follow up - adsl modem, usb partial breakage?
Discussion
Original thread:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=142882&f=95&h=0
Recent developments - installed the modem on a windows xp laptop and after removing bt callsign adaptor from the phone system it works fine.
Ive now returned and reinstalled 98se on the problematic machine from the first thread. Upon installing the usb modem i got exactly the same problem I had originally - unknown device, doesnt recognise correct drivers as applicable.
Interrogated parents at length and they swear blind that prior to the first usb modem blow up it did recognise it and that it was plugged into the phone line for about a week with the lights blinking.
This is making me wonder if the usb port may have been partially broken - is that possible? other devices work fine in it, but none of the other devices take their power from the usb port.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=142882&f=95&h=0
Recent developments - installed the modem on a windows xp laptop and after removing bt callsign adaptor from the phone system it works fine.
Ive now returned and reinstalled 98se on the problematic machine from the first thread. Upon installing the usb modem i got exactly the same problem I had originally - unknown device, doesnt recognise correct drivers as applicable.
Interrogated parents at length and they swear blind that prior to the first usb modem blow up it did recognise it and that it was plugged into the phone line for about a week with the lights blinking.
This is making me wonder if the usb port may have been partially broken - is that possible? other devices work fine in it, but none of the other devices take their power from the usb port.
This does sound like a USB port issue in that it cannot quite supply enough power for the modem. Your newer laptop can, hence there is no problem there.
The reason the original modem may have worked is that due to the design tolerances of the electronics it may have required slightly less current to function and the usb port could just hack it. The new modem, whilst within its design tolerance, may actually require a slightly larger current (due to internal components being slightly different)and the usb port can't provide it.
The easiest solution is to buy a powered USB hub such as the DLink DUB-H4 or the Belkin F5U221U, plug that into the PC and then plug the modem into the new hub which will be able to supply the required power. Should cost around £20.
I have used this trick a few times to enable the Speedtouch to work with some of my customers computers.
The reason the original modem may have worked is that due to the design tolerances of the electronics it may have required slightly less current to function and the usb port could just hack it. The new modem, whilst within its design tolerance, may actually require a slightly larger current (due to internal components being slightly different)and the usb port can't provide it.
The easiest solution is to buy a powered USB hub such as the DLink DUB-H4 or the Belkin F5U221U, plug that into the PC and then plug the modem into the new hub which will be able to supply the required power. Should cost around £20.
I have used this trick a few times to enable the Speedtouch to work with some of my customers computers.
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