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General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: 100Coogn on February 23, 2011, 02:12:41 PM

Title: Dial Up Modem
Post by: 100Coogn on February 23, 2011, 02:12:41 PM
  I'm trying to find a modem for my daughters computer, but I'm not sure if the ones I'm finding are what will work on her system.  It's an EMachine T3256.  I've tried NewEgg, but not much choices there.  I'm not getting anyplace with the manufacturer.  It's just an old computer, but she likes it. 
Here's a link to some of the specs. on this machine.  http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=T3256
  Can somebody point me in the right direction...

Thanks
Coogan
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: Bino on February 23, 2011, 02:22:13 PM
If you have a nine-pin (DIN9) RS232 serial port on the back, you might use something like this? (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16825134002&cm_re=external_modem-_-25-134-002-_-Product)

Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: gyrene81 on February 23, 2011, 03:27:17 PM
Is this integrated on the mobo?

Modem :  56K ITU v.92-ready Fax/Modem

that system should have 1 or 2 empty pci slots on the mobo...

Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: 100Coogn on February 23, 2011, 04:09:12 PM
Is this integrated on the mobo?

Modem :  56K ITU v.92-ready Fax/Modem

that system should have 1 or 2 empty pci slots on the mobo...



It is in a PCI slot.  But the error I keep receiving says something to the effect that a port cannot open.  
As soon as I try make the modem work, the computer crashes right away.
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: gyrene81 on February 23, 2011, 05:28:00 PM
windows xp i assume? that error is familiar but i can't for the life of me remember the fix...  :headscratch:

take note of the modem brand/driver then uninstall it...reboot...reinstall a driver for it...hopefully you can google a newer driver for it
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: 100Coogn on February 23, 2011, 11:03:25 PM
windows xp i assume? that error is familiar but i can't for the life of me remember the fix...  :headscratch:

take note of the modem brand/driver then uninstall it...reboot...reinstall a driver for it...hopefully you can google a newer driver for it


Tried all that stuff.  Disabled the PnP in BIOS, just so the modem wouldn't crash the computer.  The newest driver I could find was from 2004 for this thing.  The model # on the modem is RD01-D850.  I tried punching that into Google, but seem to just be getting the run around.

Coogan
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: guncrasher on February 24, 2011, 01:59:16 AM
I have one from my gateway somewhere, trying to find it.  its a pci.  but to actually find one, i would look for computer stores around the neighborhood.  not bestbuy, etc but the corner "computer stores" that sell used computers at really cheap prices.  I have seen them carrying older computer parts.


semp
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: gyrene81 on February 24, 2011, 08:13:00 AM
uh...open the case and remove the one that is in it now...

this one should work...just pop it into an open pci slot

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16825104001 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16825104001)
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on February 24, 2011, 08:40:08 AM
  I'm trying to find a modem for my daughters computer, but I'm not sure if the ones I'm finding are what will work on her system.  It's an EMachine T3256.  I've tried NewEgg, but not much choices there.  I'm not getting anyplace with the manufacturer.  It's just an old computer, but she likes it. 
Here's a link to some of the specs. on this machine.  http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=T3256
  Can somebody point me in the right direction...

Thanks
Coogan


Winmodems are notorious for problems in general. You're better off getting a cheap external modem and connecting the computer through regular ethernet if the computer has an ethernet port.
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: gyrene81 on February 24, 2011, 09:33:35 AM
Winmodems are notorious for problems in general. You're better off getting a cheap external modem and connecting the computer through regular ethernet if the computer has an ethernet port.
:headscratch: curious ripley, what are you talking about?
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: NormH3 on February 24, 2011, 09:38:09 AM
As an alternative, there are also USB phone modems available. Google search should produce a few.
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: Tigger29 on February 24, 2011, 11:54:15 AM
:headscratch: curious ripley, what are you talking about?

"Winmodems" as they were known to be called is very similar to onboard video in the fact that instead of using their own hardware resources, they use the resources of the computer.  The good Modems handled everything on their own.

On one hand, this made them cheaper ($20 vs $50) but on the other hand they tended to be very cheap and fail often, and when they did fail the entire computer would suffer as a result.
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: gyrene81 on February 24, 2011, 12:45:15 PM
You're better off getting a cheap external modem and connecting the computer through regular ethernet if the computer has an ethernet port.
i was talking about this part tigger...looks like he's recommending hooking up a dial up modem to the serial port then connecting the rj45 connection to the modem...maybe with an adapter?

 :rofl
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on February 24, 2011, 04:14:12 PM
i was talking about this part tigger...looks like he's recommending hooking up a dial up modem to the serial port then connecting the rj45 connection to the modem...maybe with an adapter?

