First better say to the Administrators, am re-posting the above question here, because when posting it yesterday, somehow all my PC stats ended up at the top of the page, and way down underneath all of that stuff were my questions. So am here going to hopefully get everything the right way round:
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 automatically 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: Windows could not "find" the Modem.
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 Home 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 (the inability to locate it).
Will very much appreciate any help/advice on how to manually detect/configure a dial up internet connection, just as the workshop Tech must have done.
Finally, why did XP3 (Home) always automatically detect the Compaq Data Fax Modem no problem?
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)
