New Modem not listed as installed

I am working on the daughters computer and have installed a new modem. The control panel system shows "Standard 1200 Baud Modem ". When I try to remove this or view the properties I get "Can not load Modem.cpl for this hardware consult manfacturer ". I have replaced the file modem.cpl in Windows\system.
I am using Win98SE, and have AOL version 9.0 instaled.
Thank you

 

Hi oldbear,

I think it may be a driver problem.

I am not a fan of the AOL software, that may be contributing to the problem, so see if you can disable it or uninstall it until you get the modem working.

I would boot into Safe Mode, go to Add/remove programs and remove listings for ANY modem programs.
Go to Device Manager and remove any listings for modems.
Shut down and physically remove or disconnect the modem.
Boot into normal windows.
Run the modem's drivers installation program.
Shut down and reconnect the modem.
The modem should be detected and installed when you reboot, otherwise go to Modems in Control Panel and click "Add" to run the modem wizard.

Post back if you don't have any luck. We may be able to install it manually.

Matt

 

Thank you for the information. The machine is a Gateway and I can't get to safe mode, following their instruction ie. "restart, hold ctl key down" or by using the F8 key at start like a normal machine. In addition she has "something" starting my guess is Norton works that comes on in the DOS startup, before Win starts loading. To get out of that and continue the boot up I have to hit the escape key which probably negagtes the "safe mode" start?? It may be easier like to format hard drive and start from scratch but it is my iunderstanding that Gateway has done something to preclude a normal format and installation of Win as I know it. I think they have a hidden partition or some such thing.
I will keep working and please understand it may take me a while to reply but I do appreciate the help.

 

There is a easier way to get into Safe Mode. Go to Start\Run, and type in Msconfig, and press Enter.
In the window that appears, click on the Advanced button, then put a checkmark in the box next to 'Enable Startup Menu' by clicking on it. Then OK yourself out.
Reboot, and after the Norton thing, you will have a black screen with white letters appear where you choose Safe Mode. Use arrow keys to change selection.

 

Thank you Mark. Your method got me into "Safe Mode" but I still can't get rid of the 1000 Baud and now get the message "Can not load modem.cpl" for all the modems. Guess I am at a format the hard disk point.

 

I am not real good at dealing with a Gateway with AOL installed, but here is some info about AOL.
It does not use the windows dial up adaptor, the AOL software uses it's own dialup adaptor. Which means not only does windows need to detect the modem, so does AOL.
If you followed mattman's advice and nothing good happened, try it again, but do this additional step. After removal of all modem items in Control Panel, and Device Manager, and physically removing the modem, start the computer and select Command Prompt Only, and do these two commands. The first appears to do nothing.
scanreg /opt
scanreg /fix
When you get the message that windows has repaired the registry, turn off the computer and then install the modem.

 

I haven't done the reg clean yet. The problem still exists. What I have found is AV's installed Norton & McAffe stand alone, plus McAfee from AOL. AOL 6,7.0,7.0a,7.0c and 9.0 installed. What I have done is delete through control panel all AOL, McAfee, Norton, Synmatic and Computer Associates program listings. Then using Windows Explorer the remnants of the programs.

I ran a number of utilities as follows:
RegSeeker find: Found 139 entires for McAffee, 53 for Norton, 74 for Synmatic and 130 for Computer Associates.
Reg Seeker History Cookies: Found 208 entries
Adaware (note definitions are over 200 days old) 109 critical entries
Spybot SD: found 20 entries
CrapCleaner says it can remove 82.5 meg of ****

Deleted either throgh the control panel or by uninstall in folder all games, viewers, on line games, and strange named downloaded programs etc.

Still have the problem of starting and the Norton Rescue Disk comes up during DOS boot. Running msconfig then startup has a number of items that I have unchecked and then Win?? rechecks and loads them. One is just VD with no explanation??

The message "can not load modem.cpl" still comes up. I installed a modem on my machine to be sure it was OK and the modem still was not seen by the GateWay boat anchor.

Network connections shows a number of AOL dialups and others that I can't identify as MS.

Would anyone suggest a full HD format and reinstall of the OS & Win98. I have a detailed step by step procedure from GW on how to do it on their machines.

Thank you all for your efforts.

 

Hi. Scanreg/opt or fix did not help. I used a backup autoexec.bat file and got rid of the Rescue Disk screen. I am at the point of just reformating.

Joe

 

Joe,

If it was just the modem.cpl problem and otherwise the system ran well, I would fight a little longer to save it. Reformatting means reinstalling your (daughter's) programs, updating Windows again, etc, etc.

If unchecking the programs in msconfig does not stop them from running, post a Hijack This log in the Security/Spyware forum.
See if you can disable the Norton message in the Norton program itself (what does the message say, by the way?).

Run System File Checker, it is under Accessories > System Tools > System Information in the Tools menu (or look it up in the Help menu). Run through first (don't change the files) and see if there may be something related to modems or modem.cpl. If you tell SFC to replace files, you may have to reinstall the Windows Updates.

There is an "upgrade" for Dial Up Networking in Win98. You can find it at the Microsoft website if you are interested (I'm not sure if it will help).

I would try a reinstall of Windows first, before reformatting, if the Gateway system allows for it. It should overcome the modem.cpl problem at least.

If you are on the verge of reformatting you can try any type of solution you like

Matt

 

Reformating solved the problem. I am sure that all the third party stuff that was downloaded over 4.5 years affected the machine to the point it was confusing itself.
Again my thanks to all that helped.