Bit of a long story.

I'm not that happy with my current modem, so I thought I would swap it into another machine, a PII, use the PII for a bit while thinking about a new modem for my good machine. This PII is 233MHz with 128MB RAM and I'm running Windows 95C on it.

Anyway, the modem in question is a Motorola SM56 PCI modem. After a struggle or two finding the drivers I finally got it set up and device manager reports it as working correctly. (And the modem definitely works, I'm using it now!)

But I can't connect to anything as I seem to have got port problems. On the PII machine the modem wants to set itself up on COM 4. But there's only COM 1 and 2 in the BIOS or device manager. In the modem options COM 1 and 2 are greyed out and there is apparently nothing to be done about it.

I've got nothing attached to COM 1 or 2 and they are both reported by device manager as working correctly.

Any suggestions on the next steps to take?

Thanks,

Pete

And the modem definitely works, I'm using it now!.......But I can't connect to anything....
That sounds a bit confusing: is it working or isn't it?

COM1 and 2 are physical serial ports that stick out of the back of the pc. COM3 and 4 are virtual ports created by the software for a WinModem like yours.

Hm, sorry about that. Of course I know what I am talking about!!

I've swapped the modem back into the good machine, that's why it's working. (I notice that it's set up for COM 4 on this current machine, too) When I put the modem into the PII is when I have the problem. I still want to get it going in the PII machine. (I added the line you quote just to illustrate that it isn't a problem with the modem itself)

Pete

LOL :D Gotcha now - maybe I'm just sleepy!
(1) Presumably your "good" pc is not using win95.
(2) Presumably too you have got the drivers for win95 for the second machine.
(3) Win95's plugNplay can be a bit more tricky and different to set up a modem on. So you need to check the instructions carefully from the modem manufacturer.
(4) These 56K modems (software modems/WinModems) will never use COM1 or 2 since these are physical external connections. Sometimes the software will create a virtual COM port 3 and sometimes it will be COM 4; that is normal.
(5) Sometimes the software/drivers must be set up before putting in the modem physically and sometimes afterwards. And it it is got wrong the first time round there are likely to problems ever afterwards.
(6) If the modem didn't install correctly the first time then take it out and remove all the references to modems from the Device Manger (while in Safe Mode). Then start over afresh; follow the instructions carefully; and ensure you are using the correct drivers for your modem and your system.

Phew. LOL :D

Oh, hang this for a game of soldiers.

The problem I've got with expalining this is that there are two machines and only one modem. The PII machine, in which I want to use the modem, is behind me, modemless.

I am using the modem in the machine I am currently using. (it definitely works!)


Previously I've installed the modem in the PII machine (it's not there now!) which is running Win 95C. With the correct modem drivers. It didn't plug and play. I downloaded the drivers from Motorola. It's reported in device manager as working correctly. I used the Internet Connection Wizard to set up a connection, and the modem was recognised by the wizard. But when the port opens it can't find the modem.

The problem is that on the PII machine I have only got COM 1 and COM 2 and the modem will only install on COM 4 (or possibly 3). So of course the modem, although it's working, can't get through to a port.

The question is, then, on the PII machine, how do I:
either
a) get a COM 4 port
or
b) configure the modem to use either COM 1 or 2.


Pete

(the following is an irrelevance, but I add it just to clarify!) The machine I am using now, which has got COM 4 and in which the aforesaid modem works, is running ME as its operating system. I am aware that this particular modem requires different drivers etc for each OS.

I do understand that you have one modem that works in one pc and not in the other one. Yes I do.

Forget about COM1/2 - they don't come into the equation (barring unlikely IRQ conflicts) and is probably why they are greyed in the first place; you wont be able to connect a PCI modem to them; period.

Is there a diagnostics section in the Modem Options that gives you any useful information?

When and how does this error message occur and what is the exact wording/error code?

You could try the modem in another slot if one is available.

Also, since you have installed the drivers you could try going to add/remove programs and remove the SM56 software and then reboot. This should reinstall the drivers - hopefully correctly.

Finally; 233MHz is reported to be the MINIMUM for this modem, so in that respect you are at the limit and with a modem that you dont seem happy about to start with.

1. This is a software modem.

2. COM4 is not "real", but usually made by the software modem's "enumerator", another program that sets up the COM port for the software modem

3. It sounds like this enumerator program did not get installed. This needs to be done before the modem drivers get installed...

4. Since it is not doing PnP very well you will probably have to remove the modem and drivers, find and install the enumerator, then plug in the modem, then install its drivers, all manually.

COM1 and 2 are physical serial ports

Sorry my friend, but ALL COM ports are virtual; { communications }, it just happens that tradtionally the two 9 pin serial ports on your system are assigned COM 1 & 2, in reality you can assign them any COM port no# you wish.


You can add a COM port just like any other hardware, goto add hardware wizard, and point windows towards the device you wish to install, in this case a virtual COM port, it will assign as many as you wish-i've installed up to 15 COM ports just for the heck of it on a 98 machine once. :D


Usually COM 3 is the default for most modems, just use the add hardware wizard and install the next logical port ( you can tell by the IRQ which one it will be )ie; IRQ 3=2/4 and IRQ 4=1/3.

IRQ 5 will generally then be assigned to COM 5>.

just use the add hardware wizard and install the next logical port

Thanks Iisbob. I never realised that was how to add a COM port. I've added COM 4, which was the next one. I can't attempt to finish setting up as the modem is in this machine now, what a pain.

