Does the problem go away if you plug the modem directly into one of the USB ports on the motherboard?

Steve

Steve

I have tried several combinations of USB connections including removing all the other devices and also connecting the modem directly to the USB sockets on the computer but the problem does not go away

Eric

Which version of the BIOS do you have on the computer?  Later versions of the XPS-R series BIOS have several corrections to USB problems.  The latest version is A13, but many people have problems with that version.  Version A12, if you need it, can be downloaded from Bob Matthews' web site at www.duhvoodooman.com

Steve

Thanks, I have downloaded version A12 from the site you suggested and have also downloaded the A13 from the Dell site, but am not sure which on to go for first

The BIOS on my computer I believe is the original one

BIOS Vendor  Intel Corp

BIOS Version  4S4EB0X1.10A.0019.P09

BIOS Date  08-14-98

Am I able to flash a Dell BIOS on my computer if the original BIOS is an Intel one?

Will I be able to go back to the original BIOS if the update does not solve my USB problem, assuming it is a USB problem?

Eric

Message Edited by Eric907 on 03-15-2004 12:38 AM

Am I able to flash a Dell BIOS on my computer if the original BIOS is an Intel one? No, but it is unlikely that the original BIOS is an Intel BIOS. 

Will I be able to go back to the original BIOS if the update does not solve my USB problem, assuming it is a USB problem? Since there are no previous BIOS versions available on the Dell web site, you will not be able to go back to the original BIOS once you flash to either A12 or A13.

Steve

Hi Steve

Thought I would give you the latest.  I have not yet done a  BIOS update but, I have decided first to attack my problem from another angle.  I have arranged for British Telecom to check my phone line and ADSL signal to my house and in the house.  It would seem that I may be getting interference from some device that is causing a dropped ADSL line, this may be a possibility since there is now becoming a patern of lossing the connection only in the evenings !!!!!

Will tell you how I get on in a few days

Eric

Hi Eric (and Steve)

I have a friend in France with exactly the same problem who I'm trying to help remotely.

I had also suggested BIOS revision level to him and am await the outcome.

Will let you know if we have any success or any other thoughts on this matter.

Regards

Simon 

Hi Again

Just to report that friend in France (with Dell Latitude laptop) running Windows 98SE has just upgraded his BIOS to latest revision (A14) and problem has been fully resolved.

Hope same works for you Eric

Simon

Simon / Steve

Thanks for the info.  I have not yet changed my BIOS but I think I have managed to solve my particular problem.

My ADSL signal was checked out at the entry to my house and found to be low with a lot of noise but just within the acceptable limit.  This is apparently because my house is on the limit of distance from the phone exchange.  When the signal was checked at the wall connection to my computer it was found to have reduced by half and really on the boarder line for acceptable operation.  It would seem that since the signal in my house is so low it is more susceptable to electo-magnetic interference which could be causing a dropped line.

I have carried out several tests by switching on and off electrical devices to see if there is any interference to the ADSL signal.  Believe it or not after many checks I have found that when the TV plasma screen (which is in another room) is switched on then the ADSL signal is lost.  If the plasma screen is left on the ADSL modem continues to attempt to connect and eventually starts to give USB error messages, such as USB bandwidth insufficient etc, etc

I have now run a totally separate line direct to the computer, completely independant of the rest of the phone system in the house.  I have been running with this type of connection now for 4 days with no problems, no USB error messages, no dropped line and have had continuos ADSL connection, even with the plasma on.

It would seem that the modem seeing a very weak signal was not able to make a hand-shake with the phone exchange and was seeing this as an upstream computer fault and hence USB fault rarther than a downstream bad signal fault

I have since found out that there are many devices that could affect the ADSL signal within a house, trust me to have one of them.  I hope no one else has the same problem because it take ages to find by trial and error

Eric

Eric

Glad to hear that your problem is resolved too.

Thanks for that information, I may just need that at some point as my friend lives in rural France!

Good Luck

Simon