Modems and Windows Vista

[Keith Willcocks]

I have been asked to help a friend get a dial up modem for their PC
(broadband is not an option). The PC runs Windows Vista and I am unsure
whether any internal modems (which is the preferred type) will run in
Windows Vista. The PC does not sport any serial ports so an external
modem would have to be USB connected which presumably also involves drivers
which might or might not be compatible with Vista.

Can anyone advise please as to whether there is likely to be a conflict with
either type.

Many thanks,

 

[Maurice Batey]

The PC runs Windows Vista and I am unsure
whether any internal modems (which is the preferred type) will run in
Windows Vista.

Well, my laptop came with Vista and it happily uses its
'internal modem' (pre-installed).

 

[Pecos]

I have been asked to help a friend get a dial up modem for their PC
(broadband is not an option). The PC runs Windows Vista and I am
unsure whether any internal modems (which is the preferred type) will
run in Windows Vista. The PC does not sport any serial ports so an
external modem would have to be USB connected which presumably also
involves drivers which might or might not be compatible with Vista.

Can anyone advise please as to whether there is likely to be a
conflict with either type.

Many thanks,

Hi Keith.

I used a Hiro 56K V.92 PCI Modem S/W W/O Voice Intel 537EP Chip 56
KBs Modem (no longer available) in Vista that cost $10 U.S. Any modem
using the Intel 537EP chipset *should* work in both Vista 32 and 64 bit.

It's a bit tricky to get configured. You may have to download the XP 32
or 64 bit drivers from the Intel Web site:

http://tinyurl.com/26eywr

Install the drivers from the Device Manager in the Control Panel.

The XP drivers aren't perfect in Vista, but they worked for the most
part. Be forewarned though. Some of the BSOD's that I was getting (very
infrequently during shutdown IIRC) may have been caused by those Intel XP
537EP drivers.

 

[Keith Willcocks]

Hi Keith.

I used a Hiro 56K V.92 PCI Modem S/W W/O Voice Intel 537EP Chip 56
KBs Modem (no longer available) in Vista that cost $10 U.S. Any modem
using the Intel 537EP chipset *should* work in both Vista 32 and 64 bit.

It's a bit tricky to get configured. You may have to download the XP 32
or 64 bit drivers from the Intel Web site:

http://tinyurl.com/26eywr

Install the drivers from the Device Manager in the Control Panel.

The XP drivers aren't perfect in Vista, but they worked for the most
part. Be forewarned though. Some of the BSOD's that I was getting (very
infrequently during shutdown IIRC) may have been caused by those Intel XP
537EP drivers.

Coincidentally in my box of bits I have found an Ambient modem that uses the
Intel 536EP drivers, close to yours, so I will see if it works when I go
around tomorrow.

 

[Keith Willcocks]

Well, my laptop came with Vista and it happily uses its
'internal modem' (pre-installed).

My Gateway laptop likewise, but the modem is obviously new (like the
laptopo) and made for Vista. earlier ones are, I suspect, more
problematic.

 

[Pecos]

Coincidentally in my box of bits I have found an Ambient modem that
uses the Intel 536EP drivers, close to yours, so I will see if it
works when I go around tomorrow.

Hi Keith,

Yeah, give it a shot - well worth your time to try.

I found this Hiro for $8.00 that is supposed to be Vista ready:

http://tinyurl.com/2yefeb

My $10.00 Hiro has worked well for about three years now other than the
possible Intel 537EP driver issue. I get consistent 46.6 Kbps connects
and the occasional 50.6 Kbps connect. Hard to go wrong at 8 bucks. One
thing I will caution about, the resistors on my modem are not surface
mount and can be easily bent when placing the modem in and removing from
the PCI slot.

It's software based so let Vista settle down before trying to connect. I
see lower connect speeds if I try to connect right away at startup.

Email me if you need detailed instructions how to install the XP drivers
in Vista.

 

[Keith Willcocks]

Hi Keith,

Yeah, give it a shot - well worth your time to try.

I found this Hiro for $8.00 that is supposed to be Vista ready:

http://tinyurl.com/2yefeb

My $10.00 Hiro has worked well for about three years now other than the
possible Intel 537EP driver issue. I get consistent 46.6 Kbps connects
and the occasional 50.6 Kbps connect. Hard to go wrong at 8 bucks. One
thing I will caution about, the resistors on my modem are not surface
mount and can be easily bent when placing the modem in and removing from
the PCI slot.

It's software based so let Vista settle down before trying to connect. I
see lower connect speeds if I try to connect right away at startup.

Email me if you need detailed instructions how to install the XP drivers
in Vista.

Thanks for that Alan. I am not familiar with the Hiro brand and suspect
that it is not available in England although our PC shed over here, .PC
World', appear to have something very similar. I am going to try this old
one first because if that works they can have it, otherwise I will help them
get one. I'll post back and let you know what happens.

 

[Clark]

Thanks for that Alan. I am not familiar with the Hiro brand and suspect
that it is not available in England although our PC shed over here, .PC
World', appear to have something very similar. I am going to try this old
one first because if that works they can have it, otherwise I will help them
get one. I'll post back and let you know what happens.

Just for your info, I tried a Zoom modem in the early days. It would
work fine if I enabled it after boot. But, if enabled during boot, it
would cause a blue screen.

If it does blue screen, you might be able to boot to safe mode and
disable the modem so you can install the updated drivers for it to work.

Clark

 

[Keith Willcocks]

Thanks for that Alan. I am not familiar with the Hiro brand and suspect
that it is not available in England although our PC shed over here, .PC
World', appear to have something very similar. I am going to try this
old one first because if that works they can have it, otherwise I will
help them get one. I'll post back and let you know what happens.

Fitted the Intel/Ambient modem and tried to install it with the latest
drivers but it would not recognise them. Then tried it with an old version
of the drivers and bingo, up she came. My thanks to those who contributed.