Ensure that your antivirus software has been fully updated, and perform a complete system scan. You may also need to run an excess software removal tool on your system such as AdAware or SpyBot.

If that does not help, you may want to try eliminating programs starting up in the background that could be causing problems. See the following Dell Knowledge Base article for further information:

What is the Microsoft® System Configuration Utility (MSCONFIG)?

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@DELL-Cody wrote:
Ensure that your antivirus software has been fully updated, and perform a complete system scan. You may also need to run an excess software removal tool on your system such

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"Excess Software"? [grin]

Ran my McAfee, Spybot and Ad-aware and came up with no problems. I have all the updates for all 3 programs. MSCONFIG has no new programs running in the background. A support person had new restore the computer back to the origional date of setup and that didn't fix the problem. The problem is only occasional but when it happens it is complete and the modem can not find the dialtone.

Hi, I know what you mean about the problem you are having.  I have the same problem - sometimes the computer cannot find the dial tone, and says  that there is a port conflict error.  Is this what you have?  Anyway, I have called Dell multiple times, and nothing works.  I have even restored the computer to earlier date, too, and that does not solve the problem.  I notice that when I restart the computer, it can find the dialtone then.  But, sporatically, just like you, it can't find it.  I have run the virus and spybot, and still no solution.  And, have done the background programs, and still no solution. 

I finally heard from someone at a different web site, and they explained that this is a hardware issue, and that Dell should make it right.  I think that since our computers are still under warranty, that Dell should either replace with new parts, or replace the entire system.  This is the next step that I think I am going to take.  If you have a better solution, please tell me!!!

I hope that Dell will figure out what the problem is, so that others do not have to go through this too!

Maggie

I finally gave up and bought a new modem. I found a similar modem online and have now installed it. It is not worth my time to call tech support only to talk to someone who speaks english as their second language....therefore making them very hard to understand over the telephone. The replacement modem only cost 14 dollars shipped to my door making the the refurbished one that Dell sent me something that Corperate Dell should be embarrassed about. Shoddy support and shoddy repair parts...shame on Dell

This is the exact problem I have been having (haven't even had my computer 3 weeks yet).  I'll go on-line then disconnect, and later when I got to reconnection it tells me "the port is already in use or is not configured for dial-up networking."  All I have to do is reboot and it's fine.  The worst part about it is that I have some 60-day trial software and everytime I have to close the program and reopen it it uses of one of my "days" of usage.  I'm not willing to fix this problem myself, I'll be contacting Dell for them to make good on it.  I didn't spend all this money just to go buy a different modem.

LYork

Dell should of fixed the problem. They tried and failed. I fixed the problem myself and find the 14 dollars I spent a small price to pay for not having to deal with Dells customer service reps.  It took 3 calls to Dell until I was able to get a person on the telephone that I could understand. This person then authorized the modem replacement. When the modem arrived it was refurbished and didn't work any better then the original modem. My replacement modem works perfectly and proves it was Dell's parts and not me. A nice bonus is that my "modem on call" software is also working perfectly. I am happy now but rest assured  that if it had been a more major problem the computer would of been serviced by a Dell authorized tech or been in a box back to Dell.

I didn't have the problem for a few days, then the problem started up again.  Now, I still don't know if the modem will work.

So, what should I do?  Should I get them out here to put in a new modem?  Or, do you think part of the problem is the software?

It's interesting about your conversations with Dell.  I finally stopped calling them, and contacted them by email.  They told me all of the standard answers - run antivirus, run spybot, run adaware, reinstall modem software, reinstall Windows.  I told them that I would not do these things, because I had already done everything except for reinstalling Windows, and that that was there answer for everything they don't know how to do.  Then, got a different person responding, who seems to want to help.  Except, now that person says that they have no record of what the problem is!  That's interesting, because everyone else has always brought up my information there!  So, now I have to start over again with the new person!  Don't know if I will do it or not!  Maybe, I will just call them and get them out here!

 

I don't know whether my problem was hardware or software. All I know is that I fixed the problem by buying a new modem. If your willing to spend the time try to get Dell to fix it. Then as a last resort  buy a new modem. If you can buy a modem in a store the accepts returns you could see if it fixes the problem and if it doesn't you could always return it.