Modem packed up (Thinkpad X31)

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

I'm on holiday (see my other thread on here), and my woes have somewhat increased ...

My lappie is refusing to connect to the internet. Why? Because the modem says "There is no dialling tone". Now, there is a dialling tone, until you connect the laptop to the telephone line, whereupon it stops. (There is a telephone on a 2-way splitter in the telephone socket, and you can lift the handset, listen to the dialling tone, and plug in the modem lead, whereupon the dialling tone stops. Unplug the modem lead, and it starts again.) This happens even when the laptop is switched off, with the battery removed.

I have tried changing the cord used to connect the lappie to the telephone socket, and it makes no difference. Both cords work fine with another laptop (owned by a friend, which I am typing on now.)

There seems to be nothing wrong with the modem from the computer end - running the built-in (Windows) diagnostics, everything seems to be working fine. I have tried with the "Check for dialling tone before dialling" box ticked and unticked as well, and still no joy.

It was working fine one evening, and simply wouldn't work the following morning.

Inspection of the telephone socket on the computer (the one that you plug the modem line into) reveals nothing - all looks fine (the contacts aren't mangled or anything like that.) The only useful piece of information I can extract is that there are two contacts in there, and a multimeter shows a resistance of 4.2ohms between them - on other laptops here (like the one I am typing on), there is an infinite resistance between these two contacts.

This is suggesting to me some kind of hardware problem. Any ideas? It's a pain, as the laptop is very useful as a portable computer - for things like going on holiday with! If it cannot be used with the built-in modem, it will be considerably less useful.

I can post more information as displayed by the computer about the laptop if this is useful. It claims to be an "Agere Systems AC'97 Modem". Uninstalling it and re-installing it have made no difference.

All helpful suggestions gratefully recieved!


Oli.

ETA: Yes, I am talking about dial-up connections here, not BB ... I'm not at home, and this place is not BB-enabled!

Edited by zcacogp on Thursday 3rd August 14:30

[aldi]

Relatively common way for modems to die unfortunatley - assuming its not just a cabling or country compatibilty issue.

USB modems are cheap!

Edit: Or PCMCIA?

Edited by aldi on Thursday 3rd August 14:32

[zcacogp]

aldi said:

Relatively common way for modems to die unfortunatley - assuming its not just a cabling or country compatibilty issue.

USB modems are cheap!

Edit: Or PCMCIA?

Edited by aldi on Thursday 3rd August 14:32

Oh. That's a shame. Thanks anyway. Any merit in trying to dismantle it, and fix it, or just write it off? (Does it sound definately dead from the description?)

PCMCIA are the credit-card type things, aren't they? The current one is built-in, which was quite elegant in many ways.

Thanks for your input.


Oli.

[aldi]

I don't know that exact laptop, but I've seen many where the modem circuits are on a detatchable board concealed beneath a pannel on the base of the laptop. How fixable they are or how easily sourcable replacements are is another question...

Has this exact combination of wiring worked before and just stopped working then?

[deva link]

zcacogp said:

...a multimeter shows a resistance of 4.2ohms between them - on other laptops here (like the one I am typing on), there is an infinite resistance between these two contacts.

I'm impressed that you've taken a multimeter on holiday with you!

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

Umm, the modem seems to be a pretty built-in affair, and I'd need to be taking the lappie casing apart in order to access it. I may try this when I get home, or I may just say "Stuff it" and buy a PCMCIA one ... yes, the exact combination of wire and telephone line were working one evening, and not the next.

Taking a DVM on hols with me? Essential when you have an old car, and are slightly paranoid ...


Oli.

[aldi]

Check under the pannels underneath that are just one or two screw jobbies, if you find a little daughterboard that when removed causes the modem not to be there when you boot the lappy up then thats probably the bit that needs replacing. Failing that it could be buried under the kayboard or something...

[panclan]

To remove the modem do the following

1. Turn off the computer; then disconnect the ac adapter and all cables from the computer.
2. Close the computer display, and turn the computer over.
3. Remove the battery.
4. Remove the keyboard.
5. Remove two screws securing the card
Remove two screws
6. Remove the card by pulling the tab with your fingers.
Remove the card
7. Turn the card over (1), and then disconnect the modem cable (2) from the card.
Disconnect modem cable
8. Connect the modem cable to the new card (3), and then turn the card over (4).
Connect modem cable
9. Attach the new card to the slot so that it is seated firmly.
Attach the new card to the slot
10. Secure the card with two screws which you have removed in step 1.
Secure card with two screws
Note: Do not use the keyboard screws to secure the card. The two screws for the MDC are shorter than the keyboard screws.
11. Reinstall the keyboard.
12. Put the battery in place.
13. Turn the computer over again. Connect the ac adapter and cables to the computer; then turn it on.

Edited by panclan on Saturday 5th August 07:53