OS & Browser on CD

[Imposter]

Anything like this available in Freeware?
I've just installed XP, which is fine for all my needs which include DSL
internet connection. However, if my DSL connection should go down, my ISP
provides a back-up Dial-up service. Problem is my old dial-up modem (Allied
Data Tornado SFM56.0-USB) isn't supported in XP.
I'd like a bare-bones OS which would provide USB connection for my modem in
the extremely rare cases of need, and a bare bones browser to allow me to
web-check my email etc. Nothing fancy, nothing big, and I'd like to run it
from a bootable CD-ROM.
I know I could partition my HDD and put(eg) Win 98 on there, but this is
overkill for my needs. Any ideas?
TIA
KeithS

 

[Annie]

please change your ISP!
Or try some linux versions that run from CD.

 

[Imposter]

please change your ISP!

Wouldn't like to do that, I'm *very* happy with them

Or try some linux versions that run from CD.

That may be the way to go, any personal recommendations?
Thanks

 

[Morten Skarstad]

Anything like this available in Freeware?

Hell yes. The question is: What OS do you need?

I've just installed XP, which is fine for all my needs which include
DSL internet connection. However, if my DSL connection should go
down, my ISP provides a back-up Dial-up service. Problem is my old
dial-up modem (Allied Data Tornado SFM56.0-USB) isn't supported in XP.
I'd like a bare-bones OS which would provide USB connection for my
modem in the extremely rare cases of need, and a bare bones browser
to allow me to web-check my email etc. Nothing fancy, nothing big,
and I'd like to run it from a bootable CD-ROM.
I know I could partition my HDD and put(eg) Win 98 on there, but this
is overkill for my needs. Any ideas?

I don't know that specific modem, but does it work under Linux? If so, one
of the numerous Linux live distros could be your answer. Knoppix is good.
http://www.knoppix.org

Alternatively, if you require Windows 98, you might want to take a look at
http://www.heise.de/ct/english/99/11/206/

Third option, and probably the easiest one, is to get a new modem. How
expensive can it be?

 

[Conor]

Anything like this available in Freeware?
I've just installed XP, which is fine for all my needs which include DSL
internet connection. However, if my DSL connection should go down, my ISP
provides a back-up Dial-up service. Problem is my old dial-up modem (Allied
Data Tornado SFM56.0-USB) isn't supported in XP.
I'd like a bare-bones OS which would provide USB connection for my modem in
the extremely rare cases of need, and a bare bones browser to allow me to
web-check my email etc. Nothing fancy, nothing big, and I'd like to run it
from a bootable CD-ROM.
I know I could partition my HDD and put(eg) Win 98 on there, but this is
overkill for my needs. Any ideas?
TIA
KeithS

Why are you even bothering trying to get an old modem going? Too much
headache for a dirt cheap fix. THEY'RE POCKET MONEY PRICES - you can
buy them for less than £5 GBP in the UK. Go buy a cheap PCI one from
your computer shop.

 

[Imposter]

Alternatively, if you require Windows 98, you might want to take a look at
http://www.heise.de/ct/english/99/11/206/

Good, thank you

Third option, and probably the easiest one, is to get a new modem. How
expensive can it be?

Not a lot, but not likely to be needed very often, so I'm reluctant to buy
something I may rarely (never?) need.

 

[Imposter]

Go buy a cheap PCI one from
your computer shop.

See above, but I'd never use another internal modem again.
Thanks anyway.

 

[Al Klein]

That may be the way to go, any personal recommendations?

Is there a "winmodem" anywhere in the name or on the box? If there
is, it will only run under Windows, and then only under a version for
which there's a driver.

Manufacturers tried to save money by putting the smarts for their
modems on floppy, rather than in ROM, because they had to supply a
floppy anyway, so the "firmware" became free.

If not, try Knoppix or even Freesco (which can run a full linux from a
floppy). But linux is pretty much linux - it's how you set it up and
what's included that changes from distro to distro.

 

[BobbytheBrain]

Anything like this available in Freeware?
I've just installed XP, which is fine for all my needs which include DSL
internet connection. However, if my DSL connection should go down, my ISP
provides a back-up Dial-up service. Problem is my old dial-up modem (Allied
Data Tornado SFM56.0-USB) isn't supported in XP.

There are only a few companies that actually produce modem chipsets.
In your case, the SFM56.0-USB seems to utilize chips from Conexant.
So, go to their website and try their generic HCF driver. If you want
to be sure that this is the proper file, download their List Modem
Application utility first as it determines the chipset.

http://www.conexant.com/support/md_driverassistance.html

 

[Reg Edit]

That may be the way to go, any personal recommendations?
Thanks

I don't know how you value your time, but surely the time spent and
heartache involved in learning Linux, or setting up any other
'contingency plan' is more than offset by purchasing a newer modem for
your stated purpose.

Then again, some people just like to punish themselves.

 

[Imposter]

I don't know how you value your time, but surely the time spent and
heartache involved in learning Linux, or setting up any other
'contingency plan' is more than offset by purchasing a newer modem for
your stated purpose.

Then again, some people just like to punish themselves.

Hehe You're surely right there.
My modem's not supported in Linux either. I did try the Linux route some
months ago, only to find my printer and scanner were not supported either.
Found the system (Suse) fairly easy, but wasn't going to buy printer and
scanner (and now back-up dial-up modem) just to prove a point, and there
seemed to be endless updates etc.
Think I'll buy a cheapo modem