 :rofl

Well serial ports have been gone for years so I doubt even modems run on them anymore. So it's either USB or ethernet for connectivity. I haven't seen a dial-up in 20 years though.

In any case a built in card is most likely the worst possible solution.
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: Tigger29 on February 24, 2011, 05:09:41 PM
The only ethernet based modem I've seen was an old router I used to own.  It had a serial port on it to install an external modem that it would call out and connect to if the DSL ever dropped.

I think these days you're pretty much limited to picking a dial-up modem that connects through USB or installs into a PCI or PCI-e slot in the computer.

Newegg has PCI modems (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16825164004) starting at $8, USB modems starting at $18, and PCI-e modems starting at $30.  They also have a serial port external modem for about $35.

The easiest thing to do is to get a replacement PCI modem and swap it out.. or you can just remove the PCI modem and install a USB one.
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: gyrene81 on February 24, 2011, 05:48:20 PM
Well serial ports have been gone for years so I doubt even modems run on them anymore. So it's either USB or ethernet for connectivity. I haven't seen a dial-up in 20 years though.
actually ripley...the op's computer has a 9 pin serial port...i think you're mistaking serial (9 pin/rs232) for parallel (centronics) printer port...haven't seen a parallel port on a computer in a couple of years.

i believe...socket 775 mobos may have been the last to have either and in some instances both...

i can only assume you have not used an atm at a convenience store recently...in some areas they still use dial up modems internally.




The only ethernet based modem I've seen was an old router I used to own.
tigger, that cable/dsl modem you're using in your house right now is an "ethernet based modem"...
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on February 25, 2011, 03:31:16 AM
actually ripley...the op's computer has a 9 pin serial port...i think you're mistaking serial (9 pin/rs232) for parallel (centronics) printer port...haven't seen a parallel port on a computer in a couple of years.

i believe...socket 775 mobos may have been the last to have either and in some instances both...

i can only assume you have not used an atm at a convenience store recently...in some areas they still use dial up modems internally.



tigger, that cable/dsl modem you're using in your house right now is an "ethernet based modem"...

The OP has a pretty old tech (not surprising if it's a branded box) since I haven't seen anything but 100% legacy-free parts for many years. I actually just checked and they do still make dialups with a serial connection! But USB is the way I would go anyway just because there's no guarantee even the OPs next computer is going to have legacy ports.

The convenience store ATM's here use dialup or 3G too but they're palm size and wireless connected so you don't see it in action :)

Actually many businesses still use dialups also here for e-traffic to the banks now that I refresh my memory. Thanks for the heads up Gyrene.
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: NormH3 on February 25, 2011, 06:01:40 AM
and lets not forget that USB is a serial bus. Just not RS232.  :)
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: gyrene81 on February 25, 2011, 07:49:52 AM
geez i would hope the op's daughter isn't stuck with dial up on her next computer...  :uhoh

since it's not a gaming system, and it's an older unit...the usb interface won't cause any noticeable issues...still an internal pci card would be less expensive and still could be used in a new system if needed...the existing modem is in a pci slot already...
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on February 25, 2011, 08:38:28 AM
geez i would hope the op's daughter isn't stuck with dial up on her next computer...  :uhoh

since it's not a gaming system, and it's an older unit...the usb interface won't cause any noticeable issues...still an internal pci card would be less expensive and still could be used in a new system if needed...the existing modem is in a pci slot already...

Yeah except that if/when trouble comes that pci card has the potential to make the whole computer unstable like happened in the OPs case too. That's why I would pick an external modem. Well, to be honest I wouldn't pick a dialup at all but get a 3G usb dongle with unlimited data package instead.
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: 100Coogn on February 25, 2011, 11:51:35 AM
Had an old Dell in the garage I forgot about.  I took the modem out and popped it in her computer and it took right off. 

Thanks for all the good advice.  :aok
Coogan

Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: Tigger29 on February 25, 2011, 11:19:13 PM
tigger, that cable/dsl modem you're using in your house right now is an "ethernet based modem"...

Oh EXCUSE ME... "Ethernet Based DIALUP modem".  I think everyone knew what I meant.  Sheesh.
Title: Re: Dial Up Modem
Post by: bj229r on February 27, 2011, 03:23:47 PM
We're entombed with dial-up at our house, and they're always getting nailed by lightning, and I have to try 2-3 of em before I find one which gives me good ping-rate for AH (low 200's delay). Broadexent v.92 PCI works real well, bought 3-4 of em on Tiger for like $10 each