I'll tell you what, though, if it all works I shall have learned a lot today. I searched around this forum and have read a few modem threads, and been to USR. It's something of a learning experience. I'd heard of winmodems before, but never really knew what they were. Not sure I fully understand them now, but I know enough to stay well clear of them! Particularly if you've got an underpowered machine. I now have some idea why so many people drop connections.

Paul, thanks for the info about 233MHz being the minimum requirement for this particular modem. I'd missed that, but had noticed somewhere that 256KB was the minimum L2 cache.

It may or may not be all over, I'll let you know!!

Have a nice weekend.

Pete

Pete The minimum system requirements are as follows: (http://www.modemhelp.net/newsletter/modem/motorola_sm.shtml)
150MHz Pentium® Processor
233MHz AMD K6/K6-K6-2 Processor
266MHz Cyrix 6x86MX Processor
256K L2 cache
Windows® 95/98 with 16 Mbytes RAM
Windows® NT 4.0 with 32 Mbytes RAM

and THIS (http://www.modemhelp.net/vblite/showthread.php3?threadid=883) doesn't inspire confidence!!

iisbob Useful stuff; I was too ignorant, tired and influenced by "history". COM 15! LOL :D

Well,

I'm very afraid to say taht I have made absolutely no progress with this modem problem. I still can't get it to go on the PII machine.

This is what I have done so far:

In Win 95C I've installed another COM port, and had the modem set up on it fair and square. No problems were reported in device manager for either the port or the modem.

I got the messages:

'the communications port has been successfully opened'
quickly followed by
'Error 630: The port was disconnected due to hardware failure.'

I installed Windows 98 on the machine in the hope that it might make a difference. Having installed the modem once more, and added a COM port to make it feel happy on COM 3, I got the exact same message.

I've also removed the modem, changed slots and re-installed it. Still no joy.

So the modem is back and working in this machine (running ME). Anybody have any more suggestions?

Thanks,

Pete

Here are a couple of links related to this DUN problem; you will find many more if you search for Error 630 The port was disconnected due to hardware failure in Google (http://www.google.com/search?q=Error+630+The+port+was+disconnected+due+t o+hardware+failure&sourceid=opera&num=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8).

DUNS ERROR 630 (http://www.modemsite.com/56k/duns630.asp)

Error 630: Port disconnected due to hardware failure (http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000408.htm)

You could also try connecting using both PhoneDialer and Hyperterminal - if only to help sort out if this is just a DUN problem or a Modem problem per se.

Just wonder why you manually configured COM3 after installing Win98, when presumably you didn't do this on the machine with WinME on which the Modem IS working. Although frustrating; this problem is getting intriguing! :rolleyes:

When you installed it under 98 did you have a listing in Device Manager for a Modem Enumerator?

If not the complete driver package was not installed.

The enumerator must be installed first. If there are several inf files in the driver package open them in notepad and look for the one that installs the enumerator, you may have to manually install it first. Start out by removing the modem, in safe mode, then install the enumerator (right click and select install....no, not quite the recommended way but it does work, sometimes....), then install the rest of the drivers.

Paul,

On the 98 machine (and the 95 when that was in the equation) the modem sets itself up on COM 4. Then in the ports in device manager it's apparently on COM 1. COM 1 is apparently not available in the modem settings, it's greyed out. So I added a COM port, which happened to be 3, then changed the modem settings to COM 3. I just figured I needed the settings to be on the same port!

Oddly enough, on the ME machine, the modem is set in its own properties as on COM 4, but there doesn't seem to be a COM 4 in device manager.

I don't recall seeing a reference to a modem enumerator anywhere, 95, 98 or ME! I have now got the original installation disk and the instructions. I believe I have followed them precisely, but will have another look.

Thanks,

Pete

The ME SetUP with no COM4 showing in DeviceManager looks correct and normal.

The fact that the software sets up a COM1 in Device Manager looks totally wrong and more like what an external hardware modem would want to do. Sorry to repeat this, but are you absolutely sure you have the correct drivers?

The Motorola (http://e-www.motorola.com/collateral/SM56_DRIVERS.html) site has different sections for ME and Win9x, even though the file build has the same number. Also I don't know what the difference between PCI and PCI II is - could be worth trying both versions (at this stage :D)

Paul,

I know the drivers are different for ME and 95/98. I've now got the original installation CD. I do believe I've got the right ones, but I'll check again. Also I'll check about the other version of the PCI, the PCI II or something like that, but again I think that's not the modem I've got, that just a fax one, mine's a voice one.

I never installed the modem in the ME machine in the first place. This was my first machine, about 12 months ago. I wouldn't have got a machine with ME on it, or a winmodem if I'd known then what I know now. Wouldn't have bought a machine anything like this one with ME on it, but there you go. Ones lives and learns, hopefully.

Actually, why I'm doing all this is that I want to get rid of ME on this current machine. I plan to add a new hard drive, with 95C on it and use the current drive as a data drive until I've got everything moved over etc. So what I'm doing on the PII machine is something of a practice, just as well, by the look of it!

Pete

Are you sure you have an available IRQ for this modem?

Under control panel/modems/diagnostics/more info tab report?

Did you manually add the com port as instructed earlier?