modem not working

[tmm5899]

My friend has a computer that has windows xp professional on it and he
is trying to connect to the internet but it does not work what could be wrong
with the modem.
And how he can fix this problem. He is trying to use no charge it is a
free internetprovider for Washington state residence. I am using a public computer
to get help for him. I am not familiar with computers, so please any help so I
understand what to do would be appreciated.

[ctal]

Hi -- can you describe the symptoms a bit more specifically. Has this computer ever successfully connected to anything, or is it a brand new computer? Do you hear the sounds of it dialing, but then get an error indication (and if so, what is the indication)? Or is there no sound at all?

A place to start is to go to "Network Connections," and look at the settings for the icon(s) which appear there. Get there via the Start Button, then "Control Panel," then "Network and Internet Connections" if you see a blue screen with text on it, then "Network Connections." (Skip the "Network and Internet Connections" step if you don't see a blue screen with text on it, and double-click the "Network Connections" icon directly. Then right-click the icon(s) and examine their settings and properties.

Regards,
-- Al

[traveler]

Is the modem internal or external?

How long has your friend owned this computer?

[ctal]

I noticed a thread in another forum in which some people tried to help you with this problem, focusing on identifying and obtaining the correct driver. I guess that didn't lead to a solution, since you posted here later. Given that, and given that Device Manager indicates "code 10 -- can't start" for the modem, it might be simplest to just buy another modem. They are only about $11 including shipping:

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!

Base your selection mainly on the user ratings (shown as stars for each item, which you can click on to read the user comments). Installing it is pretty easy, and should be described in the directions with the unit, or else you can ask here.

Another recommendation -- Windows XP will be extremely slow (and possibly crash prone) with the 128mB of memory that you have -- at some point you should consider expanding it.

BTW, I suggest that you do not enter your credit card information on a public computer when ordering -- either phone or fax it in, or use a computer you can trust.

Regards,
-- Al

[tmm5899]

if i had money i would have done that instead of trying to get help which may be able to fix the modem

[tmm5899]

also for travelers question it is an internal modem

[tmm5899]

it was given to him but he decided he wanted the internet and it is internal modem

Originally Posted by traveler

Is the modem internal or external?

How long has your friend owned this computer?

[tmm5899]

this computer has never been connected to the internet that i know of also how can i set the correct connection what do i need to do this is confusing since i don't know anything about computers

Originally Posted by ctal

Hi -- can you describe the symptoms a bit more specifically. Has this computer ever successfully connected to anything, or is it a brand new computer? Do you hear the sounds of it dialing, but then get an error indication (and if so, what is the indication)? Or is there no sound at all?

A place to start is to go to "Network Connections," and look at the settings for the icon(s) which appear there. Get there via the Start Button, then "Control Panel," then "Network and Internet Connections" if you see a blue screen with text on it, then "Network Connections." (Skip the "Network and Internet Connections" step if you don't see a blue screen with text on it, and double-click the "Network Connections" icon directly. Then right-click the icon(s) and examine their settings and properties.

Regards,
-- Al

[ctal]

When I made the suggestion about going to Network Connections, I didn't realize that you were getting a "code 10 -- modem can't start" indication (which I subsequently learned from your posts on another forum). Given that, the Network Connections idea is not applicable. The thread on the other forum did not indicate a conclusion -- were you able to obtain drivers somewhere, and try to install them? Were you able to determine the make and model of the modem? That is the path to pursue. The problem may be, though, that the modem manufacturer is no longer in that business or has long since obsoleted that model, in which case it might not be possible to obtain drivers any longer.

Sorry I can't offer better news.

-- Al

[traveler]

Originally Posted by tmm5899

it was given to him but he decided he wanted the internet and it is internal modem

I have not read any other forums with regard to your problem.

Try uninstalling the modem via Control Panel. Then re-install the modem. Use the PlugNPlay in Windows to help with the installation. Try to find out the make and model of your internal modem and then google it to hunt for drivers. Many Universities keep old drivers for old hardware in their archieves.

If you have very little experience with this then you should find out and teach yourself how to completely install a modem. Read the instructions for a modem from somewhere (internet or printed instructions from another internal modem).

After you install the modem you then have to set it up so that it dials out on your phone line.