Need Win XP help or an AR-15 and bus ticket to seattle

[Dinger]

the problem:
Modem functions in Windows XP -- I can access ISP via hyperterminal (but shell logons were disabled Jan. 1), but the "Network Connections Wizard" fails to recognize said modem.  Thus I have no internet access.

My system:
KT333 (Gigabyte G7A)
AMD 1.4 T-bird
512 PC-2100 RAM
Maxtor ATA-133 80 gig HD
Radeon 64 DDR ViVo
SB Audigy
Lucent Win Modem (branded hayes); hardware modem
Win XP build 2600


How it got this way:
It was working fine yesterday, but I had a probably unrelated nasty system reset bug.  In other words, in certain situations (often when I was connected to the network), the power supply would trip and the thing would reboot.  For example, I tried AH twice and in both cases got a hard reset in under 10 minutes.

I made the mistake of believing windows when it claimed an unspecified driver was issuing the stop order.  I then compounded that mistake by following their suggestions down to using the "system repair" feature booting from the CD-ROM (as opposed to from Windows).

Well, as I was reinstalling stuff, I decided to connect to the net and get some fresh drivers.  Surprise! Netman refused to recognize the existence of a modem.  Everything else works.

Action taken so far:
Well, I got a decent (3 month old) 4in1 driver in place, and the latest Radeon one in.
I've tested the modem extensively via diagnostics and terminal settings -- it works.
I've tried using the manufacturer's driver, but that predates XP and won't function with XP.
I've tried changing com ports.  I've tried changing hardware slots (and hence interrupts).

I called the tech support people here (XP is on a site license from the university).  They dialed up this article in the Microsoft knowledge base:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320558

well, I killed registry keys and tried a few times.  I did a windows system update three times.  I called the tech folks back and after a few consultations, they admitted being unable to help me.
I tried most combinations of resetting stuff.
Right now I'm going to try to get ahold of SP1, but it beats the hell out of me how I'm going to do that.
Any ideas?

[Dinger]

currently trying:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;329441

It's a 30-min roundtrip walk in -20C weather for internet access.  Life stinks.

[Dinger]

Yeah, that fixed it. (although the version of SP1 I brought home on CF was corrupt).

It's amazing how 20 minutes with an internet connection works so much better than 12 hours of dealing with tech support.

[DAVENRINO]

Dinger,
The first thing I would do is pull that WIN modem out and toss it.  The rest of your system looks ok but never use a WIN modem for gaming.  You can get the lastest technology in modems for $65.  

http://direct.mwave.com/mwave/doc2/482185.html

I have one of these in my Guam box and it works great with XP SP1.

DJ229

[RangerBob]

He's right, Win Modems are not recommended for online gaming.

Gee, and we were hoping you just might choose the Ar15 and bus ticket to Seattle route....

Just kidding....Just kidding..


Ranger Bob

[Dinger]

I saw that too.
Well, in all fairness, the modem was specified everywhere on the box and in the docs as a "Hardware Modem", that is using hardware compression; it shows up as a Lucent Win Modem, but all the evidence I've been able to dig up claims it is not a Winmodem.
I also haven't experienced the connection difficulties and processor hits people associate with winmodems.
Right now I have 2 windows of IE open, Outlook, and the control panel running.  I'm also downloading WinXP SP1.
Network utilization is running 60-100% of maximum; cpu usage is around 5%, and the system idle process is running 98-99% of the CPU. I don't think that's a WINMODEM per se.


Oh and during this mess, I spoke to a friend who (when she was younger) was a revolutionary in a Latin American dictatorship, and she assured me, concerning the AR-15 and bus ticket:
"If you send out the call to the people, you won't be alone"