How Do You Make XP3 Home Detect An Internal Dial Up Modem?

[Sputnik]

I used to have a Compaq Data Fax Modem in my PC, and when reinstalling the XP3 Home OS (have done a lot of reformats/reinstallations) the Modem was always detected by the OS.

For reasons that won't be gone into here, the Compaq ended up being replaced (by a computer shop) with a "PCI Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP"(it uses Driver Version 7.53.0.0), and when eventually another OS reinstallation was attempted (being technically illiterate it's the only way I can get a clean system again when things go wrong) a strange thing happened during the "Internet Connection Details" part of it, because the panel that always previously (with the Compaq Modem) came up wanting you to write your Area Code and Dialling Prefix - it did not materialize!

When the installation of the OS was completed, I tried to get it to connect to the Web using the "New Connection Wizard" but it didn't work:  the dial-up Modem Icon in "Network Connections" refused to materialize.  Tried to get Windows to detect the Modem by using the "Troubleshooting" thing in "Phone And Modem Options" (the "Modems" panel was blank - no Modem listed) but to no avail.

Sent it to the computer shop and they returned it with the Modem working properly, but have not been able to find out by examining the Settings what they did to get Windows to recognize it.

Can anyone please describe how they were able to do this?

I installed XP3 again "alongside" the existing one (the "Internet Details" part was missing again during the installation) to see if this time an internet connection could be made from it, but it's the same story: cannot get the OS to "find" the Modem/cannot make the Modem Icon materialize in "Network Connections".

Am hideously bewildered and also worried: my "original" OS is partially crippled from having gotten a bit carried away experimenting with file-cleaning programs but cannot afford to send it to the workshop again (they are expensive!!!); however am unable to reinstall the OS because of the Modem situation.

Will very much appreciate any help/advice on how to manually detect/configure a dial up internet connection. (Why did it always automatically detect the Compaq Modem?).

[Sputnik]

Here are the specs for my ancient PC - do not know if anything in these specifications will help anyone diagnose the problem described above(?):

Summary
      Operating System
         MS Windows XP Home 32-bit SP3
      CPU
         AMD Sempron 2600+   58 °C
         Palermo 90nm Technology
      RAM
         1.25 GB Single-Channel DDR @ 133MHz (2.5-3-3-6)
      Motherboard
         MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD MS-7181 (Socket 940)   41 °C
      Graphics
         MX70 (800x600@75Hz)
         128MB RADEON 9200 PRO Family (Microsoft Corporation) (Sapphire/PCPartner)
         128MB RADEON 9200 PRO SEC Family (Microsoft Corporation) (Sapphire/PCPartner)
         CrossFire Disabled
      Hard Drives
         78GB Seagate ST3802110A (PATA)   32 °C
      Optical Drives
         HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H10A
      Audio
         USB Audio Device
Operating System
   MS Windows XP Home 32-bit SP3
   Installation Date: 13 January 2012, 04:36
   Serial Number: Removed
      Windows Security Center
      Windows Update
         AutoUpdate   Notify prior to download
      Firewall
         Firewall   Enabled
         Company Name   COMODO
         Display Name   COMODO Firewall
         Product Version   3.9
      Antivirus
         Antivirus   Enabled
         Company Name   AVG Technologies
         Display Name   AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2012
         Product Version   2012.0
      

