DU'er Kali has been unable to connect to the Intertubes for awhile ('cept thru smartphone).

[MiddleFingerMom]

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Modem? Phone line? Computer? She hasn't been able to narrow it down despite
trying all sorts of fixes.
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Here's the links to the threads in both The Lounge and the Computer Help Forums.
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Any help/thoughts/insights would be GREATLY appreciated.
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Lounge:
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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x9760492
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Computer Forum:
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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=242x34419
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[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I sure hope someone can help...

Here's a K&R for your thread, and for Kali...

Thanks for doing this, my dear MiddleFingerMom...

:hi:

[emilyg]

2. kick for help

[Ohio Joe]

3. She could try using the local library until things are fixed at home

Not a great solution but gets you on the internet.

[MiddleFingerMom]

4. She lives on a ranch with a terrible and SLOW hour-long (I think) access "driveway"...

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...so trips to town are infrequent to say the least.
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That is even if her local library (if there IS a "local" library) has convenient access.
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This ia a small-family Arizona ranch. These people use CORNCOBS for purposes about which
I'm afraid to ask!!!!
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:scared:
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[gateley]

5. K&R -- eagerly awaiting your return, Kali! nt

[pnorman]

6. "Easy Tether for Androids"

If it's an Android Smart Phone and she has a Data Plan with her phone company, this might work for her: http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Stream-EasyTether/dp/B004JJR2K4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313646021&sr=8-1

After it's properly installed on her computer, just connecting her phone to it via the USB connector will get her on-line using the the phone network.

Note: Most Android apps are hassle-free in installation. But in the case of Samsung or LG phones, a couple of programs need to be downloaded and installed on the computer first.

[Kali]

8. Wow, that is interesting

If I was going to use this dang phone more...but it is the offspring's heh...

[MiddleFingerMom]

7. kick for any other suggestions/info? n/t

[AsahinaKimi]

9. I see your kick, and raise you another kick

:hi:

[Cerridwen]

10. I'll try.

Rough overview without knowledge of
your operating system or hardware attached.

I think you have 2 problems;
Too many modems installed and
A bad phone line.
This is for the modem issue.
Phone/ISP will have to help with
bad phone line.

Grab a cup of coffee or tea
This will take a while
Not difficult; time consuming

Get your modem driver CD
If you have one.

Shutdown and turn off PC
Unplug any "phone" lines
Remove modem (if not 'onboard' modem)
Leave case open for reinstall later

Turn on/boot PC

Optional: Take this time to:
Run full anti-virus scan
Run full 'spyware' scan
Run full defrag
After completion; Shutdown & turnoff PC
Turn on/boot PC /end optional

Go to Device Manager;
Under 'View' select "Show Hidden Devices"
Hidden devices will display "faded out"
If hidden devices are displayed
Scroll to modems and "uninstall" each one
Including non-"faded"
Check under COM devices
If any specific to modem
uninstall each one - including non-"faded"

If "Show Hidden Devices" is not an option
Close Device Manager
Right click on "My Computer" icon on desktop
Select "System Properties"
Select "Environment Variables"
"Show User Variables"
"New"
Set Variable name to
devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

Now go to Device Manager and see
if "Show Hidden Devices" is available
Proceed as described above; uninstalling
each one including non-'faded'

When finished uninstalling;
Shut down/turn off PC

Turn on/boot PC
Check Device Manager "Hidden Devices" to confirm
all iterations of modems and
modem-related COM devices are uninstalled/not present

Shut down/turn off PC
Install modem/plug in phone line
Don't close case yet.

Turn on/boot PC

Windows should "find new hardware"
Install driver using modem driver CD

You should now have only one modem installed.

Let me know how it goes
I'll try to track this post
in case you have questions.

[Kali]

11. I uninstalled all modem stuff, and tried reinstalling

Will double check and do it again. Under hidden devives I dont see anything modem related,but there isnt even a modem cztegory listed anymore. Under ports, it never shows anything except ECP printer port (in any view). The main thing that shoewd up with show hidden devices was a long list of non-plug and play drivers. Dont see any that seem modem related. There is one marked with a yellos warning exclamation,mark, "serial" is how it is listed. It shows as not enabled in prperties. Manufacturer amd location unknown. under the detail tab it has a drop down menu, but sjowing is "Device Instance Id" and in the box below that it says "ROOT\LEGACY_SERIAL\0000"
Does that mean anything?

[Cerridwen]

12. Sorry, Kali, I didn't see this yesterday.

The serial port is usually a "printer" port; it's mostly,
not always, a throwback to the days before usb printers
and other devices. That's why it's labeled 'legacy'.

Depending on your motherboard, you might not have an
actual piece of hardware for a serial device but
Windows software, i.e. the Registry, is still designed
to look for one. That could account for the exclamation
mark.

Based on a description in one of your other posts,
you mentioned COM 8, it sounded as though you had
multiple instances of a modem installed and that
they were conflicting with each other.

Oh, and FYI, the reason my suggestion included
full shut down/turn off is because, in my
experience, a regular reboot doesn't always
set the system completely back to its default
state; which is what you want when you're trying
to clear everything and start "fresh"

If you're still having issues, well, how comfortable
are you working with the Windows registry? If you're
not or you don't know how, I suggest you enlist a
nerdy/geeky friend and have them do some clean-up
to the registry...AFTER THEY'VE BACKED IT UP.

Sorry, to yell - trying for emphasis and not sure
how your phone display handles fonts. :/

I still have the feeling you have some conflicting
software and/or drivers that are causing your modem
to not be detected and configured correctly.

Since you've installed, uninstalled, and re-installed
you may have pieces sitting in the registry or even
on your hard drive that are causing problems. Not
all software removes completely and cleanly.

Sorry I couldn't be more help. :(