Modem Problems

[DeeME]

I have been running WinFax on my PC (WinME) for over a year with no problems. I have a Lucent Win Modem. I just tried to fax something, and the program says my modem is in use so I can't fax. I have a wireless router so had no idea the modem wasn't working until I tried to fax. I have gone into Device Manager, my modem is listed, no question marks beside it, and it says it is working properly. But when I try to test it under diagnostics, it says it can't open the port. I have tried a system restore, removing the modem and letting windows re-install it, running the setup.exe file from my HD, and even using the Driver Recovery Disk I have from Sony. Nothing fixes it. I haven't added any new software.Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks

[Ferrit]

Had any lightning or power outages in the area lately?
Sounds like the modem has died, you have done pretty much everything there is to do

[confus-ed]

Had any lightning or power outages in the area lately?
Sounds like the modem has died, you have done pretty much everything there is to do

Maybe test it elsewhere before you pronounce it completely dead ? s/w 'weirdness' might still be in play I suppose ..

[DeeME]

Thanks for the replies. There has been no power outages and how would I go about testing it??? Would a complete system restore do any good??
(even though that's the last thing I would want to do)

[TripleRLtd]

Thanks for the replies. There has been no power outages and how would I go about testing it??? Would a complete system restore do any good??

No, not for a lousy modem. confus-ed means testing it in another pc. But geesh, as Ferrit says, it seems you have done everything. New ones are less than $20.

[confus-ed]

No, not for a lousy modem. confus-ed means testing it in another pc. But geesh, as Ferrit says, it seems you have done everything. New ones are less than $20.

Hey you are a mind reader now too ! .. that's about the size of it yeah

[Ferrit]

As the others have said take it out and physically put it in another system
test that way and if it doesnt respond then replace it but
I also run winfax and its pretty critical of what modem it will use properly.
I think a very few conexants work. So be aware of this when you purchase a new one. If you have an older PC with black ISA slots my advice is find a 14.4 USR at a garage sale or flea market. They are rock solid in winfax and it likes them

[NooNoo]

have your done any other troubleshooting?

Uninstall the modem in safemode, then install it again in normal mode.

[DeeME]

Well...after following the instructions in NooNoo's link and removing the modem in safe mode and re-installing it in normal mode with no success,I have come to conclusion that it has died. I have no other PC to physically try the modem in so I guess I will have to take it out and try to get another. I have a Sony VAIO PCV-RX450 (it's only 2 1/2 years old but I guess that might be considered old for a PC) and it seems very particular on what goes into it so I will have to do some research. Thanks very much to all who tried to help...

Dee

[NooNoo]

If you are up to it, you can remove it in safe mode again, this time, shutdown and physically remove the modem from the slot. Boot to bios setup, and find either force escd update or nvram update or if neither of those are available (sony sigh).. then make a note of ALL your bios settings, then use the option to set bios to default settings.... again this may not be there. If we are lucky the mere fact of going into bios setup will cause the bios to re evaulate what hardware is there.

Reboot a few times and make sure the modem software and drivers are definitely gone. Now shut down again and put the modem back and try again.... again booting to bios first and repeating what can be done to get bios to re evaluate the hardware... then boot to windows desktop and try to install again.

[DeeME]

Thanks all for the suggestions.I tried a few things but in the end...I ended up using my System Recovery Disks. Even Sony had no suggestions for me...typical.
Thanks again

[NooNoo]

So did you pronounce it dead or did a system recovery do the trick?

[DeeME]

System recovery did the trick.

[confus-ed]

System recovery did the trick.

There you go then 's/w weirdness' still in play .. gotta love windoze - NOT! - anyway as long as its fixed (even if we were no damn help at all 'really') that is the point, so job done & a working machine, good !!!