                                                                        
      Services
         Running   Automatic Updates
         Running   AVG WatchDog
         Running   AVGIDSAgent
         Running   Background Intelligent Transfer Service
         Running   COM+ Event System
         Running   COMODO Internet Security Helper Service
         Running   Computer Browser
         Running   Cryptographic Services
         Running   DCOM Server Process Launcher
         Running   DHCP Client
         Running   Distributed Link Tracking Client
         Running   DNS Client
         Running   Error Reporting Service
         Running   Event Log
         Running   Help and Support
         Running   HID Input Service
         Running   IPSEC Services
         Running   MBAMService
         Running   Network Connections
         Running   Network Location Awareness (NLA)
         Running   NitroPDFReaderDriverCreatorReadSpool
         Running   Plug and Play
         Running   Protected Storage
         Running   Remote Access Connection Manager
         Running   Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
         Running   Security Accounts Manager
         Running   Security Center
         Running   Server
         Running   Shell Hardware Detection
         Running   SSDP Discovery Service
         Running   System Event Notification
         Running   System Restore Service
         Running   Task Scheduler
         Running   TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
         Running   Telephony
         Running   Themes
         Running   ThreatFire
         Running   WebClient
         Running   Windows Audio
         Running   Windows Management Instrumentation
         Running   Windows Time
         Running   Workstation
         Stopped   .NET Runtime Optimization Service v2.0.50727_X86
         Stopped   Alerter
         Stopped   Application Layer Gateway Service
         Stopped   Application Management
         Stopped   ASP.NET State Service
         Stopped   ClipBook
         Stopped   COM+ System Application
         Stopped   Distributed Transaction Coordinator
         Stopped   Extensible Authentication Protocol Service
         Stopped   Fast User Switching Compatibility
         Stopped   Health Key and Certificate Management Service
         Stopped   HTTP SSL
         Stopped   IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
         Stopped   Indexing Service
         Stopped   Logical Disk Manager
         Stopped   Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service
         Stopped   Messenger
         Stopped   MS Software Shadow Copy Provider
         Stopped   Net Logon
         Stopped   Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service
         Stopped   NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
         Stopped   Network Access Protection Agent
         Stopped   Network DDE
         Stopped   Network DDE DSDM
         Stopped   Network Provisioning Service
         Stopped   NT LM Security Support Provider
         Stopped   Performance Logs and Alerts
         Stopped   Portable Media Serial Number Service
         Stopped   Print Spooler
         Stopped   QoS RSVP
         Stopped   Remote Access Auto Connection Manager
         Stopped   Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
         Stopped   Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator
         Stopped   Removable Storage
         Stopped   Routing and Remote Access
         Stopped   Secondary Logon
         Stopped   Smart Card
         Stopped   Terminal Services
         Stopped   Uninterruptible Power Supply
         Stopped   Universal Plug and Play Device Host
         Stopped   Volume Shadow Copy
         Stopped   Windows CardSpace
         Stopped   Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
         Stopped   Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
         Stopped   Windows Installer
         Stopped   Windows Presentation Foundation Font Cache 3.0.0.0
         Stopped   Wired AutoConfig
         Stopped   Wireless Zero Configuration
         Stopped   WMI Performance Adapter
      
            Driver
               Date   7-1-2001
               Version   5.1.2600.5512
               File   C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\kbdhid.sys
               File   C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\kbdclass.sys
         Driver
               Date   7-1-2001
               Version   5.1.2535.0
               File   C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\USBAUDIO.sys
               File   C:\WINDOWS\system32\ksuser.dll
               File   C:\WINDOWS\system32\ksproxy.ax
               File   C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\ks.sys
               File   C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\drmk.sys
               File   C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\portcls.sys
               File   C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\stream.sys
               File   C:\WINDOWS\system32\wdmaud.drv
      
Network

        Dial Up Internal Modem: PCI Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP
   You are connected to the internet
   Connected through   WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
   IP Address   202.89.133.79
   Subnet mask   255.255.255.255
   Gateway server   202.89.133.79
   Preferred DNS server   202.74.207.254
   Alternate DNS server   202.74.207.253
   DHCP   Disabled
   External IP Address   202.89.133.79
   Adapter Type   PPP
   NetBIOS over TCP/IP   Unknown
   NETBIOS Node Type   Unknown node type
   Link Speed   0 kbps
      Computer Name
      
         Local system uses a modem to connect to the Internet
         Local system has RAS to connect to the Internet
      Wi-Fi Info
         Wi-Fi not enabled
      WinHTTPInfo
         WinHTTPSessionProxyType   No proxy
         Session Proxy
         Session Proxy Bypass
         Connect Retries   5
         Connect Timeout   60000
         HTTP Version   HTTP 1.1
         Max Connects Per 1.0 Servers   INFINITE
         Max Connects Per Servers   INFINITE
         Max HTTP automatic redirects   10
         Max HTTP status continue   10
         Send Timeout   30000
         IEProxy Auto Detect   No
         IEProxy Auto Config
         IEProxy
         IEProxy Bypass
         Default Proxy Config Access Type   No proxy
         Default Config Proxy
         Default Config Proxy Bypass
      Adapters List
            Realtek RTL8185 54M Wireless LAN Network Adapter - Packet Scheduler Miniport
               IP Address   0.0.0.0
               Subnet mask   0.0.0.0
            VIA Compatable Fast Ethernet Adapter - Packet Scheduler Miniport
               IP Address   0.0.0.0
               Subnet mask   0.0.0.0
            WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
               IP Address   202.89.133.79
               Subnet mask   255.255.255.255
               Gateway server   202.89.133.79
      Network Shares
         No network shares
      Current TCP Connections
            C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe (3268)
                

[Raptor]

Sent it to the computer shop and they returned it with the Modem working properly, but have not been able to find out by examining the Settings what they did to get Windows to recognize it.

They probably used a program like SIW or Everest, identified the modem and installed the proper drivers?
It's really not very difficult, you just need to know which modem it is.

What product number is on your Compaq PC?

[Sputnik]

Hi Raptor, thank you for your reply.  Raptor, my PC is actually an ancient Micro-Star International (MS-7181), but when it was obtained (and up until recently) it had an internal Compaq Data Fax Modem in it.

