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Need Modem Help Please

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by CondoCruiser, Apr 5, 2011.

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  1. Apr 5, 2011 #1
    CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    I live out in the country and all I have available is dial up. I had lightning run in on my laptop modem yesterday, I think.

    I was online when the storm hit and I was about to shut down when I got disconnected. I tried to sign back on. You hear the dial tone about half volume and it won't dial out. Then you get an error message that there is no dial tone, to check your phone line connection...

    I tried uninstalling the driver and reinstalling. I tried restoring to an earlier time. Nothing helps. I run diagnostics on the modem and it says it's operating fine. I did a log query and everything shows okay except at the dial command there is some coded error.

    Is there a way I can fix it? Do I need a new modem? What do they cost? Is it something I can do myself? I replaced the hard drive and motherboard before, but the modem looks like it would be hard to get to.

    It's an 2009 HP Pavilion DV-4. I'm on my old laptop now.

    Thanks in advance!
     
    CondoCruiser, Apr 5, 2011
    CondoCruiser, Apr 5, 2011
    #1
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  3. Apr 6, 2011 #2
    ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    As someone that worked doing dial-up tech support for about 8 years...
    No dial tone means exactly what it says, the computer is not seeing a dial tone. Verify the line is not damaged (hook a phone to it) and if there is a dial-tone the modem is bad.

    Your best bet is to get a usb modem. Getting the notebook fixed means buying a new notebook. You can get them at newegg for about $13.00.

    -Steven
     
    ZVar, Apr 6, 2011
    ZVar, Apr 6, 2011
    #2
  4. Apr 7, 2011 #3
    Mark Kling

    Mark Kling Technology Contributor

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    I agree.. I had lighting hit my telephone line although they have protection in place in the box on the wall... it blew the box cover about 30' into the yard and the modem blow apart... the back cover still had the screws in it that lid went flying. Sent pictures of the outside box cover showing the burn marks and the telephone company replace my modem.

    mark
     
    Mark Kling, Apr 7, 2011
    Mark Kling, Apr 7, 2011
    #3
  5. Apr 9, 2011 #4
    CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Thanks for the replies.

    I hooked a phone to the line and it works great. The outside box is unhurt.
    I'll buy a USB modem like you said. That's my cheapest way out for now.

    That particular laptop has been nothing but problems. I had it 11 months and accidently dropped it in the truck and it quit working. I sent it to HP under warranty and they half arsed fixed it. I got it back the next week at 1 year and 1 week of ownership, some how the D-drive wiped itself out completely. HP wanted me to pay them for an extended warranty for them to fix it. I told them they weren't getting another dime from me. They should of fixed it right while they had it. I told the guy I been a loyal HP customer since the internet became popular. Time to try a new brand and I hung up on him. The phone rang back, but I didn't answer it, lol.

    I learned one thing the hard way. HP support sucks. I spent maybe 6 hours on the phone with them just over that one laptop. They had me exchanging the harddrive on the phone without the right little screwdriver. I was like, who makes customers with no experience take their laptop apart?? That's when I they let me send it in the first time.

    What's a good laptop to try next?? I bought an Acer before and took the slug back.
    I don't want to spend the money on a Sony.
    That leaves me Dell and Toshiba. I was thinking Toshiba. Any thoughts??
     
    CondoCruiser, Apr 9, 2011
    CondoCruiser, Apr 9, 2011
    #4
  7. Apr 9, 2011 #5
    ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    Thing is, HP support is just as good as Dell, Toshiba, Acer, etc... They all have alot to be desired.

    I cannot stand Toshiba's myself. Anytime we got one in for repair it is always the mainboard was bad. Stay away from Sony as yes they are overpriced. Dell is good if you get their small business line of Latitudes. My personal favorite though is the Lenovo notebooks. They come pre-installed with almost nothing, so you don't have to remove a bunch of useless crud. On first boot it actually asks what you want to install, and when you select no It actually doesn't install the crud. As with Dell, I'd look at the business line of Thinkpads, but they are typically a little too pricey for me.

    Also, if upgrading memory is an option, (probably) don't! 2GB of notebook memory is $20-$30 at places like Newegg or a little mom and pop. And if it's like where I work, the little place will install it for free, but it's very simply. Of course one does need one of the tiny little screwdrivers to do it. :)

    -Steven
     
    ZVar, Apr 9, 2011
    ZVar, Apr 9, 2011
    #5
  8. Apr 9, 2011 #6
    G/MAN

    G/MAN Road Train Member

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    I have owned 3 Toshiba laptops. I had problems with every one of them. I had a problem with the mother boards in two and the screen in the other. I bought a Dell a little over a year ago. I blew the hard drive in it just before it went out of warranty. I miss the larger screen I had with the Toshiba. I think that laptops are just prone to having more problems than desktops. One problem that I was informed about was that the laptops don't always get enough air to circulate and keep the circuitry cool. It is better if you don't put them directly on your lap because it blocks the air from circulating. I was told to get a piece of plywood or one of the stands they sell at some computer stores.
     
    G/MAN, Apr 9, 2011
    G/MAN, Apr 9, 2011
    #6
  9. Apr 9, 2011 #7
    Mastertech

    Mastertech Staff Leader / Admin Staff Member Administrator

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    CC, I bought my Toshiba a little over a year ago now and it has been flawless so far. Before that I had a Sony laptop for several years(5 plus years) and it works great also. The only thing I have had to do to it was replace the battery a couple of years ago.
     
    Mastertech, Apr 9, 2011
    Mastertech, Apr 9, 2011
    #7
  10. Apr 9, 2011 #8
    Mastertech

    Mastertech Staff Leader / Admin Staff Member Administrator

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    That sounds like a good idea to me, I keep my Toshiba on one of the chill pads and keep it cool. I just plug the pad into the USB post and temps stay nice a low with the fans blowing that extra air in the laptop.
     
    Mastertech, Apr 9, 2011
    Mastertech, Apr 9, 2011
    #8
  11. Apr 10, 2011 #9
    CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    CondoCruiser, Apr 10, 2011
    CondoCruiser, Apr 10, 2011
    #9
  12. Apr 10, 2011 #10
    Mark Kling

    Mark Kling Technology Contributor

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    I got the X205 series,,, had it for 4 years, hard drive died last Dec and yesterday lost my O and I keys. Took about 5 minutes to take the keyboard out. Ordering a new one Monday. It is a 17" and I love it. I usually leave it on 24 hrs a day on a chill pad. I run a 32 TV off the HMDI and usually have all the USB ports tied to an extenal device. It does get a workout.

    And I am strapping a desktop keyboard via USB hub to my laptop now...

    Go to computershopper and read reviews.

    Thanks,
    mark
     
    Mark Kling, Apr 10, 2011
    Mark Kling, Apr 10, 2011
    #10
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