Have I got a Modem installed?

info_addict

Sorry if this goes on a bit, but trying to give as much info as I can

Have recently bought a reformated a 3 year old Dell GX260 for the mother in law who just wants to use dial up. Have fully installed and updated Windows XP SP2

First of all we connected the phone lead to the computer and to the phone socket, but this just took out the dial tone. i.e. couldn't use the telephone, so we unplugged it again

We then tried to configure the New Connection Wizard, we got an error message "797 - A connection to the remote computer could not be established because a modem was not found or was busy"

Tried Control Panel - Phone and Modem Options - Modem Tab, the field is blank. Tried Add which brings up the Add Hardware Wizard - Install New Modem - Next - "Windows did not find any new plug and play modems attached to your computer" - Next, brings up along list of modem speeds and I am by now way out of my depth!

Have run Belarc Advisor and got the following
Communications - Intel (R) 82540EM Based Network Connection
Dhcp server - None responded
Network Drives - None Detected

Have tried Start - Connect to - Internet connections - Internet Connection Properties - General Tab and under the heading "Connect using" there is a red cross and "Modem removed - Unavailable device (COM1)"
Still on this - on the Networking Tab - Type of dial up server I am calling - it lists "PPP: Windows 95/98/NT4/2000, Internet" or "SLIP: Unix Connection"

Going back, Start - Connect to - Show all connections - Network Connections - it lists "Internet Connection" and "Local Area Connection 2"
On the "Internet Connection" in the left hand Network tasks box at the bottom - Details - it says Internet Connection; Dial-Up; Unavailable - Device missing
On the "Local Area Connection 2" - Details - it says LAN or High Speed Internet; Network Cable Unplugged; Intel (R) 82540EM Based Network Connection
Double clicking the "Local Area Connection 2" it says "Connect using Intel (R) 82540EM Based Network Connection" and configure says working properly. At the bottom - Device Usage - says "Use this device (Enabled)

In Control Panel - System - Hardware - Device Manager, all is shown OK and under Network Adaptors it shows the Intel (R) 82540EM Based Network Connection, as above.

Also in the control panel there is an icon for "Intel(R) PROSet II" which gives all sorts of info about the Intel (R) 82540EM Based Network Connection. There are 5 tabs - General, Advanced, Network Driver, Diagnostics, Link Config.
On the General tab it gives Ethernet Address, Part No., IP Address -Not Assigned, Network Driver Status - Loaded, plus loads of other stuff.

A lot of the above goes way over my head, but it may mean something to some of you.

I have even opened up the computer and looked at the socket you connect the phone lead into, but this is just connected to the motherboard.

If any of you are still awake by now and if the conclusion, is simply that there isn't a modem installed, could I simply connect an external USB device. Oh no, I feel another thread coming on!!

Many thanks in advance

albertross_2

You need to download all the drivers for your hardware from the Dell website, until you get to the point where you have no yellow question marks in start, run, devmgmt.msc

Also, you need to use the correct modem lead which is usually supplied with the PC, not just any old BT lead that fits.

neilwoods

Unless someone has installed a modem, i would say no modem is installed, it does a network adapter wich takes a cat 5 cable.

So looks like you would need to install 1 or buy an external modem, dirt cheap these days.

This is the info page from dell.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx260/en/ug/sffabout.htm#1103201

ormus

unlikely to be a modem installed on it.
most likely it will have a network card or lan onboard installed.
ive got a pci modem for free, here, you can have for nowt. just send me enough for the pp.

pm me if required.

info_addict

Thanks for all your replies.

albertross - Yes have updated all drivers using a programme called Driver Magic and there are no yellow marks, all is fine. My mother-in-law is using the cable that she used to use for dial up on her old compter.

neilwoods - Thanks for the link. I already had it, but it doesn't give a massive amount of detail, does it.

ormus - Thanks for the offer. I assume a pci modem fits inside the computer. From this link (hope it works)
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx260/en/ug/sysbrd.htm#1100517

I have found there is 1No. 9 (Grey) and 1No. 10 (White), but only the 2 slotter (shown as white circled 1). This has 11 holes in the top slot and 49 in the lower.
From neils' link above, the card slot (No. 3) is about 65mm high.

Would your modem card fit? As the info seems to suggest it needs a half height card?

info_addict

If the verdict is that an external modem would be required. Would this kiddy, (that I've found on Ebay), do the job?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Zoom-56k-V-92-V-90-USB-Mini-External-Modem_W0QQitemZ190086767353QQihZ009QQcategoryZ3692QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Also what is the "Intel (R) 82540EM Based Network Connection" that I keep finding? Not too technical please, I'll get a headache!!

ormus

info_addict wrote:

Thanks for all your replies.

albertross - Yes have updated all drivers using a programme called Driver Magic and there are no yellow marks, all is fine. My mother-in-law is using the cable that she used to use for dial up on her old compter.

neilwoods - Thanks for the link. I already had it, but it doesn't give a massive amount of detail, does it.

ormus - Thanks for the offer. I assume a pci modem fits inside the computer. From this link (hope it works)
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx260/en/ug/sysbrd.htm#1100517

I have found there is 1No. 9 (Grey) and 1No. 10 (White), but only the 2 slotter (shown as white circled 1). This has 11 holes in the top slot and 49 in the lower.
From neils' link above, the card slot (No. 3) is about 65mm high.

Would your modem card fit? As the info seems to suggest it needs a half height card?

from your link, yes an internal pci modem card will fit ok. assuming you have a spare pci slot?
i will go and measure the card today.

you already have a lan port, so you can fit a BB network connection!

ormus

right. measured the card and its a half height one.
approx 65 mm from bottom of pcb to the top.

btw.
the intel numbers coming up is prob the internal nic device.

ps.
the modem is an intel 82536ep.
here is the driver link. you will need this.
http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=487168

info_addict

Thanks ormus, I have sent you a PM

BTW, what's a nic device and what does it do?

ormus

network interface card.
thats the lan (local area network) socket thingy you have on the back off your pc.
and thats prob the intel numbers coming up saying its not installed.