Raptor, by "Product Number" do you mean for the XP3 Home Installation Disk?  If so, it is as follows:

Please don't post your XP CD Key here.



Have done a lot of HD reformats/OS reinstallations and XP3 Home always recognized the Compaq Data Fax Modem without any problem.

Due to a series of incidents that won't be gone into here, the Compaq Data Fax Modem was replaced (alas!) at the Tech shop with an internal "Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP" which is manufactured by CXT/Conexant/Hewlett Packard (I think it is a V90; it's Driver Version is 7.53.0.0 ), and XP3 Home cannot, when doing an OS reinstallation, "find" this Modem. 

XP3 Home always, when doing an OS reinstallation, automatically "found" the Compaq Data Fax Modem when it was in the PC.  Why would this be so?  The PC is not a Compaq.

Have tried to solve this stuff by spending days crawling around the Web "researching" it but have gotten nowhere: I installed another XP3 Home "deck" alongside the existing/functioning one to try experimenting on the new deck at getting XP3 to recognize the "Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP" (well, thats what its called!!!) but couldn't do it. Also looked for Driver(s) for the Modem but bombed out badly there too:  those Driver websites remind me of used-car dealer yards!!! Who of them can be trusted? Only a couple had the 7.53.0.0 Driver anyway, but there are disclaimers all over those websites about the reliability of the Drivers.

Also Raptor, even if a trustworthy Driver/Drivers could be downloaded, how can it/they be installed when nowhere on the 2nd deck can be found anywhere, in any "System" program, any sign of the Modem? On the XP3 deck that is working, it's easy to find the "Soft Data Fax Modem" in Device Manager ("Modem") and also the Driver for it.

But on the 2nd XP3 deck there is nothing in Device Manager for "Modem" (or anywhere else).

Raptor, am no Tech (as will be obvious) but this stuff is driving me Ape!!!

Am going to go and look for "SIW" and Everest after posting this (am on dial-up so it will take a while - probably all day and night!!!) so thank you again for your reply:  this stuff is pretty mind-blowingly complicated for a Newbie and it is great to have a place like ComputerHope Forum where you can go to "talk" to Techs about computer problems, and not get whacked for two-hundred bucks for an answer!!! (The local Tech shop is like Count Dracula, and have got to learn how to escape from their clutches!!!).

[Sputnik]

Hi Raptor: have been doing some more research on the Web, and came across an article about installing dial-up Modems, and it said that the Windows installation CD's such as for the XP series actually contain the Drivers for a lot of different Modems, and that these were installed along with the OS.

If this is the case, then it would explain why the Compaq Data Fax Modem always got detected/recognized by XP3 Home, but the "new" PCI Soft Data Fax Modem does not: the Installation CD must not have PCI Soft Data Fax Modem Drivers on it???

Am trying to get my Compaq Data Fax Modem back from the local Tech shop!!!

[Geek-9pm]

Look in device manager. You start in control panel, then go to system, hardware  then find device manager.
Picture below.
-------------------

------------------
Hardware not installed right will have a yellow flag on nit. Do you find one or more in your system? Also, if any device is not right, it can stop another device from working.

It would seem that the modem you got is not a true plug and play type. Windows can not get it right until you run the setup program from the maker of the modem.

[Sputnik]

Wanna add also Raptor, managed to download a copy of "SIW":  WOW!!! Have seen some pretty good diagnostic programs before (even though I could barely understand anything, these progs were applauded by a lot of Geeky people, and they looked impressive!!!) but SIW is absolutely Mind-Blowing!!!  SIW is definitely The King of them all!!! It produced an entire (large) page of data about the PCI Soft Data Fax Modem, while Everest (downloaded Everest too) could only produce it's name and little else, while Speccy (Piriform diagnostic program) cannot even find the Modem at all!!!

[Fed]

You usually get a CD and a small book with a modem, didn't they give it to you?
Anyway what are the details SIW generated on the modem?

You may have to remove any modem entries from your device manager and reboot to get windows to put up a "Found new hardware wizard" window or go to "Add hardware" in your Control Panel.

If it all gets too hard you could just buy a brand new modem for $20? which will come with everything you need to get you going (CD + Book).

Keep cool it will all fall into place.

[Fed]

Sputnik please see Reply #5 by Geek it was split & merged from your 'other' thread.
We're all on the same page now I hope.

[Geek-9pm]

SIW NAMED TO PC WORLD'S "101 FABULOUS FREEBIES" LIST 2006
SIW is a complete, free computer system information tool.
OS:
    Win98/98SE/Me/2000/NT/XP/2003/Vista/7
Updated:
    July 14, 2010

http://siw.en.softonic.com/

It is good. It is FREE!

