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  • #2174433

    Internal modem stops monitor working

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    by lynz67 ·

    I built a my computer in October last year and have installed the full version of XP Home OS (Service Packs inclusive). I have not used an upgrade version and until now there have been no issues with this machine.

    Three days ago I fdisked my machine to remove XP Pro (no Service Packs) and installed XP Home and I bought an external modem at this time. I used to use a SwannSmart IIx 56K V.92 internal modem but now have a Netcomm 56K V.92 USB external modem. I am able to unistall the internal modem without any problem however once I remove this internal modem from the PCI slot the monitor doesn’t work until I put the modem back in the slot.

    It seems to me that the internal modem has been identified as a graphics card and I am at a loss as how to fix this issue considering that located in the AGP slot on my motherboard is a Radeon 256MB graphics card.

    My computer spec’s are as follows:
    2.8GHz Intel Celeron Processor
    Asus motherboard with 533MHz FSB
    512MB SDRam
    256MB Radeon Graphics card
    2 x HDD (1x40GB and 1x80GB) both IDE
    2 x Burners (1xCDRW and 1xDVD Dual Layer burner)
    Antec system case with front and rear fans

    I have checked the computer’s IRQ and BIOS configuration but nothing stands out as being wrong. No error messages are being generated and according to system information and DR Hardware 2005 v6.0 there are no conflicts to resolve.

    I would really like to resolve this issue and remove the internal modem but I don’t know where to start or what to look for.

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    • #3173246

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by willcomp ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      Do you get a display during POST? If so, remove modem, enter BIOS setup, and reset ESCD.

    • #3175793

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by lynz67 ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      The only time I get the POST display is when the internal modem is in the PCI slot. Can I reset the ESCD prior to removal of the internal modem, with the same result.

    • #3175740

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by lynz67 ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      I tried the 1st suggestion of yours but it didn’t work so I removed the internal modem and reset the jumper on the motherboard but to no avail, when
      I reconnected the computer without the internal modem after resetting the jumper the monitor still won’t work until I put the internal modem back in the PCI slot.

      I thought about leaving the internal modem in permanently but I don’t know if it is going to cause further hardware conflicts later with any of the current or future hardware installed.

      Do you have anymore ideas that I could try.

    • #3175653
      Avatar photo

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by hal 9000 ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      Well I don’t know just how good this will be but first remove the Internal Modem and then change the jumper setting on the M’Board to clear the BIOS this generally involves moving a single jumper from pins 1 2 to pins 2 3 then after a short time reset the jumper to pins 1 2 and try rebooting. You should get a Checksum Error because you need to enter the BIOS to at the very least allow it to recognize the available RAM as well as setting the Date/Time.

      That should put you back to a Factory Default situation and you should be able to at the very least get a POST screen from there.

      Just a word of warning with XP and an external Modem they do really work great but you have to have the modem turned on at boot up so it can bee seen by Windows or that port will be blocked. Once it is booted you can switch off the modem and only turn it on when required. If you don’t boot up with the external modem turned on you will not have a working modem in the System items section.

      Col

    • #3175632

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by lynz67 ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      I have already removed the Internal Modem and then change the jumper setting on the M’Board from pins 1 2 to pins 2 3 to clear the BIOS and after 30 seconds reset the jumper to pins 1 2 and tried rebooting. The monitor still won’t work, so I can’t enter the BIOS to allow it to recognise the available RAM or set the Date/Time.

      Even with resetting the jumper to go back to factory default configuration there is still no visual display from the monitor unless I put the modem back in the PCI slot.

      If the modem is put back in the PCI slot I get a visual display and I can see that it has been changed back to the Factory Default situation and get the POST screen.

    • #3175631

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by lynz67 ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      Point value changed by question poster.

    • #3175496

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by jessie ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      Just a thought… perhaps it’s a bad PCI slot, that when you remove the card from it, it’s shorting itself out? Will it come on if you put in any OTHER PCI cards?

    • #3175311

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by thechas ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      Wow,

      What an interesting problem.

      I agree with Jessie that this is most likely some sort of hardware issue and not a BIOS or IRQ issue.

      The first step is to try putting a different PCI card in the slot that the modem has been in.

      Use a sound card, a USB card, or anything else.

      Also, try placing the modem in different PCI slots and see if a different slot changes how the PC boots.

      If you get a POST display with a different card installed, here is what to look for:

      1. A short between the case and the motherboard.
      This could be a long lead on the motherboard, or a raised portion of the case.

      2. A poorly seated AGP card.
      Many a time I have fought video problem because of an AGP card that was not fully seated in the AGP slot.
      The “quick” test for this is to remove the metal slot bracket from the AGP card and carefully seat the card into the AGP port.

      3. A poor ground connection that is completed when the modem is installed.
      You don’t necessarily want insulating washers on all motherboard mounting screws.

      4. A motherboard manufacturing defect.
      Having a PCI card installed in the slot you had the modem in may be flexing the motherboard just enough to allow an unsoldered connection to have a good physical connection.

      The motherboard could also have a bad voltage regulator that needs the additional load of the modem to bring the voltage into specification.

      5. Case fans:
      This is another problem that has caught me off guard from time to time.
      Some case fans generate too much electrical noise and cause problems when plugged into the motherboard fan connectors.
      Unplug the case fans and see what happens.

