are easy to get at; it usually requires removal of a single small screw to
open an access panel. If you are convinced the problem is not due to a
problem with a device driver or with system resources, proceed with
the assumption that the hardware itself has failed. You can choose to
replace the tiny circuit board or work around the problem by attaching
an external modem to the USB port or a PC Card slot.
Plugged in to a PC Card slot. These cards are pretty sturdy. If convinced
the problem is not caused by a bad device driver or a resource conflict,
see if you can borrow a known-good replacement from a friend, acquain-
tance, or computer store to test your system. If the substitute card works,
you know the original device is the problem. Otherwise, you can work
around the problem by attaching an external modem to the USB port.Troubleshooting the software for dial-up telephone modems .....
Regardless of whether you are using an internal modem or an external
device, your telecommunications software must be properly configured to
recognize its presence and to agree on a set of protocols for use. Happily,
nearly every modern modem comes with a self-installing program on CD or
floppy disk, or is set up to work with plug-and-play features of current ver-
sions of Microsoft Windows.For example, if the modem is connected to a USB port but the software is
looking for it on COM1 (a standard serial port), you may be unable to bring
the two together without adjusting the settings. Use the same procedure I
suggested to check the ports (but instead expand the Modems section) to
see if the laptop is reporting any problems with the modem itself. This is
especially relevant for internal modems, but a Plug and Play modem should
also be able to communicate the presence of problems back to the Windows
system.When you visit the modem’s properties page, see if Windows is reporting any
problems with the device driver; check the modem maker’s web site for a more
current version of the driver, and download and install it if recommended.Certain software settings can result in dropped calls; in addition to being
unable to deal with call waiting, some modems are impatient about slow
negotiation with another device. Examine your modem’s software and look
for a Properties tab that may offer an option something along this line:
“Cancel the call if not connected within xxseconds.” Add 15 seconds to
the number and see if the problem is fixed; you can experiment with a few
longer settings or even turn off the cancellation option.236 Part IV: Failing to Communicate