Modem and port problem

[MARALE]

Ok, we got a new HP in November and it has worked great. Last week my 16 year old says he can't get connected to the internet. We are on Dialup. I checked it out and the modem software was installed, but the com port was missing. I could not find the com port or the modem in the system. I tried to uninstall and reinstall to modem, it isn't seen and if done manually, the com port is not there to select. I went into setup on the reboot and could not seem or install the com port there. I am not sure there was even a com port to begin with-but there has to have been, right? Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

[bemildred]

1. Questions:

1.) Did it (this machine) ever work (connect to the internet)?
I'm guessing "NO" but want to check.

2.) What kind of modem, if possible make and model so I can look
it up?

3.) Are there com ports to enable/disable in the BIOS setup? If so,
what does the BIOS say about them?

Further input pending ...

[MARALE]

2. Answers:

1) Yes, it was connecting fine. The last thing that I know of that was downloaded was a spysweeper program. Although my son does download things I don't know about.

2) Ascere?? I think, I am not home right now but it came on the HP so maybe a standard model they use?

3) It does not show any com ports in the bios setup that I could see. This is what is confusing me the most.

[bemildred]

3. I'll see what I can find.

If the modem is an internal modem (no outside little box, just a plug
on the back, the most likely situation here) the com port is in the
modem, not the BIOS, so that would be "normal". If it is a winmodem
there may be no com port at all (I would not swear to that, normally I
won't go near a winmodem, but I have fiddled with them a couple times).
If it is a winmodem your situation could be explained by the modem
software/drivers getting hosed/mangled/munged.

Edit: If the modem has a built in com port, it should still show up in
the BIOS scan at boot, but you may not see that because of the splash
screen at boot that OEMs commonly use.

A possibility would be to deinstsall the modem poop completely, reboot
three times (just joking) and then reinstall it completely.

Let me see what I can find on Ascere and winmodems.

Edit: I do see and "Acer" make, looking into that.

[bemildred]

4. What model HP? nt

[bemildred]

5. Here is a short discussion of Winmodems:

What's the difference between a "real" modem and a Winmodem?

Yes, some detractors insult the WM name by implying it is not a real modem. A "real" modem has a controller and interfaces to a PC (or other device) that outputs asynchronous serial data - through a COM port on a PC. The modem hardware then does all sorts of processing to this data, to convert it to the analog phone line output representing synchronous serial frames of data conforming to the protocols in use. Some of this processing is done by the PCs CPU in a WM, and the resulting data is transferred to the modem card through a "virtual" COM port. (A WM doesn't actually use a COM port, but since all modem application software is designed to use a COM port, the WM driver emulates a physical port so that communications software applications will work.) In a "well-designed" WM, the extra load on the CPU to do the processing a "real modem" performs is substantially offset by eliminating CPU load involved in the transfer of data over the COM port to a "real modem". The amount of processing done by the CPU instead of the modem, and the resulting effect on PC performance varies widely among different WM designs and products. It's extremely difficult to find the technical description of any vendor's WM implementation, so you can't go wrong by insisting on a "real" modem; but, you can find some well designed WMs that may serve you well until all of today's analog modems are history.

http://www.modemsite.com/56k/winmodems.asp

I'm going to wait until you have a chance to get specific about
make and model etc. to continue this. Meanwhile someone else may
have something to add.

[Berserker]

6. Something you may want to

read.If you have removed spyware or deleted programs recently.

WinSock XP http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html

WinSock XP Fix offers a last resort if your Internet connectivity has been corrupted due to invalid or removed registry entries. It can often cure the problem of lost connections after the removal of Adware components or improper uninstall of firewall applications or other tools that modify the XP network and Winsock settings. If you encounter connection problems after removing network related software, Adware or after registry clean-up; and all other ways fail, then give WinSock XP Fix a try. It can create a registry backup of your current settings, so it is fairly safe to use. We actually tested it on a test machine that was having a Winsock problem due to some Adware removal, and after running the utility and rebooting, the connectivity was restored.

http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm LSP Fix

[Berserker]

8. I tried to edit

my last post to warn you about LSP Fix This program should only be used under the supervision of an advanced computer user.
I am not sure this is your problem I only posted this as a POSSIBLE fix to your problem. The first thing I would recommened is to contact your ISP and have them walk you through the install of your modem.
Here is a tutorial for more information. http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=59

[MARALE]

7. Thanks!

I will go home and check on these things tonight.