Modem can't find dial tone

[piman314]

OK, here's the problem. Today (second time in as many weeks), when I try to connect via modem I get a message saying the modem can't detect a dial tone. If I lift the phone receiver, I do here a dial tone and can dial out. Other computers have no problem connecting.
Tried a hot Restart from the Start menu in Win98. Still get the same message. Using Start menu, selected Shutdown, waited 2 or 3 minutes , restarted comp and modem works fine.
1. 56k dialup
2. Using AOL 5.0
3. Rockwell-Connexant combo modem/sound card (came stock in my HP 8650c - approx. 3 yrs. old)
4. Win98 SE SP2 with all updates
5. Haven't added any new hardware lately
6. Did swith over from McAfee AV ver. 4.0.3 (no longer supported by McAfee) to AVG ver. 6.0.343 (free version) about the time this first occurred.
Any thoughts or suggestions on what is happening here?

Thanks

piman

[surrealchereal]

Is there anything that could be changing your com port?

[piman314]

Can't think of anything offhand. I'll have to "ponder on it" for a while and try to think of any changes I might have made.

piman

P.S. Sorry surreal, forgot to say "Thanks" for the reply.

piman

[jadison]

1st I want you to do this:
From your Desktop, right-click on the My Computer icon - Select Properties - click on the Device Manager tab, then select your Modem out of the list. What is the exact name that's listed describing your modem?

It might be your drivers, I think this is your modem: Explorer 56 Plus 3D Sound. Here are the most updated drivers for your modem: Click Here A company called Jaton is the manufacterer of your modem/sound card.

You may need to re-install these drivers if what is listed below doesn't help.

Here are the FAQ/Troubleshooting for your modem: Click Here

Here's an excerpt of what your situation may be:

Why the Modem isn't Detected and why Can Not Open Port?

Internal PCI Windows Modems: Normally, the Windows would automatically detect the modem and ask you to install the drivers for it when the Windows starts up the very first time after the modem is physically installed in the computer. It is very important to choose the right location for the driver files. Since the modem drivers are located in sub-folders according to the Operating System and the Product Models in the CD come with the product, you should not choose Floppy Drive or CD-ROM Drive. You should choose the option called "Specify Location" and then click on the "Browse" button and find the appropriate driver folder on the CD. If the Windows tell you it can not find the driver files, you either did not choose the right folder or the device is not correct one.

If for any reason, the Windows does not show you that it detected a new hardware automatically after the modem is physically installed, do not try to install the modem drivers manually. Instead, you need to check if the modem is firmly installed in to your computer and check if the wrong modem driver is installed for it or you have prematurely terminated the modem driver installation or reinstalled the Windows after the modem was installed. Go to the Windows Control Panel, double click on System icon, (click on Hardware if Windows 2000), click on Device Manager, then double click on Other Devices if it is there, then highlight the PCI Communication Device, then click on Remove, then restart the Windows. The Windows should automatically detect your modem and ask you install the drivers for it. Be sure to choose "Specify Location" and point to the correct folder for the modem drivers.

To check if your modem drivers are installed correctly, go to the Control Panel, double click on Modems, you should see only one modem installed for the modem, if not, remove all the modem entries for the modem and restart the Windows. Then, Windows will automatically install only one modem, then you will click on Diagnostics in the Modem Property. High light the COM Port for the modem and click on More info.... You should see the modem Com Port, Interrupt (IRQ), Driver Version, and other modem information displayed on the screen after a little while, more or less depending on your system speed.

Internal ISA or External Serial Modems: When the modem is set to non-PnP and the modem driver is installed without the detection, the modem port driver is not installed, so you will get a message "can not open port" when you try to use the modem. Use the Add New Hardware Wizard in Windows Control Panel to let Windows to detect any new hardware. If the modem is configured properly, the Windows will detect the Communication Port and installed the driver for it, so the modem will be able to communicate with Windows. Please see below if you have other difficulties.

1. If System BIOS did not show the modem or Com Port device during the system boot up, the modem is either defective or configured with wrong hardware setting.

Verify the modem jumper setting and System BIOS Serial Port setting.

a.) If the modem is configured as a PnP device with jumpers, make sure the COM Port or IRQ jumpers are removed.

b.) If the modem is configured manually, write down the COM Port and IRQ setting on the paper for future reference. Since the modem has the UART built-in, the COM Port and IRQ it uses can not be the same as the COM Port on the Main Board or any other Legacy (non-PnP) devices inside the computer. If the on board Com Ports is not used by any device, enter the system BIOS CMOS setup to disable it or set to automatic configuration.

2. If Windows Add New Hardware Wizard can not find any new hardware, the Modem or the Com Port drivers my be installed previously, and the Com Port address conflict with another device in the system.

Remove the conflicting Com Port from Control Panel -> System-> Device Manager->Ports and start the Add New Hardware Wizard and let Windows search for new hardware devices.Once the Com Port is found, then run the Add Modem Wizard to install the modem drivers.

