SitemanagerRob, It looks like the file you need is M3WUA08M.EXE which is the ESS Maestro 3i with Soft Modem. Make sure you look under Audio Drivers. Thank you for choosing Dell.
There is not such thing as a "PCI Simple Communications Controller" driver.
This "driver" is shown by Windows as a way to tell its users that is has found a piece of PCI hardware to which it cannot relate from its list of pre-loaded devices.
In most cases, you have to go to Update Driver, ask Windows to show you a list of compatible devices and, if you have the installation disk for the device, click on "Have Disk".
If you don't have the installation disk because your device should not need one (PCI USB Hubs, for instance) and Windows does not show the right device, it could be because the device itself is too old or it is not compatible with your current OS. Contact the manufacturer.
If you don't have the installation disk because you forgot where you put is, buy some medicine to improve your memory and contact the manufacturer of your device. If the manufacturer does not exist (not a so rare occurrence these days), search for the original device driver on the Internet.
If you ar not sure which PCI device causes the problem (some devices may even work quite well while still generating the error), shut down your PC, extract one of the PCI devices, boot up your PC and see if the problem goes away.
If so, that device is the culprit. If not, repeat the process (without re-inserting the device(es) you extracted before).
I have almost the same situation as the original post. I have a Latitude CPtS, originally loaded with NT but converted a long time ago to W2K. It has an internal modem, which is (according to the FCC label on the machine), an Actiontec LF560ED1. I generally use the machine docked to its Advanced Port Replicator, which includes a 3Com ethernet adaptor, and access the web via a DSL line. I had never actually tried using the modem after the W2K conversion, but had noted at boot time a 'found new hardware' that involved a PCI Simple Communications Controller, but that never could find a driver. I always ignored it, as it didn't seem to matter - everything I used (including web access via the docking station/DSL) seemed to work just fine.
A few days ago, I took the machine with me on vacation. When I tried to dial into the web, the machine couldn't even find the modem. A search of Dell Support (using another machine) didn't find any mention of the Actiontec model number I needed. Neither did a search of the Actiontec web site. So, I installed a USB wireless device, and tried to get web access that way, but it didn't work either.
When I got home and put the laptop back into the Docking station/APR, it would no longer recognize the APR's ethernet card either. Neither would it recognize a USB-ethernet device that I installed. I uninstalled both the new USB devices (wireless and corded ethernet), but it still won't recognize either the internal modem or the APR ethernet. Everytime I boot, however, I get the 'found new device - PCI Simple Communications Controller', but it still can't find a driver. From other messages, I gather that this isn't a real device and has something to do with the modem, but I can't find any mention of how it would also relate to my APR/ethernet, or what drivers I actually need to obtain and load.
I've also checked for my machine's 'original configuration' on Dell's support page, and it tells me that it has an internal notebook modem CHRL-ST with part number 40EUN. But, when I search DELL support for either of these designations, I don't get any hits. And, there is no specific listing for my ethernet card. Original configuration includes an APR part number 4688P, as well as a 3COM kit, modem, cable, controller, optiplex, with part number 2208T. Again, searching DELL hasn't proven useful.
I've also spoken with tech support at the manufacturer of the USB wireless device, on the theory that installing that device somehow disabled my machine's ability to find its ethernet card, but they weren't able to be helpful.
Two final notes - the problem machine and another computer actually share my DSL line via a wired router. Acccording to the indicator lights on that router, it recognizes itself as connected to the ethernet card in the APR, even though the Latitude CPtS in the APR can't find the card. It is also worth noting that all other devicces connected to the APR (mouse, keyboard, USB hub, serial cable to external floppy) work fine.
Can you help me get my machine and W2K talking again to my APR ethernet card? And, hopefully, to the internal Actiontec modem as well?
Hi Matt, I too am receiving the obnoxious "PCI Simple Communications Controller" message. Although I am successfully able to ping my ip address, I can't reach the internet via either one of my network connections. Did you ever find a solution to your problem??
