Windows Vista prob with ext fax modems interacting with Vista

I am trying to use an external fax modem to connect with the internet and I can't seem to get it to work on Vista. I have exhausted all 'normal' processes and nothing works. The modem is not bad and the phone line works. Any ideas? It normally says "no dial tone "

 

Have to ask...you have used a phone handset to check the dial tone.

How is connected, USB, serial, possibly LPT port? You will need to check what "port" it is using. For example, for serial, you will need to see what COM port it is trying to use.

Have drivers been installed? Are they Vista drivers from the modem manufacturer? Look up the term modem in Help and Support, it will give you some guides and troubleshooting. Do you have installation instructions from the manufacturer?

Matt

 

prob with ext fax modems interacting with Vista'

Thanks, Matt. I did test the phone line with a handheld phone. Also, the modem is connected with a USB. I have followed manufacturer instructions to install. I used this modem on my older computer with MS operating system and it worked fine. I do not know if the drivers are Vista...could I download those from the web somewhere?

The reason I thought it may be Vista is that we have been unable to use our laptop at church with Vista on it to run our overhead projector...it keeps shutting it down but works fine on XP. So I thought this may be along the same lines. Could we also download drivers for this? (sorry to switch gears)

 

Do you still have the old computer running? If you connected the device/s to it, you could find out the details of the drivers it uses. You can look in Device Manager and if they are both USB, you might find some information under Universal Serial Bus Controllers. There will be a Modem listing in Device Manager(Mangler ).

If they had an installer, there will probably be a listing under Start -> All Programs that will tell you about the manufacturer (see the Help menu).

You need to find the manufacturer's website and look up the model number for the device, theeen, cross your fingers that they supply Vista drivers.

The problem with older hardware is the manufacturer needs to make or supply drivers for Vista. It might be possible that Vista has standard/generic drivers for the modem's chipset OR the modem's chipset manufacturer has made Vista drivers, in which case you will need to identify that chipset and source the drivers from that manufacturer.

That is the basics of driver hunting . Firstly though, you need to check how Vista sees the modem or projector. Check "the setup" in Windows XP and compare it to that in Vista. Go through that modem troubleshooter, it should lead you to look in Device Manager and also Control Panel -> Phone and Modem Options. Compare those settings with Win XP (if you can see those it will give you a big head start).

The modem might just be a settings problem, the projector is probably a driver problem. If you find a driver problem, don't be afraid to highlight it in Device Manager and uninstall it. IT DOESN'T WORK NOW!

Matt