Not Detecting Modem

My old modem was blown (a common occurence out here), and now Windows will not detect my new modem. I have tried 4 different modems (same model - US Robotics 3096), and windows will not detect any of them. When I try to instal the driver anyway from Control Panel --> Modems, I can't get COM3. I uninstalled the drivers for the old modem (HSF56K) to try and fix this, but still no change. I even tried getting a different version of the same driver, with no change. I can't believe that 4 supposedly brand new modems are all faulty, but am at a loss for alternatives

 

Are you sure about the model number? Can't find anything on the net or US Robotics site with this model number.

 

Here's a guide I use...hope this helps.





Step-By-Step: How To Install or Upgrade Your Modem



Important, please read:_

The information contained in this document is for informational purposes only. If these instructions are followed completely and in order, no damage to your computer hardware or data loss should occur. However, things do go wrong occasionally. You, as the user, agree to assume all responsibility for the use of this information and agree that I will not be held responsible in any way for any damage to your hardware or data loss should things not go as planned. In short, I have no control over how the user uses this information, and therefore all responsibility for such use is assumed by the user._


Note: Static electricity can damage your modem and your other computer hardware. It is very important that you protect your hardware against damage from static electricity. The best way to do this is to use an anti-static wrist strap. They are available from Radio Shack and most any electronics or computer store._

Note: You should refer to the instructions that came with your particular modem during the installation process. The best overall procedure for installing your modem will depend upon the modem type and manufacturer. The instructions included in this guide are generic and will work with most any Plug-N-Play modem._


Note: If you are upgrading an existing Modem, Do this first, else skip to step 1:

a) Right click "My Computer "
b) Click "Properties "
c) Click "Device Manager "
d) Click the + sign beside "Modem "
e) Click your modem to highlight it
f) Click "Remove "

Your old modem is now "removed" from Windows. Please continue with step 1.


1) Turn off the computer and unplug the power cord, as well as the printer, scanner, and any other peripheral that has its' own power cable.

2) Remove the computer cover. There are usually 4 to 8 screws in the back of the computer that secure the cover onto the case. Be sure not to remove the screws that hold the power supply in place. Attach the "bracelet" end of the anti-static wrist strap to your wrist and the end with the "alligator" clip to a metal part of the case, such as the power supply.

3) If you are upgrading from an existing modem, remove the old modem. If your computer doesn't currently have a modem, locate an expansion slot that the modem card will fit into and remove the metal face plate cover by removing the ***** holding the face plate cover to the computer. On some computers, you may need to remove a "knock-out" expansion slot cover from the slot that you will use.

4) Remove the new modem from its packaging.

5) Line up the connector on the bottom of the modem with the expansion slot, and gently slide the modem into the expansion slot. Use firm pressure, rocking the modem back and forth SLIGHTLY to assist in getting it to slide into the expansion slot. DO NOT force anything or you might damage the modem or another part of the computer. If the modem doesn't want to go into the slot, check to see what is causing the problem. Also, make sure that you are using the right kind of slot for your modem. You can match the modem to the correct type of slot by looking at the connectors.

6) Secure the modem card to the computer with the ***** that was removed in step 3.

7) Replace the computer cover.

8) Reconnect the power cord and everything else that was disconnected earlier and turn on the computer._

NOTE: If the Add New Hardware Wizard starts automatically, skip to step 10)._

9) Open the 'Add New Hardware' icon:_

a) Click 'Start'
b) Click Settings
c) Click 'Control Panel' (The 'Control Panel' window will appear)
d) Double-click the 'Add New Hardware' icon. (The Add New Hardware Wizard will appear)_

10) Click 'Next'

11) Select the 'No' radio button and click 'Next'

12) Select 'Modem' from the 'Hardware types' list box and click 'Next'

13) Make sure the 'Don't detect my modem; I will select it from a list' check box is unchecked and click 'Next'. (Windows 98 begins detecting your modem)

14) If Windows 98 detects your modem, do the following:_

a) Click 'Next'.
b) Click 'Finish'._

15) If Windows 98 does not detect your modem, do the following:_

a) Click 'Next'.
b) Click 'Have Disk...' (The 'Install From Disk' dialog box will appear)
c) Select the drive that contains that manufacturer or Windows 98 disk from the 'Copy Manufacturers files from' drop-down list box and click 'OK'
d) Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation of the modem._

16) Test the modem installation

a) Click 'Start'
b) Click 'Settings'
c) Click 'Control Panel' (The Control Panel window will appear)
d) Double click 'Modems' (You should see your new modem listed)
e) Click on the name of the new modem to "select" it
f) Click 'Diagnostics'
g) Click on the Com port associated with the new modem
h) Click 'More Info'
i) The modem should respond with the OK response to several "AT" commands in the "More Info" Window. If so, your new modem is working correctly and you have successfully installed it. If not, remove the modem and repeat the installation process.

