NOTE: You, the customer, are solely responsible for data security. WinBook strongly recommends that you perform a backup of all personal data contained on your system prior to performing this procedure. Warning: WinBook will NOT be held responsible for any data loss incurred during this process.

Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the modem in your XP5 WinBook computer.

Start by checking some simple, but often overlooked problems.

1. Make sure your modem is connected to the phone properly. Also test the line by plugging a telephone in and making sure you have a dial tone.

 

2. Make sure you’ve added any prefixes that are required for you to dial out, such as 9. To do this for Windows 95 based communications click on start, go to settings and click on control panel. Double click on the Modems icon. Click on the Dialing Properties button. From there you can add or remove prefixes. Note: Do not put a 1 in the box for long distance. If you are dialing a number outside your area code, it will automatically dial a 1 before dialing the number. If you have to hit a number like 9 to get out, be sure to put that number in both the local and the long distance text boxes.

 

3. Test your modem by dialing a different number and/or software program. If the modem is working using the alternate program, chances are it’s the software program you are using or an issue on the other end of the phone line and you’ll need to contact your software vendor or service provider for support.

4) Make sure you’re not running any other communications programs. They can conflict with your modem and cause it not to function. An example would be a fax program.

 

If you’ve followed the above steps and are still getting modem errors, there are settings to check on your WinBook to ensure your modem is set up correctly:

 

1. Check your BIOS settings. Restart your computer into MS-DOS mode. At the C:\WINDOWS\> prompt, hit the <Crtrl> <Alt> <S> keys simultaneously. This will bring you into your BIOS setup program. Once in the program, go to page three by hittin the PgDn key twice. You should be in Advanced setup. Listed here will be a setting for internal modem. Make sure this setting is 2f8h. If it is disabled, this will cause the modem not to function.

 

2. Test your modem in Modem Diagnostics. You can use this program to test your modem without actually dialing out. Click on the Start button, then move your mouse pointer to Settings and click on the Control Panel. Once in Control Panel, double click on Modems. Click once on the Diagnostics tab near the top of the window. Now, highlight the Com port your modem is on with a single click, then click on the More Info button. If your modem is operating correctly, your should see a window with a white box with several AT commands pop up. If you get an error message such as "Modem failed to respond" or "Open COM: Port already Open", you need to troubleshoot further.

 

3. Check to see if another program is "taking" the Com port your modem is using. Left click on the Start button. Then left click on Run. In the white "Open" box type sysedit, then click OK. This will bring up your System Configuration Editor. The system configuration editor will contain several other windows containing your system files. Pull the C:\Windows\System.ini windows to the front by clicking on the top bar. Page through the system.ini file until you come to a listing for comm.drv=. If this is followed by anything other than a duplicate comm.drv, you may have a port conflict. Try changing it back to comm.drv=comm.drv , save the changes, restart your computer and then test your modem again. Also within the System Configuration Editor window there is a window for C:\Windows\Win.ini. Pull this windows to the front and make sure the load= and run= fields are blank.

 

4. Another test you can run would be to test the modem in dos. Restart the computer into MS-DOS mode. If your modem is set up to com2 in the bios, at the dos prompt, type: echo atz >com2 and the hit enter key. If your modem is using some other com port, substitute com2 for whatever you have it set up as. If you get an error message like "Write fault error writing to com2" then you might have a problem with your modem.

 

5. If you have tried the previous steps and your machine is still not working properly, please call our Technical Support at 1-800-468-1225 and a representative will be able to assist you further.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. If you have noticed any problems with this tech article, or if you feel that something is not clear enough, please E-mail our Technical Support department by clicking on the link below. Please include the Technical Article Number and the specific area that you feel is inaccurate. Thank you. 
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Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you as a service from the Technical Support Department of WinBook Computers. It is intended to assist you in the resolution of your technical problems or questions. If you feel uncomfortable implementing any of the information or suggestions contained herein then you should e-mail the WinBook Technical Support Department. WinBook will not be held responsible for any loss of information, data or programming as a result of the use of this TechNote.