U.S. Robotics driver interface has encountered a problem and needs to close.

[JamesW1984]

U.S. Robotics driver interface has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

That's the error I'm getting. It occurs randomly - sometimes after being online for 20 min, sometimes 4 hours. It's been happening more so in the last couple weeks - it seems - than it did before.

I've pulled the modem out and reinstalled it and the same problems are still occuring. It says the best drivers for it are the Windows XP pre-loaded drivers. When this error pops up and I disconnect and try to sign back on, I get an error saying "Your modem cannot connect for the following reason: There was a hardware failure in the modem (or other connecting device). I can then restart and it signs on just fine, but the same cycle starts over randomly.

Think the modem is bad? If so, what is a good brand of dial-up modem to get? My last US Robotics modem I had started having errors saying it couldn't get a dial tone.

I'm running Windows XP w/ Service Pack 2 on an AMD XP 2600+ and Asus A7V8X-X motherboard and 515mb of Kingston RAM. The modem is a 56k U.S. Robotics dial up modem.

I can't go to broadband, so no suggestions in that area, please.

[cat5e]

Free after rebates, http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?storeId=10001&siteSection=specials&splCatType=4&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&productId=16696&cmArea=WEEKLY%20DEALS

:t

[murray1]

It sounds like it may be a problem with the modem. Is that an older US Robotics modem since it uses the included Win XP default US Robotics drivers. The free modem offer (with rebate) from Staples above is a Crappy modem with a PCTEL chipset. I have tried that modem and the performance was poor and it soon died. That it why they always offer it for free witha rebate. Try the newer US Robotics PCI Faxmodem Model 5660A which uses a Conexant chipset (relabled US Robotics) and it runs very good. You have to install the drivers from the included driver CD since there are no Win XP default drivers which support this modem. I have used this modem on several of my own builds and have had no problems. Newegg , CompUsa and many computer stores carry this modem and the price is between 20 - 30 dollars.

[JamesW1984]

It sounds like it may be a problem with the modem. Is that an older US Robotics modem since it uses the included Win XP default US Robotics drivers. The free modem offer (with rebate) from Staples above is a Crappy modem with a PCTEL chipset. I have tried that modem and the performance was poor and it soon died. That it why they always offer it for free witha rebate. Try the newer US Robotics PCI Faxmodem Model 5660A which uses a Conexant chipset (relabled US Robotics) and it runs very good. You have to install the drivers from the included driver CD since there are no Win XP default drivers which support this modem. I have used this modem on several of my own builds and have had no problems. Newegg , CompUsa and many computer stores carry this modem and the price is between 20 - 30 dollars.
Thanks! I finally did some checking on newegg and I want to order a modem within the next few days. I was reading reviews for the USR 5660A and came across this comment:

"The 5660 can't manage more than 42k from the same phone line and the same box. That's the way it is with software controlled modems. It is also rumored that some modem drivers (this one, perhaps) are associated with stability issues under WinXP. It is my belief that I had some of those problems until I uninstalled this modem."

Should I consider an external modem? What are external modems good for? I'm connected at 28.8 right now and usually connect at this speed, so connecting faster would be a plus, but I don't remember ever connecting faster than 33.6.

Thanks again :t