The secret tricks the manual doesn’t want you to know.

If you have any experience with computers in general and their communication methods, you should be aware of some of the problems associated with modem communication. This can be one of the most frustrating areas of the computer configuration and setup, especially if you are using Windows 95. In this chapter we will assume that most of you have gotten away from the old Windows 3.1 and moved on to Windows 95, in preparation for Windows 98.

Why doesn’t it work?

If you have already read my article on ‘Plug n Play, you should understand the problems associated with the Plug n Play process. The simple fact is that despite the best intentions of Microsoft software designers, Plug n Play has a lot of problems, and for some reason, a lot of them are modem related. I have seen numerous instances of brand new working modems installed in Pentium machines where the Hardware Detection Wizard just won’t find the modem. This often makes it especially difficult to to configure the new modem, as there are numerous other factors which must be in place in order for the modem to operate correctly. (or at all.)

Let’s take it step by step

For Windows 95 users

Let’s assume you have the modem installed as per the manuals instructions and have set any on-board jumpers to the Plug n Play configuration. At this point one of two things will happen, when you boot the computer, the Hardware Wizard will pop up and tell you it found new hardware, or it won’t. If it does, then half the battle is over, but be aware, when and if, you install new drivers for your modem, make sure you go into the Device manager and remove the OLD driver first (Start/Settings/Control Panel/System/Device Manager, select Modems… Remove) otherwise you may end up with two drivers installed for the same device.

If the hardware Wizard does not pop-up and indicate ‘new hardware’ the first try removing the old modem driver as described in the last paragraph and try the boot again. If it still won’t find the modem then you have several options, probably the easiest is to manually install the driver. Go back to the Control Panel and find the ‘Add New Hardware’ icon toward the top of the list, and click on modems, when it prompts you to try to detect the modem, let it try and see of it finds it or not. If the auto detect does not find it, then repeat the procedure and check the “Don’t detect my modem, I will select it from a list.” Box. Go to the next display panel and click on the “Have disk” box and insert the manufacturers modem driver disk into the correct drive (floppy or CD ROM) If you don’t have the manufacturers modem driver disk, look at the list of available Windows drivers and see if you can find it there. If it’s not there, you will probably have to download the correct one off of the Internet at the manufacturer’s website. (A note here; many manufacturers have a funny little habit of giving you a driver installation disk to use, and as you are attempting to install the driver, a list comes up of lots of different drivers. That would be O.K. except the exact driver needed for your modem is not printed on the modem, the box, the receipt, or anywhere else for that matter, they just give you the general model number. As an example; the Supra 56i modem lists 4 separate 56i drivers (voice, plug n play, 56i standard etc) on a list of about 50 other modems.. Now it’s nice that one disk does so much, but one often has to test several different drivers before hitting on the right one.)

If you’re pretty sure you have selected the right driver for your modem and a taskbar has popped up and indicated that it is installing something at least, then a: “your modem has been successfully installed” phrase should appear, and sometimes the Hardware Wizard will pick up other componets of the modem to be installed like the Wave device (for the Voice option) At this point it’s a good idea to check and see if the driver did indeed install and if it is working properly. Go to the Control Panel window find the Modems icon and click on it, it should come up with 2 tabs at the top – ‘General’ and ‘Diagnostic’ in the first window (General) it should show the driver in the window and say: “The following modems are set up on this computer.” It’s also a good idea to click on the ‘Properties’ tab and note which Com Port the modem is using. The rest of the items in the ‘Properties’ area is pretty standard factory preset stuff that is generally best left alone. Now for the test, go back to the main (modems) window and click on ‘Diagnostics’ this time. The COM port for the modem should be listed there separately on the list which should also show COM 1 and COM 2, the modem normally would be COM 3 but can Be COM 4. Highlight the COM port the modem is on by clicking on it and then select ‘More info.’ A window should appear that says: “Communicating with the modem, this may take a few minutes.” When it’s done, hopefully a window will come up showing the driver, the COM port, the interrupt, the UART, and the port speed as well as a list of AT commands on the left and their descriptions. This is a good sign and generally means that the modem is probably working. To be sure, exit this area and go back to the Start menu and select ‘Accessories’ and ‘Hyper terminal’ it will walk you through the process to dial up a number. It also helps to have an extension phone plugged into the back of the modem so you can pick it up when the modem is dialing and verify the tones. (Don’t just take its word for it)

So why doesn’t it work?

If it won’t actually dial the number, or the diagnostic program says: “The selected telephony device is in use by another program.” There are a few other factors which may not be in place that have to be functioning before any modem communication is possible. First find your Windows 95 CD-ROM, you will probably need it soon. Then, find the ‘Network Neighborhood’ icon on your desktop and right click on it, then select “Properties’ and note (under the ‘Configuration’ tab) which network components are installed. In order for the modem to operate, you must have the ‘Dial up adapter, TCP/IP, and IPX/SPX compatible protocols installed and it wouldn’t hurt to have the ‘Client for Microsoft Networks installed too. Click on the ‘Add’ bar and select ‘Protocol’ then locate Microsoft and add the proper components. Do this until all of the needed protocols and adapters are installed. Go back and try you modem now.

It STILL doesn’t work, why?

Well, again in the infinite wisdom of the Microsoft designers, they have decreed that certain things should be done at certain times. In order for your modem to operate it physically should be the LAST device installed in the communications chain of command. First, the actual communications package should have been selected when you first installed Windows 95. Then the Network and dial up adapters and protocols and finally the modem, preferably in that order. Some Windows 95 x-spurts may argue that this is not necessary, but to get it right when normal modem installation methods aren’t working, this is a safe method, which will avoid most conflicts. So deal with it.

If you did a typical installation Windows 95 would have installed the communications package for you, If you did a custom installation and DID NOT select the Communications Package (the box for communications is NOT checked) then first go back to the ‘Network Neighborhood’ icon on the desktop and remove all of the Network protocols etc. Then do the same for any modem drivers in the Device Manager. Finally return to the Control Panel and select: “Add and Remove Programs” then click on the ‘Windows Setup’ tab to display a list of what is installed in the computer. Check the Communications box. and put in your Windows 95 CD- ROM and select “Apply” It will prompt you for the CD-ROM. Make sure the proper drive is selected and hit OK. Then return to the Network Neighborhood, reinstall the protocols and dialup adapter described earlier, and finally reinstall the modem drivers (whew! Fun eh?) If the modem STILL fails to respond when you select the “More Information” tab in the modem diagnostic section (Start/Settings/Control Panel/Modems/Diagnostics/Select modem COM port/more information) then you need to check and make sure the interrupt requests are all in the right place, and that there is at least one available. The computer assigns certain CPU interrupt requests (IRQ’s) to certain ports and they are usually preset to function correctly, but let’s check anyway. Go to the Control Panel and click on system/ Device Manager then at the top of the list, double click on ‘Computer’ and view the IRQ settings on the list. Unless you have multiple devices that are taking up all of your IRQ’s it should show your modem driver installed and an IRQ assigned to it. If the modem is not already installed then check here to make sure that you actually have an IRQ available.

If all else fails.