 

If you keep taking the modem back to the store and exchanging it, it is possible they have a bad batch of them. I have run across this with external serial port modems.

 

aleekat,
I abbreviated the model No. As that was the closest I could find on the US Robotics website. The full Product ID is USR-263094-OEM. According to the website, the first 2 digits are the manufacturer, so only the 3094 is relevant. The chip on the modem says it's a Modem/PCI USR 90-11.
As for a bad batch from the store, I hope not, since my office is the store! However, at this point, I would have to guess this is the most likely scenario. Either that, or they are not properly Win98 compatible. The thing that really gets me, is the fact that I cannot get COM3 on the new mode, but upon re-inserting the old modem, it installs fine, and is configured for COM3 - altho it doesn't work. The COM3 problem is the only reason I suspect it may be something other than a hardware probelm with the modem.

Signed,

EPITSIA (Ex-Pat IT Specialist In Africa)

 

Well, like I posted, there is no 3096 . (your original post) I had similiar problems. I would physically remove the modem. Reboot. Then go into device manager, remove all com ports. Reboot. Windows will reinstall the coms. Then shutdown, install the modem, and see if Win can see the modem.

 

Also, with the modem removed, look into Control Panel\Modems, and remove anything there.

 

aleekat,
I forgot to put a "Sorry" in my previous post - Of course you weren't going to find anything about a "3096 ". My fault. Anyway, I've tried you're suggestions, but it's still giving the same problems. I've looked in the BIOS, but there's nothing in there about a modem unfortunately.

Any more suggestions, or simply "Retun to Sender "?

 

Is it possible to test these modems in another Win98 system? USR shows it is compatiable.

 

If this is an Internal Modem that we are discissing then I would not rule out a very common but often forgotten about IRQ problem.

Alias- an IRQ conflict between the Audio and the Modem.

BTW. I am thinking Internal because of seeing COM3 mentioned.

This is not uncommon with and Internal modem.

As long as the Modem is working things may be fine. but once it is changed it becomes a different story. Once the Nodem leaves, Windows can ( and may ) change the Audio IRQ.

I fought with two users and several Internal Modems before I finally convinced them to go External.

Modem pluged into COM2.

Machine booted.

BINGO Modem working.
.

BillyBob

 

Also an External Modem does not care what OS it is stuck onto.

The US Robotics that I have has worked on Win3.1 on up to and including XP Pro. ( for testing only )

BB

 

Any progress here ?

BB

 

Sorry to take so long to get back, things picked up here for a while - our stock finally arrived, 2 mohts late. It is currently sitting in customs tho. :-/

As for my current situation, I have tried 2 of the modems each on 2 other systems (a total of 4 trials - 2 modem x 2 PC), and I had the same probelm again. And yes, they are internal modems. Is there a way to work around this problem? Perhpas by changing the IRQ in the BIOS... Or is it simply too much of a mission, and better to forget about it, and hope that the new modems work better?

Thinking about it a bit more, I don't think it was an IRQ problem, becuase upon inserting a different mode from one of our PCs (our lack of stock is so bad, we're having to cannibalize the office PCs for parts!) the modem installed and worked perfectly, and we had uninstalled the old modem from everywhere we could find it.

Cheerz!

Ryder

 

To my knowledge the only IRQs that can be changed in the BIOS are for COMM 1 and COMM 2 Serial ( external ) ports.

Others can be changed by way of the Device Manager.

This is why External Modems seem to be more reliable as the Ports AND the IRQ are set ( and dedicated ) by the BIOS.

Sometimes it helps to disable COMM 1 & 2 in the BIOS thereby releasing IRQ 3 & 4 for use by the Internal.

But a good many times and Internal will become what is known as Hard Coded and will not except an IRQ change. The only Internal Modem that I ever had that worked and worked correctly for quite a long time was an ISA slot Modem.

From my own experience it is better to forget Internal Modems and go for and External which ( unless things have changed ) will go from one machine ( OS ) to another with no probelm.

BillyBob