3. If the Windows Add Modem Wizard can not detect any new modem, the modem driver may be installed previously or the modem firmware is altered and not working. Remove the modem driver and associated .INF files from Windows\INF directory and then use Add Modem Wizard to detect the modem again.

4. If Windows can not detect the modem intermittently without any change in the system, the modem board may be plugged improperly or defective.

5. If the modem no longer respond after a session with a different communication software, check to see if that program is still running under background. Update the modem Firmware or Driver.

All Jaton Communicator 33.6/56/v90, Communicator II series, Explorer 56/v90, Traveler Internal and some of Modulator 56 with PnP chip on the modem board can be set to ISA PnP or Non-PnP with hardware Jumpers on the board. All Explorer Plus, Explorer 56 Plus, are Jumperless ISA PnP Modems. All Jaton WinComm, WinMod, and WinCruise are Jumperless Internal PCI PnP WIndows modems. Traveler 56/V90 Ex and Explorer V.90 EX are PnP External Serial Modems.

Let me know if any of this helps.

[piman314]

jadison,

Under My Computer, Properties, Device Manager, Modem it is listed as a:

CONEXANT SOFTK56 DATA, FAX PCI MODEM

Doesn't seem to be (?) the same as the Jaton modem.

There is also a listing under Device Manager, HSFMODEM
that lists a:

CONEXANT PCI MODEM ENUMERATOR

Should both HSFMODEM and Modem be listed under Device Manager?
Just checked another HP comp (8575c) and it shows an HCFMODEM and a MODEM under Device Manager also, so I guess that answers the above question. The 8575c has a Rockwell modem/soundcard. Must be OK to have both entries.
I'm thinking of deleting the drivers and reinstalling the modem. Will check HP's site for newer drivers. Do you think this is a good idea?
Oh, well, it's getting late. I'll deal with it more tomorrow.

Thanks

piman

[skywalker]

ahhh Conexant

Try reinstalling the modem
for some reason these modems loose their drivers from time to time

[surrealchereal]

Well AFAIK, it never hurts to toss an unruley device and reinstall it!
Thats usually one of the first things I do..
Keep us posted on how this turns out.. I'm curious about the on again off again of the modem..

[piman314]

First, Thanks for the replys and input from all of you.

Well, I uninstalled/reinstalled the modem drivers. Already had the latest HP drivers but downloaded again and replaced them, just in case the one's I had were corrupted.

WIN98se detected the modem and installed the drivers on reboot.
Had to search the net for 1 missing file it was looking for, named
CnxStd.cty. Not in the driver files, but found a site with info on renaming a file (Cnx2013.cty included with HP's drivers) to use instead. OK, all set to go.

Now the fun started. Each time I tried to connect to AOL, got a fatal error/BSOD. Did the Three Finger Salute, reminded myself repeatedly how much I really like HP (built my last comp and know what's in it), and did a lot of head-scratching. Ended up uninstalling/reinstalling modem drivers about 6 times and, magically, all of a sudden, the modem is working again. Used the same proceedure each time. Who knows, maybe its fixed, maybe not. Will have to wait and see. Maybe the hardware is just getting tired.

Think I'll start looking for a good, cheap modem and a separate soundcard. It must be time to upgrade something anyway :p

Thanks all. I'll let you know if there are any new developments.

piman

[jadison]

Think I'll start looking for a good, cheap modem and a separate soundcard. It must be time to upgrade something anyway

I think that would be a GOOD idea!

Glad we could help, piman314!

[Hickman]

You might look at pricewatch.com for prices on the modem and sound card.

I recommend USR for the modem. I've been using a USR external for over a year. I highly recommend it.

Hardware modems really are better. I once had a PCTel that was great, but I'd still get a hardware modem even if it cost a little more.

[surrealchereal]

Do you have your modem identified correctly in your AOL software?

[piman314]

surreal,

Good thought. Looked around for any info on the various AOL menus/screens to find out. Couldn't find any that let me see how AOL is IDing the modem. So, went to AOL Setup screen and let it redetect the modem. Options it gave me were Rockwell HCF (never had one in this comp, must be identifying it by one or more of the combination Rockwell/Conextant drivers available), Conextant HSF (what I do have), and TCP/IP. Set it to use Conextant HSF. Set it this way 2+ years ago and has always worked fine until the recent glitches, but, as I said, couldn't verify it was still set that way. Anyway, should be set correctly now.

Thanks

piman

[surrealchereal]

Ah ya just never know.. I forget what was doing it to mine once.. But every once in a while the modem drivers just blew out..
I think it's to see if we'll go nutz!

[piman314]

Update:

It's been about a week and a half since I reloaded the modem drivers. No problems yet, though the modem seems to download at a slower speed. (Probably just my overactive imagination )
Again, my thanks to all who tried to help with this problem. Keeping my fingers crossed that it is really fixed.

Regards,

piman