JohnM025
2 Intern
•
877 Posts
0
January 3rd, 2003 16:00
CBTman
1 Message
0
January 30th, 2003 14:00
There is not such thing as a "PCI Simple Communications Controller" driver.
This "driver" is shown by Windows as a way to tell its users that is has found a piece of PCI hardware to which it cannot relate from its list of pre-loaded devices.
In most cases, you have to go to Update Driver, ask Windows to show you a list of compatible devices and, if you have the installation disk for the device, click on "Have Disk".
If you don't have the installation disk because your device should not need one (PCI USB Hubs, for instance) and Windows does not show the right device, it could be because the device itself is too old or it is not compatible with your current OS. Contact the manufacturer.
If you don't have the installation disk because you forgot where you put is, buy some medicine to improve your memory and contact the manufacturer of your device. If the manufacturer does not exist (not a so rare occurrence these days), search for the original device driver on the Internet.
If you ar not sure which PCI device causes the problem (some devices may even work quite well while still generating the error), shut down your PC, extract one of the PCI devices, boot up your PC and see if the problem goes away.
If so, that device is the culprit. If not, repeat the process (without re-inserting the device(es) you extracted before).
mattklionsky
8 Posts
0
May 17th, 2004 02:00
I have almost the same situation as the original post. I have a Latitude CPtS, originally loaded with NT but converted a long time ago to W2K. It has an internal modem, which is (according to the FCC label on the machine), an Actiontec LF560ED1. I generally use the machine docked to its Advanced Port Replicator, which includes a 3Com ethernet adaptor, and access the web via a DSL line. I had never actually tried using the modem after the W2K conversion, but had noted at boot time a 'found new hardware' that involved a PCI Simple Communications Controller, but that never could find a driver. I always ignored it, as it didn't seem to matter - everything I used (including web access via the docking station/DSL) seemed to work just fine.
A few days ago, I took the machine with me on vacation. When I tried to dial into the web, the machine couldn't even find the modem. A search of Dell Support (using another machine) didn't find any mention of the Actiontec model number I needed. Neither did a search of the Actiontec web site. So, I installed a USB wireless device, and tried to get web access that way, but it didn't work either.
When I got home and put the laptop back into the Docking station/APR, it would no longer recognize the APR's ethernet card either. Neither would it recognize a USB-ethernet device that I installed. I uninstalled both the new USB devices (wireless and corded ethernet), but it still won't recognize either the internal modem or the APR ethernet. Everytime I boot, however, I get the 'found new device - PCI Simple Communications Controller', but it still can't find a driver. From other messages, I gather that this isn't a real device and has something to do with the modem, but I can't find any mention of how it would also relate to my APR/ethernet, or what drivers I actually need to obtain and load.
I've also checked for my machine's 'original configuration' on Dell's support page, and it tells me that it has an internal notebook modem CHRL-ST with part number 40EUN. But, when I search DELL support for either of these designations, I don't get any hits. And, there is no specific listing for my ethernet card. Original configuration includes an APR part number 4688P, as well as a 3COM kit, modem, cable, controller, optiplex, with part number 2208T. Again, searching DELL hasn't proven useful.
I've also spoken with tech support at the manufacturer of the USB wireless device, on the theory that installing that device somehow disabled my machine's ability to find its ethernet card, but they weren't able to be helpful.
Two final notes - the problem machine and another computer actually share my DSL line via a wired router. Acccording to the indicator lights on that router, it recognizes itself as connected to the ethernet card in the APR, even though the Latitude CPtS in the APR can't find the card. It is also worth noting that all other devicces connected to the APR (mouse, keyboard, USB hub, serial cable to external floppy) work fine.
Can you help me get my machine and W2K talking again to my APR ethernet card? And, hopefully, to the internal Actiontec modem as well?
Matt
DLThompson06
1 Message
0
August 19th, 2004 04:00