      As far as power issues are concerned, it might be worth the effort to swap in a different power supply.

      All in all, the more I think about this, if I were to swap out any single part, it would be the motherboard itself.

      Chas

      • #3176927

        Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

        by thechas ·

        In reply to Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

        For my money, the experiment points to a problem with the motherboard itself.

        The only other idea I have is to use a bright light and magnification to inspect both the PCI and AGP slots.

        What you are looking for is a damaged part of one of the fingers inside the connector that is bent in such a manner that it connects to the finger across from it.

        If you do find one, here is what is happening:
        The bent finger is shorting 2 signal lines together. This locks up the data bus and stops the PC from POSTing.

        Just thought of 1 final idea that I should have added to my original answer.

        Boot up with a POST card in the PCI slot farthest away from the slot where you have been installing the modem.

        Assuming the unit fails to POST, the POST card should tell you where in the POST sequence the system halted.

        Chas

      • #3176892

        Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

        by thechas ·

        In reply to Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

        Depending on how old your motherboard is, I would contact ASUS and see if you can get it serviced under warranty.

        If you are extremely curious as to where the POST stops and why it is stopping, a POST card is the answer.

        Here is a link to a reasonably priced POST card:

        http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=SY-TECHAID&cat=CAS

        One last thought:
        This is again a manufacturing defect. For some reason, the BIOS is looking for an on-board modem.
        Getting no response from the modem controller locks the POST.
        To the BIOS, a modem and a sound card look very similar.

        Chas

      • #3176891

        Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

        by thechas ·

        In reply to Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

        Come to think of it, do you have the latest BIOS?

        Check with ASUS for a BIOS update.

        Set the system up to boot from a floppy, and flash the BIOS.

        Then, see if you can boot without the modem.

        Chas

    • #3175303

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by willcomp ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      Your case fans should be connected to power supply via molex plugs (I’m familiar with the case). Still won’t hurt to disconnect just in case.

      Of Chas’s postulations, the one that seems most logical is modem completing ground when installed.

      But don’t rule anything out, no matter how remote.

      Suggestion to try another card is so good and so obvious I’m wondering where my brain was.

      Dalton

    • #3178909

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by lynz67 ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      To Jessie
      I went and bought a sound card just for this excerise. I get visual dispaly with any PCI card is in any of the slots, donesn’t have to be the internal modem in that particular slot and up until now the internal modem was the only PCI card I had. So it is no restricted to just the 1 PCI slot,its all 4 of them.

    • #3178904

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by lynz67 ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      To Jessie
      I went and bought a sound card just for this excerise. I get visual dispaly with any PCI card is in any of the slots, donesn’t have to be the internal modem in that particular slot and up until now the internal modem was the only PCI card I had. So it is no restricted to just the 1 PCI slot,its all 4 of them.

    • #3178834

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by lynz67 ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      TheChas
      I went & bought a new sound card for the exercise. Started machine today with internal modem in & got visual from monitor, took out internal modem & low and behold I got a visual display from monitor. I thought it had corrected itself so to be sure I turned the machine off again & restarted it & suprise, surprise, no visual display from the monitor. Put the sound card into another PCI slot & restarted computer & got a visual display from monitor. Took the sound card out & no visual display from the monitor.

      I have checked every power lead and connector from the power supply again, checked every IDE cable again, checked every external cord and power lead again and no visible signs of damage.

      Took out internal PCI card and changed AGP cards & the result was the same – no visual display from the monitor until I put a PCI card back in then I got a visual display from the monitor.

      Took motherboard out of the case a & sat it on the desk, then started the machine with the same result – no visual display from the monitor unless something is in a PCI slot.

      I have disconnected all internal case fans – same result. I disconnected the burners one at a time – same result. I connected the secondary HDD because until now it has been disconnected with the same result – only have visual display from monitor if something is in a PCI slot.

      Power supply change gave me the same result. I have gone over the system case and can’t see any issues with the case.

      I have tried 3 different monitors and use 3 different keyboards & mice – same result.

      What are the chances of a computer learning to fly? I’m at the point where I could throw it out the window & then jump on it a few times just for good measure. Might not do much for the machine but it would make me feel a whole lot better.

    • #3176754

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by user94327 ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      Put the a PCI card back in, boot up, and get into the BIOS. Look under all the settings for something like ‘Init Display First’. You’ll have two options, PCI or AGP. If it already says AGP then forget it, this answer won’t help. If it doesn’t say AGP, change it to AGP and save and exit. Turn off the computer and remove the PCI card. See if you have video. I ran into the same type of problem and this worked for me. I had no display when removing a PCI card, and it wasn’t a PCI video card. I hope it works for you.

      Greg

    • #3178506

      Reply To: Internal modem stops monitor working

      by lynz67 ·

      In reply to Internal modem stops monitor working

      Thanks for the input guys and girls.

      I rang Altech Pty Ltd where I bought the motherboard from and told them that they can deal with it because nothing that I have done or that you guys have suggested has corrected the issue yet, although it has ruled a few things out.

      The motherboard will be sent back to Altech on Monday morning, I won’t close this question until I have a definite answer from Altech as to the reliability of the motherboard.

      I’ll keep you posted as to the outcome from Altech. So when I know, you’ll know, for future reference.

      Again thank you.

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