I have a laptop with a 386 chip. I want to get on the internet but the modem that I've got doesn't work. Is there a problem with windows 3.1 or the 386 chip running a 56k modem? If not has anyone any ideas why it doesn't work?

the high speed isp servers won't work with such an old computer. that lapper hasn't enough memory or clock sped to connect, . and, i doubt the modem in the computer is 56 k.

My knowledge is limited, but I have to disagree with the above. I have only heard of instances of a few people holding on to legacy computers (at least 286 or so), that still putter on the web with them. With the archaic web browsers, they may not view every website as intended, or open pages very fast, but it can be done. Not all websites are graphics/java intensive yet.

How recent is your modem? Most modems built within the last 4 or so years are missing a key chip that makes communications in an older DOS based system possible (minimum 16550 UART).

Does your modem specifications tell you if compatible with DOS/W3.x? If not, you`ll need to find another one that will work for that laptop. US Robotics may have 2, but since they have a UART chip onboard, they tend to be more expensive. You may see some used ones, too.

http://www.usr.com/products/laptop/p-laptop-menu.asp

yes...I agree with the above...in fact I can still dial the internet with my 286 w/lynx browser...at least I still could last time i tried

i do believe that your best bet modem-wise is to get a serial port external modem...they are pure hardware modems, no need for drivers

I also believe an external modem will be a must here.

Quite agree SkipCox an external modem is the best option, the later PCMCIA modems are the WinModem software type. Older 33.6 or 28.8 from ebay or similar if they have W3.x drivers will probably be OK though.

I would agree with the idea of an external modem, however, as funickk hints at, a 16550 UART is desired. I've had troubles with the 8250/16450 UARTS and modems (stalling), and I seriously doubt the 386 in question has the newer UART. (My 486 notebook, circa 1994, doesn't have it). I also doubt this 386 has PCMCIA slots, so you may be limited to one choice - an external serial modem, or what was common for laptops before PCMCIA became standard, a pocket modem.

I do agree that the 386 has plenty of computing power to handle 56kbps.

Good luck.

Thanks for the responses. I'm not yet convinced that I need to buy an external modem and if I did it would probably be better to junk the computer.
It does have 2 pcmcia slots and the computer does 'see' the modem and comtest confirms that it is OK. It just doesn't work! Occasionally I see a message asking that I check the baud rate. There are only two available (9600 and 18000?)which aren't 56k! Hence the question.
I'm not a techie and don't understand any technical answer. However, in struggling with this problem I am learning a little. I found a file (msd) which told me that the chip is actually a 486DX. Does that make a difference to anyone's reply?

Well, that makes more sense, then, seeing as it has PCMCIA slots, for it to be at least a 486. That being the case, you may be able to get a 56kbps PCMCIA modem for it. Make sure it supports Windows 3.1, though. I believe this would be the best solution for you; external serial modem 2nd.

Thanks for the advice C. I'm still trying!

Whats the manufacturer and type of the laptop? You can look for PCMCIA drivers for DOS/Windows 3.1x on the manufacturers site, but in general they are hard to setup.
If your harddisk is large enough it might be better to install Windows 95, since the PCMCIA support is better.....

The manufacturer is Toshiba(T2130CT) and I checked out their website first. I couldn't find any information or any means of contacting them except by conventional mail. They haven't replied and since I wrote more than 2 weeks ago I don't expect that they're going to!

I take it that this is similar to yours, and there appears to be lots of info about that laptop. I'm not sure what you're looking for at this point (I assume a modem), but I thought that link might help. Ignore the stuff about Linux if you're not interested.

Thanks CL. Where did you find this site? Toshiba UK are not interested and don't have a contact/support address.
I'm not sure that it really helps but I've not had a chance to really look at it but at least it seems that my laptop is not one of only two!
The modem that I have is a Rockwell 56k and it's still not running. I don't have any documentation but I do have a drive disc. At the moment the fax program can't even see the ports and shuts down the computer! The modem is supposed to be plug and play but all its doing at the moment is plugging! I should add that the computer sees the modem but the program doesn't(at the moment). Earlier it did see the modem but asked that I checked it (presumably to see if it was OK - I did) and then the baud rate. There are only two baud rates given: 9600 and 19200. I've tried both without success. Where do I go from here?
jon
jon

I found that site at www.linux-on-laptops.com.

Is the modem already in the PCMCIA slot, or this modem physically part of the laptop? If not in the PCMCIA slot (or you have more than one slot), stick a Windows 3.1-compatible PCMCIA card in it. Soedesk (above) has a good point, as DOS/Windows 3.1 drivers for PCMCIA can be a challenge to set up and get working reliably. The safest bet is still the external serial modem. Here are two 56k External Modems that should work, about $18 US each.

