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 XP 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.
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 pressing 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. Once the internal modem is set to 2f8h, press the Esc key and then press the F4 key to save the changes and exit the bios. Your system will reboot.
2. Check to see if another device has made changes to one of your system files. Double click on the Main icon, then the File Manager icon. Now click on File to bring up the file menu, then click on Run. Type sysedit on the run line and hit enter. This will bring up your System Configuration Editor, which contains all of your system files. First, check the C:\Windows\System.ini file. Look for the line that starts with comm.drv=. This line should read comm.drv=comm.drv. If it reads anything else, a program you are running may have modified it and caused your modem not to function. Change it back to comm.drv=comm.drv and test your modem again. Next, look at the C:\Windows\Win.ini file. The load= and run= lines should be blank. Again, if they are followed by anything, they may have been modified by software you installed. Delete any information that follows load= or run= and select File from the menu then select Save to keep the changes. Select File again and then select Exit. Now test your modem again. Make sure your modem is set on Com port 2. Try testing it in the Terminal program built into Windows.
3. Another test that you can run would be to test the modem in dos. At the dos prompt type: echo atz >com2 and then press enter. If you get an error message like "write fault error writing to com2" you might have a problem with your modem.
4. 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.

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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.