I have been working on computers for years. I have fought the battles with modems, installing them, removing them, changing the IRQ's, and interfacing the software. My normal routine is to uninstall the software - remove the (modem setup) from the control panel - remove the files (drvdata and drvidx files) from the "INF" folder in Windows, (which is a hidden folder). Then I use the "regedit" command to remove all registry keys from the registry having to do with the modem - I remove the modem itself - then I reboot the machine. Then I will add another Com Port if I only have two. Upon power-up I will install the modem drivers - power down - install the modem. At this point, when I power-up, the machine will build a new database for the modem and automatically install it. Then I go to the Control Panel - select "Modems" select the IRQ assigned to the modem - select "Diagnostics", Select "More Info". If the Modem Protocol
appears in the white square then the modem is setup correctly.
Sometimes I have a problem with the modem not finding a web sight at all even though it signs on to the internet. This tells me
that the internet adapters are not setup properly. Solution:
Put the Windows CD Disk in the CD Rom Drive - Go to Control Panel - select, "Add/Remove Programs" - at the very top of the work-box select, "Windows Setup". Windows will now check your system for everything that had been installed previously. You will
now clear the box labeled, "Communications" and click on, "Apply"
This will remove all Internet Adapters. The machine will restart.
Now you will repeat this procedure to re-install the adapters.
In the Control Panel select, "Add/Remove Programs" - at the very top of the work-box select, "Windows Setup". Windows will now check your system for everything that had been installed previously. You will now put a check-mark in the box labeled, "Communications" and click on, "Apply". When the machine restarts all of the Internet adapters will have been installed. Usually this will fix the problem with finding and connecting to the web sites after signing on. I have a few more tricks up my sleeve but I have run into a new problem, to which,
all of the above has not solved. I am woking on a computer for a friend, installing a modem, of course. The modem is installed properly, yet, It will not maintain a connection. I get disconnected within about two minutes, a couple times the connection lasted for 30 minutes, I have removed and installed the adapters several times, I have performed all of the techniques as discribed above. This is a 56K fax/voice/data modem, brand new, with the software disk provided - The machine is running Windows ME - processor is 900Mhz - System Resources is 89% - large capacity drive - 256Mb memory. I have tried these procedures at my house and at his house, which are miles apart - I have tried three different ISP's, all the same.
None of my tricks of the trade seem to work. I've installed this same brand modem on at least three other machines and had no problems. The only thing I have not really considered is if the modem is bad - even if it is new.
If you folks have any ideas I sure would appreciate the feed-back. Thank you. <KENNETH>