Good luck.

thanks Soedesh. the harddisk is 0.5G - I'm told that's the max that the 486 can handle because it doesn't understand Logical Block Addressing. So I guess Win 95 will fit but I'm not sure it'll work with Dos 6.22. What do you say?

This isn't Soedesh, but he's welcome to correct me. You don't need to worry if Windows 95 will work with DOS 6.22 (except compatibility with DOS files and applications, and it is, on the whole), as it contains a full disk operating system of its own (It doesn't run on top of MS-DOS 6.22). Just put the CD in (or setup diskette, if you have it, instead), go to that drive letter (D: or A:, for instance) that contains the media, and enter "setup". I've installed Windows 95 on disks smaller than that one, so disk space shouldn't be a concern. How much memory do you have in the laptop? If less than 4 meg, Windows 95 isn't going to work. If less than 16 meg, I don't think you're going to be happy with the performance. Apparently, Windows 95 OSR2 has higher minimum requirements than that, similar to Windows 98, a 16 meg minimum. So, be aware of what version of Windows 95 you are installing. Good luck.

C you just confirmed what I discovered yesterday - that Win95 and Win98 will run on a 486 machine with, preferably, 32M memory. It has 32M and I think an extension of 24M so it should run OK(?). However the problem is the modem and what software will cope with it. I try to send a fax from software with the windows (3.1) environment and get nowhere. The message given is that it can't initialise the modem, check the modem and baud rate. A modem check comes up OK. There are only two baud settings available 9600 and 19200 and I wondered whether this was the problem - that the baud rate needed by the modem couldn't be dealt with by the software, whether that was Dos or Windows. What do you think? In any case, this is why I thought that the solution might be to upgrade to a later version of Windows or Dos.

Yes, Windows 95 will work quite nicely with 32 meg of RAM. 98, on the other hand, will work, but will be slowed down due to lots of swapping, as it needs almost twice as much memory as 95 does to perform similarly.

What does this mean: "It has 32M and I think an extension of 24M". I understand the "It has 32M" part, but what is this extension thing? Are you adding more memory to the laptop?

As far as the baud rate thing is concerned, the modem should be able to work with lower speeds (although baud rate and modem speed, I believe, are actually 2 different things). I don't know whether your problem is software or hardware related. Try installing 95 (or 98 if 95 is unavailable) and see if you can get the modem to work with it.

Good luck.

CL, there is a small extension board inserted (SIM?) with 24M on it. It is in a small cavity accessed from underneath the computer, i.e. it is not a PCMCIA card or attached to any of the ports.
The problem with other operating systems is that they are available on CD and I don't have a drive! The modem seems to be OK - the computer 'sees' it and tells me it's OK. The port it uses doesn't conflict with other ports used by, say, the mouse. However, when I try to use it all I get is the message "Can't initialise the modem. Check the modem or baud rate". Any thoughts?

Oh, I see. You're saying that this laptop has a memory upgrade chip, but 24 Meg is a weird amount for one chip. Are there 2 slots, and one is 16 and the other 8? It really doesn't matter as to modem working/what os you can run. I am just curious.

The Windows 95 upgrade also came on diskettes (I believe 13 of them). I've heard there was also a diskette version of the upgrade of Windows 98, but I've never seen it.

Have you tried using DOS to access your modem, with a program such as Procomm? There are other DOS "terminal" programs out there, too. If I were you and trying to see if I can get this modem to work, I'd boot to DOS (take the "win" out of the C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT file or just don't type that in when you get the C: prompt) and go into the terminal program (run PROCOMM.EXE), changing the parameters (Alt-P if memory serves) to your modem's (ie 19200, COM3, N, 8, 1, for 19200 bps speed on COM port 3, no parity bit, 8 data bits, and 1 parity bit (change COM port to your modem's setting.) Then, save settings, and try to access the modem with the AT commands, such as ATDT3844438 (or whatever your ISP number is), or ATH to hang up. I would first enter "ATZ" and see if you get a prompt on the next line or if it hangs on that same line. If it hangs, the parameters are wrong or the modem isn't working. If it wraps around to the next line without errors, then it's working! (Alt-X to leave the program) Keep in mind that if you dial your ISP, it won't necessarily give you a PPP connection, as all Procomm is doing is dialing, not setting up PPP. I'm simply giving you this (procomm) as a diagnostic tool.

Good luck.

