Lucent v.90 d/f/v Win Modem(?) driver needs update

Question

Hi, helpful forum friends,   My Lucent v.90 d/f/v Win Modem on my Dimension 4100 (w/ Win ME) has been working fine up until the weekend of July 30, whereupon my connection gets dropped seconds after I log in. Since I use NetZero, I downloaded its Connection Wizard tool and it recommended that I update my modem driver. So I surf the 'net for info and was told that Lucent has been renamed Agere and downloaded their version 8.30 driver.   But, before I run it, I wanted to run this by the Dell forum. Is this the best way to go about updating my modem driver? Do I have the right driver? I looked at the Dell downloads center, and it seemed to have the very driver (dated Dec. 2000) that NetZero is rejecting.   Thanks in advance.

fireberd · Answer

First, does everything work? I can't think of a reason you would need to update the driver on a modem to work with a particular ISP. A newer driver may or may not support more functions but that would be all. However, one issue to consider is that many Dell hardware devices are custom devices made for Dell and must use the Dell provided drivers. Sometimes Retail drivers will not install or can cause problems. Another issue with drivers is the Operating System, you need drivers that are Windows 9x/Me compatible, not newer drivers that are designed for Windows XP. The two drivers are incompatible.

Finally, the Net Zero may be suggesting a later modem rather than just updates. Later modems are V.92 compatible, compared to the older modems being V.90 compatible. But, that still should not be an issue and I have to question Net Zero's software.

JW_JW · Answer

An update to yesterday's post (Lucent v.90 d/f/v Win Modem for Windows ME):   I tried the driver upgrade file from Agere (version 8.30) first, and ran the NetZero Connection Wizard - I get an 'OK' result in every category. HOWEVER, when I ran NetZero to log on to the Internet, an error message comes up: 'Can't start dialing, 0' or something to that effect.   I then tried the Dell upgrade file (version 5.84, I think) and ran NetZero. Again, as before, I am able to log on for a few seconds, then I am disconnected. The Connection Wizard tells me again that my current driver is 'not ideal' for my modem.   Help, please!!

JW_JW · Answer

Thanks for replying, Fireberd.

I think everything works. I've been running my Spybot, Ad-Aware and anti-virus software quite regularly. I even defragged my hard drive recently. Further, I did a System Restore to a date I'm sure that my NetZero connection was working (July 30) and it didn't connect.

As I mentioned in my 2nd post, the Dell-provided driver didn't work (same error as before), nor did the Agere-provided one (different error). According to either Agere or modemsite.com, Agere's version 8.30 is compatible with v.90 modems on Windows ME.

Any other thoughts/ideas?

fireberd · Answer

If it worked OK on a different provider it sounds like Net Zero has some special requirements.  If that's the case, I'd be looking for a different ISP.  Not knowing what NetZero requires, I can't really comment on it.    Have you called NetZero support to see what they want?  That would seem to be the next step.

JW_JW · Answer

Seems like we keep posting at about the same time, Fireberd - but you keep getting ahead of me!

Yes, I've considered calling NetZero tech support, but it will cost me almost $3 a minute. I predict that I will be kept on hold and end up paying in the neighborhood of $50. At that price, I might as well buy a new modem and/or switch to a new ISP.

Any other ideas before I start shelling out some money?

JW_JW · Answer

I took the leap last night and called NetZero's tech support. The rep had me do a number of things, i.e. check whether my firewall was interfering (it wasn't) and uninstall/reinstall my Dial-Up Networking, then log on again - didn't work. Notably, before calling tech support, I installed Agere's latest driver again. It didn't install properly - I had to manually put the .vxd file in the appropriate driver. It passed the NetZero Connection Wizard test, then I tried to log in using additional (long distance) numbers - still got the same connection error.   Also, I used Dell's interactive troubleshooting program; like the Connection Wizard and NetZero's Quick Help documentation, it directed me to the driver and initialization string.   Finally, I decided to open up the computer and look at the modem - it's an Askey V1456VQH89B (INT). Just now, I downloaded the compatible driver from Askey's site and scribbled down init strings from modemhelp.org and .net. I'll try them tonight or tomorrow.   This is my last idea for fixing this thing.

JW_JW · Answer

Okay. I've tried everything - several drivers, intialization strings, updating my BIOS. I used the Internet Connection Wizard and that didn't connect, either. I've grudging concluded that my modem has suddenly gone faulty. Today, I bought a US Robotics v92 faxmodem PCI.   If this doesn't work, I would think there's something wrong with either my computer or the phoneline, neither of which seem very likely.

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Lucent v.90 d/f/v Win Modem(?) driver needs update

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