[Sputnik]

Howdy All:  thanks you guys for your replies, they are very much appreciated. Do not want to waste your time, so better say here that  am teetering right on the verge of buying a much better computer (in the country where I live there is a big "local" online auction website that has heaps of 2nd-hand computers - mostly ex-office junk with crummy Pentium Sempron processors and Integrated Graphics; but occasionally there are powerful Athlon Dual-Core PC's available) but am very wary due to having been hideously "burnt" by the local Tech shop for the PC that I have got (and am writing this on) - they sell second-hand computers which actually are worthless ancient rubbish-tip junk for hundreds of bucks! Mine was more than seven years (as was discovered later) old when they sold it to me for nearly $500.00, and they also for $50.00 added an ancient Hewlett-Packard printer of 1990's vintage and which has never worked!!!  In this country you gotta be extremely careful buying computer gear as there are rip-off merchants everywhere, and even second-hand stuff is almost always outrageously overpriced.

But if a better PC can be obtained it will still have to be Dial-Up, because am not able to afford Broadband (which is horrifically expensive and brutally Data-Capped: a huge and fiendishly greedy foreign corporation owns all our Copper and Fibre Networks) and that will most probably mean having to install a Dial-Up Modem card into a PCI slot (there are very few 2nd-hand PC's that have got Dial-Up Modems in them now) - which will be quite a nerve-wracking process. 

Will also try and get a Modem that will work with Linux:  have got Linux Ubuntu "Natty Narwhal" 11.04 on an Installation CD and was trying to get it to connect to the Web using an external Serial-Port Modem (a guy on a local Tech Site was "guiding" me, and we spent weeks trying to get the Modem to connect Ubuntu to the Web) but every attempt failed. This was pretty devastating as would love to "go Linux"and Ubuntu 11.04 is absolutely glorious, but yet again another Modem problem is getting in the way.

Hey Reb, had to laugh at your wondering if the "Vampires" provided a Driver CD with the PCI Soft Data Fax Modem: them? provide a CD??? Reb, it would be far easier to wrench blood out of a stone!!! They'd demand a hundred-and-fifty bucks for it!!!  And a booklet? Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!

Thank you for your Posts Geek: yeah have been using Device Manager a lot!!!  DM easily shows the Modem and Drivers on my "main XP3 deck" (the one that this is being written from - this is the deck that the local Vampires got to "connect" to the Modem) but when another copy of XP3 was installed alongside the "main" one, the Modem was not even listed in the Device Manager Main Menu on the "new" (2nd) XP3 platform. The Modem cannot be found anywhere on it, such as in "Phone & Modems", etc. The "New Connections Wizard" cannot find the Modem.

That is the reason why this thread was started on Computer Hope Forum, because I do not know how the local Vampires got XP3 to "see" the Modem, and so if the already partly crippled XP3 (registry cleaning program!!!) completely claps out I will have to send the PC back to the Vampires in order to enable the computer to be able to get online again.

Raptor wondered if the Vampires got Drivers for the Modem from the web, but that would be too much like work!!! They almost certainly have got the Driver CD for it.

Fed, as you are a Moderator (thank you for the Mind-Blowingly Superb Website - it truly is magnificent, and beautifully designed) am wondering if it would be possible to delete all the "computer printout" stuff that I plastered all over the page up near the top:  it goes on nearly forever!!!  This thread could develop into a useful read for other Newbies who are on Dial-Up, but a Newbie who "entered" this page and saw all that "printout" stuff would probably jump out.  The other night I came across a Tech website where a guy on it kept on putting vast lists of computer specifications into his numerous posts - in fact, his "posts" usually consisted entirely of massive spec printouts!!!  I was absolutely appalled because he reminded me of me!!!

Am going to have to post this, have a look at it, and then probably have to write another post to cover stuff that has been missed: am never going to win any medal with "Highly Organized" on it.

[Sputnik]

Raptor:  here is a website that says (or at least seems to imply) Windows XP Installation CD's have got Drivers for a lot of Dial-Up Modems incorporated into the Operating System:

http://modemsite.com/56k/xp.asp


Geek:  SIW is Jaw-Droppingly Awesome.  But Geek, am unable to get SIW to "print" anything. Cannot copy anything from it.

Thank you Fed for trying to unscramble this thread and the other one - the original one ended up on the page "upside-down" so to speak, so a new thread was created to try and start again.

[Sputnik]

Hopefully this thread can be developed into a way for Newbies who are stuck with their Microsoft systems, and who can only afford Dial-Up connections, to change to Linux Ubuntu (which is what we all should do!!!).

[Sputnik]

Geek: your Avatar is exquisitely hilarious!!!