CL, beneath the computer is a small flap secured by two screws. Inside is a small board(card) carrying, I think, 3 chips. The label says it is 24Mb memory. It could be that this extends 8M to 32M??
As to the modem, I don't know what it requires! I bought on ebay and there is no manual etc. The baud rates (9600,19200) are the alternatives offered by the computer. I suspect these are the only rates that the software(Dos/Windows) can handle but it is possible that the modem cannot operate so slowly. Essentially that's the problem, will win98/2000 cope,or a later version of Dos? I'm convinced that the modem itself is fine.

You bought a modem without a manual or drivers? What kind of modem is this if not PCMCIA or external? Or, are you saying you bought the laptop (including the modem) without a manual?

You might be fortunate enough that in installing Windows 95/98, the modem will be detected and will include drivers for it. I don't know that Windows 2000 will even run on a 486 with 32 meg of RAM. I would NOT recommend trying to install/run that operating system.

As to the slower modem speeds: I've never seen a modem that won't run at lower rates than its max. The 9600 and 19200 thing shouldn't be a problem.

What convinces you the modem itself is fine?

Have you tried using Procomm as a diagnostic tool as I've suggested?

CL, I tried Procomm and got "Bad command...". I think the modem is OK because the comms software tests it and says it's OK - sometimes! Sometimes it says it's not there! When it thinks it's there it tells me to check the baud rate. As I said there are only two rates catered for.
The software also allows you to set up the line and the modem. The sort of stuff you talked about (parity,baud rate etc.) are given there and they are the values you suggested except for the fact that I'm using Com 2 with interrupt3.
The modem (and the computer) were bought from ebay. There is no documentation and the sellers were quite convinced that there would be no problem. The existence of comms software, and netscape navigator(icon only, the software has been removed) indicated that it has been used for fax/internet. The modem seller is quite happy to send me an alternative modem or refund the cash. I still think that there is a conflict somewhere if the win 3.1 can cope with the modem. I did find a website(www.helpdrivers.com)and although I don't know the precise modem(I don't have it with me)all those listed mention Win95 as the lowest form of OS. That seems to suggest that I may be right - I must upgrade to Win95 or change the modem. But I'm not convinced!
jon

Cl, I'm not sure whether you are cheesed off with this but perhaps you can comment on the following.
Hardware setup, Quicklink, and Cardcontrol all agree that there is a modem in COM1 with IRQ4. Hardware setup says that the memory associated with this is 03F8H. The driver disc has a program which if run says:"Socket? Port 02E8 IRQ3 Memory D000"
You'll notice that the interrupt and address are different. However, when you change them in Cardcontrol Quicklink throws a fit declaring that there are no COMS ports!
What about that!
jon

Well, the standard is that 2E8 is COM4, which is IRQ3.

As has been mentioned, DOS/Windows 3.1 drivers for PCMCIA can be quite flaky (they were on mine), and this may be your problem, although I wouldn't know since you never have specified (that I can tell) what kind of modem this is. Install 95 if you have access to it and see if you can get it to work with that modem. If not, consider yourself lucky that the prior owner is willing to refund you. Good luck.

CL, I've tried three modems so far! A Rockwell 56k, an IBM 34.4k(?) and a Dell 14.4k. The Quicklink II software tells me they are all OK but it can't initialise any of them! There seem to be several places that have port addresses - control panel/ports, hardware setup, cardware/devices,setup.ini and quicklink itself- and I've tried fiddling with these taking care to make sure they match. No success though.

CL, The model numbers of the modems I mentioned yesterday are:
FM560RK - ROCKWELL 56K
XJ2144 - DELL 14.4K
FRU 12J2785 - IBM 33.6/14.4K
I hope this helps - nothing that I do seems to work and believe me, I'm trying everything that I can think of!
jon

Are any of these modems external and serial? That's the option you are most likely to have success with. Plug it in your computer (serial port, which will be male), and simply point to the COM port (probably 1) and it should work. There ought to be no configuration issues to deal with, unless you've screwed up the serial port somehow.

I am unfamiliar with the Quicklink II software, so I don't know what it means when you say "The Quicklink II software tells me they are all OK but it can't initialise any of them!" What is it saying that makes you think it's saying they're OK, especially when it can't even initialize them?

CL, The software has a Comtest function which tests the modem. When run it tells you that there is a working modem and then identifies it and tells you where it is, say Com1. When you try to use it then you get the message "can't initialise the modem"!

All the modems I've tried are card modems. External modems are very expensive and frankly it would be cheaper to buy a laptop with one already installed and working than to acquire an external one.
jon