Info on a dial up modem driver?

[Fordtruckmaniac]

My sister was given an older home built computer with Windows 98SE.

I was checking it out. Everytime you turn around or do anything that requires a restart, it freezes and says "illegal operation" bla, bla. Have to hold the power button in or the three finger salute to kill it.

It seems to be in good shape, no virus's or anything serious, malware, etc. It was maintained well, it appears. It did however have "Tweak UI",  "System Mechanic" and "Power Quest Partition Magic" on it.

I don't know what has been altered here.

She has the disks for everything but the dial up modem. If I were to format and reload the OS would it load a usable driver for the dial up modem?


Asus P3C-E motherboard, windows 98SE, 256 mb of pc800 memory ( holy cow, expensive stuff   ), 28GB Intel hard drive.

Thanks,

[soybean]

Download Belarc Adviser and run it to get a report of all hardware and software in that computer.  If you can't download it now because the computer locks up, can you download it to your computer and transfer it to her computer someway?  If so, I would go ahead and format and reinstall Windows.  Then, you can run Belarc Adviser and get name of the modem.  Then, you should able to get a driver from the manufacturer's website or another source such as http://www.driversguide.com/, although, again, you may have to download it if her computer will not connect to the Internet until the modem driver is installed.

By the way, your info seems to contain a contradiction.  You say, "Everytime you turn around or do anything that requires a restart, it freezes and says "illegal operation" bla, bla."  If that's true, then how did you determine "It seems to be in good shape, no virus's or anything serious, malware, etc."?

[2k_dummy]

Look in device manager and see if the modem is identified. You might be able to update the drivers from there. If you need to know what drivers are actually being loaded, go to start/run and type hwinfo /ui | more (exactly as shown). You should be prepared for several pages of information as will show EVERY driver for EVERY device that windows is loading. Sorry XP people, it won't work for you.

[Fordtruckmaniac]

Yes that was confusing I guess. Trying to type the post too fast, I guess.

I determined it was in good shape by running Avast, A2squared, Spybot, Adaware, all updated before running. Also have CCleaner installed and updated.

It happens after say downloading Microsoft Windows updates. And it then prompts you to restart. It will give this message. Or sometimes when you just close a webpage.

It does not do it every 5 minutes.

I have ran Spybot and Avast and Adaware in safe mode, nothing.

For some reason I can't run A2squared in safe mode. I can't get to the scan button. The page is too big when in safe mode.  And I can't drag it or move it.

The device manager says the modem is a Zoom V90 PCI faxmodem, Zoom telephonics, Inc.

Thanks,


Probably a dumb question. Is there any way to harvest the modem driver and save it somehow?

[soybean]

Probably a dumb question. Is there any way to harvest the modem driver and save it somehow?

Yes.  Go back to reply #1, by me, and read the first paragraph.

[GX1_Man]

Ow download and run Everest Home and get the specific model. If you need to you can also pull it out physically and look on it for identifying marks, FCC #,etc.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

[patio]

Also FordMan if you are fairly savvy with editing in DOS mode you can re-name the win.com file to win.old ;re-install Win98SE and all her programs and settings will be retained.
This is basically a repair install procedure of Win98...

patio.   8-)

[Fordtruckmaniac]

I am burning Everest as I type this on my computer.

 
I did load Belarc Advisior in it. It identified it the same as the device manager did.

I will re-clarify. The computer acts up only when prompted to do a re-start or sometimes when closing a page. It will be an illegal operation warning or there is a problem do you want to send a report to Microsoft. It can be online for as long as a person likes. (as long as the dial up connection does not quit)

So can I actually extract the driver from this computer somehow?

I am also looking at the driverguide page, I will need to breakdown exactly which modem it is to use their download.

Don't know anything about DOS, but can follow instructions and learn.

Thanks


Update

Everest says - PCI Device - AT&T/Lucent Venus V90/ 56k flex WinModem
Driver Description - Zoom V90 PCI Faxmodem / Driver Date 4-22-99.

At Driver Guide, do I look for AT&T, Lucent or Zoom?

I have removed System Mechanic from the computer. For instance, I ran its defrag for the heck of it, then ran the OS defrag and it was a mess after running the System Mechanic one. I am not an expert by any means but I was not real impressed with its functions.

[GX1_Man]

That is a 1998 or 99 vintage 56Flex modem. They were not the best. I would suggest a new one for $10 or less.

Try this one:

http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=326

Driverguide also has a shareware program that would backup all of your drivers for easy reinstallation to the same OS. It is free to use for a period odf days:

http://www.driverguidetoolkit.com/

[Fordtruckmaniac]

That is a 1998 or 99 vintage 56Flex modem. They were not the best. I would suggest a new one for $10 or less.

Try this one:

http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=326

Driverguide also has a shareware program that would backup all of your drivers for easy reinstallation to the same OS. It is free to use for a period odf days:

http://www.driverguidetoolkit.com/

GX1_Man,

I hear you on the price of the dial up modem. If I wanted one quick though, I would have to get it at my local Wal-Mart they are about $20. something, for a US Robotics one. The local computer shop is usually closed by the time the wife and I get out in the evening. But his are about the same price, he has Intel modems.

I will have a look at the links you gave me. Thanks for the Everest link, too. I have seen it mentioned many times on here but never had the need to load it.

Wow! It gives you a lot of info about your computer.

Thanks,

[GX1_Man]

Save the Everest file. Links to it are drying up as now they want to sell the program only.  

[patio]

Also that $20.00 for a new U.S.Robotics will be money well spent...

patio.   8-)

[Fordtruckmaniac]

Ow download and run Everest Home and get the specific model. If you need to you can also pull it out physically and look on it for identifying marks, FCC #,etc.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Sorry,

I have been trying to respond here for the last two nights, trouble with the internet provider.  

GX1_Man,

I did physically pull the dial up modem and got the model number from it. I got the correct driver for it at Driverguide. I found it as well at the manufacturer's web-site and also they had a flash upgrade for the driver.

Thanks for the help,

[patio]

Cool ! We love success stories !

patio.   8-)