagnostic thinggy that is in windows that suggested to use try putting in a home line phone no that is known to work in .... she did this using my phone no & it rang thru the modem ......... she could hear my answering machine speel :P

I have checked that the modem is conversing with the computer & all the info is there & everything seems ok ........

What could be causing the problem ??????????????

The MaDDeSTMaN · 14-04-2005, 09:42 PM

Asides from saying "USB modems are a tool of the devil himself", without knowing more about the system, I can't offer much advice.

If you were local I'd be only too happy to fix it for you, but it might take me a while to walk there, particularly if I remembered to take my "PC repair kit" (phillips head screw driver, several CDs with various software on them, spare modem and steel-capped boots for when I want to perform "percussive maintence" on the damn machine)

It's probably an issue with the networking components of Win98SE - internet connections use the same language as most networks, and the internet is just a big network. Tell me, is there a Network neighbourhood icon on the desktop?

MotherNatureVer2 · 14-04-2005, 10:54 PM

hahahahahahaa

I have exactly the same tool kit as you :P

I am actually online here at my mates place now ..... lets see ... frustration .... kicking things ...... complete reformat of computer & then it wouldnt play the game ..... yet another reboot .... and here we are ......

Not holding my breath for too long though ..... we got this far when I first started 2 weeks ago ......

No other ideas ?????

The MaDDeSTMaN · 14-04-2005, 10:57 PM

It could be an issue with the networking components of Win98SE, they are prone to problems without any provoking - internet connections use the same language as most networks, and the internet is just a big network. Tell me, is there a Network neighbourhood icon on the desktop?

Kryton · 14-04-2005, 10:58 PM

um the only help i can suggest is to buy another PC and run XP.

fordel · 15-04-2005, 12:08 AM

and most ppl blame the isp

issues with modem drivers ?

try to get the latest drivers from another machine and install them on that one, and yes stay waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay away from USB modems, they are pure evil and nothing more then a light paperweight

Chris

MotherNatureVer2 · 15-04-2005, 10:36 AM

Well the inevitable happened ..... we were online for about 2hrs & then disconnected & tried again. No go again.

I know the modem works on my computer so will get the drivers from that .... but where do I find them ?????

Neighbourhood Network is on the desktop ..... Last night after the reformat I havent added or removed any thing as getting connected was the ultimate mission :P

I have heard there is a way of removing it but I cant remeber how to ...... anyone enlighten me ????

Thanks for this guys. The people I am trying to help are top people & this is a little thank you from me to them .......... shame I am really illiterate about this stuff :P

fordel · 15-04-2005, 01:56 PM

Dont need to remove teh NN, its quite harmless

Best way to get teh drivers ti sto download them from the manufacturers site, and then onto a CD or afloppy and take to the other PC

Chris

The MaDDeSTMaN · 15-04-2005, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordel

Dont need to remove teh NN, its quite harmless

Best way to get teh drivers ti sto download them from the manufacturers site, and then onto a CD or afloppy and take to the other PC

Chris

I agree, on both counts. The reason I asked about Network Neighbourhood, is that a lot of people don't realise that if that isn't visible on Windows 98, you are likely to have these sorts of problems.

Sounds to me like the TCP/IP stack could be having issues (common with Windows 95/98/ME) and one of the major improvements with the NT-based versions of Windows (NT, 2000, XP). If so, I dealt with this more times then I care to remember years ago, before everyone I know switched over to Windows XP, and now it's years since I had to deal with this problem, so I have forgot how I used to fix it.

Either that, or it could be problems with the modem drivers. Is it an external modem, or an internal one - is the modem inside the computer, or a seperate box that plugs into the computer via a cable? And do you know exactly what modem it is - brand and model?

MotherNatureVer2 · 15-04-2005, 07:27 PM

The modem is an external one .... hehehehe I know that much ;)

It is my modem ......... I have no idea the brand though ........ it just a basic analog modem 56k v.90 with something about flex 56 on the front ........ its not here atm as Im using another one .....I know theres no brand name on it .......

I have uninstalled it a few times & windows picks it up & gets the drivers for it ....... exactly as it does heere on my computer ....... the driver actually reads as a v92 thinggy... but it does the same on my computer here & still works .........

Im still wondering if its because the system is old .... 4 gig hdd & 60mb ram ...........

15-04-2005, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotherNature

I have uninstalled it a few times & windows picks it up & gets the drivers for it ....... exactly as it does heere on my computer ....... the driver actually reads as a v92 thinggy... but it does the same on my computer here & still works .........

My suggestion would be modem driver update as well... sounds like windows is installing generic drivers rather than model specific ones...

fordel · 15-04-2005, 08:39 PM

If its an external one, pity its a USB

if you have a serial conenction for it, you can try installing windows " standard 28,000 " driver as that is one of the best around and works with pretyt much every ext modem

Chris

MotherNatureVer2 · 15-04-2005, 09:29 PM

Chris ...the one Im working with now isnt the USB one ........... I did try a USB once & it kept freezing the computer so it was disregarded right away ........

The modem Im trying is just a basic analog modem that plugs into a com port

Paris Hilton · 15-04-2005, 09:56 PM

5Gb HDD is saying...PII 300/333/350? If so, maybe consider buying another 64mb of ram and running 2000 Pro? It'll give you alot less troubles...

or slackware....