OK - thanks everyone. I'll have a go and report back B

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Doesn't work. I downloaded the exact driver specified by Everest, but still I get "PCI Communication Device" detected, and still nothing I offer is accepted. I also confirm that my Cheyenne Bitware Fax doesn't have any sound. The required files must be on the PC somewhere, as the wave device for voice modem used to be in system devices. But where??

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I can't tell if you're doing the installation correctly so I thought I'd include a little background. Generally, there's two way of installing drivers--with an .inf file or a setup program. When the item is detected with the 'new hardware found' it's going to need an .inf file to load and configure the drivers. At that point if you haven't downloaded or extracted the drivers you need to go ahead and click on 'next' or 'OK' when it's trying to find the driver. It will eventually tell you it couldn't install any drivers for the item. It will then show up in device manager as the PCI communication device and will have a yellow ? or ! associated with it. After that the 'new hardware found' box won't show on bootup because it's already been 'found' even though it's not setup properly. If the download was a compressed file it will need to be extracted either with something like winzip or, if it's an .exe file it'll be self extracting and you just need to run it. You need to pay attention to where the drivers are being extracted. In most cases you can specify a folder. You may want to choose something like c:\modem for modem drivers. In some cases winzip may automatically extract it to a folder named 'unzipped'. Then to install the drivers you would double click on the item in device manager and choose to install (or reinstall) the drivers. When it asks where to look for the drivers, browse to the folder that contains the extracted download files. The extraction may have created a few files in a single folder or it may have created sub-folders for various OS's. So if there's a 'win9X' (or something similar) you would probably find the drivers there. The wave device will have a separate .inf file but it should be located in the same place as the modem .inf file. The other way to install the drivers is if the download contained a 'setup.exe' file. On bootup you would go ahead and click OK and next when the 'new hardware found' shows and let it show in device manager. Then just run the setup program and it should install the drivers. Some driver downloads will have just an .inf type setup, some will have just setup.exe and some will have both. I've had problems in the past installing modem drivers in compaqs even when I knew they were correct. So you may be doing everything right and still have problems. If the modem originally came with the computer I'd strongly suggest you get the drivers from compaq's site.

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Thanks for that. The only thing I haven't done (because I missed your original comment) was to reinstall the modem drivers en bloc. I tried pointing windows at the modem drivers when it asked for the PCI communication device, but the modem itself was already installed. So I'll try that. I might be some time!

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If the downloaded drivers are already extracted then when the 'add new hardware' box comes up you can just browse to the driver folder the same way you would when doing it from device manager. In either case the installation is looking for the .inf file. Most of the time people don't realize they don't have the drivers until after a bootup when the box opens. Then it ends up showing in device manager as I mentioned above.

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I've done everything you suggested. No luck. The only thing I would add is that if I delete the modem windows just picks it up automatically on "refresh". How do I force it to ask for the drivers? Now I notice in Everest that two modems are indicated - the SupraExpress and also a "C-Media v.90 modem". I don't have two modems. Remember - although this might look like a registry problem, my real modem is not working properly - no sound. Plus the fact that windows IS detecting a "PCI communications device". It must be a hardware thing that really needs a driver, surely.

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When you delete it in device manager and do a refresh it's supposted to re-find the item. As part of that it should ask for a location to look for the drivers. Some computers have capability for an on-board modem. If yours does and that feature is enabled in cmos then it's possible 2 modems would show up with something like Everest. You may want to go into cmos/bios setup and see if that's the case with yours. Check in device manager and see if you have a 'modems' section already. It's possible the on-board modem (if there) is already set up. Post back the model of your compaq also. What additional info does everest give about the supra express modem?

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Well, it picks up the drivers automatically, as it still has a record of where they were before. I looked in CMOS and found "on-board modem enabled". I disabled it, so now I don't get windows asking for drivers. But still I don't have any "wave device for voice modem" - or modem sound. Is it possible I accidentally left a connector unplugged inside the PC? I did try another modem some time ago but replaced the Supra. There are a couple of very little white plugs hanging loose, like the smallest one that plugs into the back of the CD drive. They might just be spares. The modem is out of reach of them, anyway Unfotunately, I didn't take careful note of what if anything I disconnected. Do you still need the modem details? [ Diamond SupraExpress 56i Pro CW Modem ] Device Properties: Device Description Diamond SupraExpress 56i Pro CW Modem Bus Type PCI Bus / Device / Function 0 / 12 / 0 Device ID 14F1-1033 Subsystem ID 1092-0B0E Device Class 0780 (Communications Controller) Revision 08 Fast Back-to-Back Transactions Supported, Disabled Device Features: 66 MHz Operation Not Supported Bus Mastering Enabled [ C-Media V.90 Modem ] Device Properties: Device Description C-Media V.90 Modem Bus Type PCI Bus / Device / Function 0 / 13 / 1 Device ID 13F6-0211 Subsystem ID 13F6-0211 Device Class 0780 Communications Controller Revision 10 Device Features: 66 MHz Operation Not Supported Bus Mastering Disabled

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Sorry, I forgot to include this: [ System ] System Properties: Manufacturer Compaq Computer Corporation Product Compaq EX\EY\EZ Series Version 1.0 Serial Number 8016FKB60294 [ Motherboard ] Motherboard Properties: Manufacturer EliteGroup Computer System Co. Ltd. Product i440BX-W977TF Version P6BXT-A+ Serial Number 8016FKB60294

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Does the modem itself work? If you open 'modems' in control panel, click 'diagnostics', click on the modem to highlight and then click 'more info' does it give the normal response or does it give an error? I've sometimes had problems installing the serial wave driver. It's .inf file should be in the same folder as the modem drivers. I can only suggest you look there. It'll usually have the word 'wave' in the file name and then the .inf extension.

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There is a Usbwave.inf file in c:\windows\inf One of the entries in that file is: [USR] %USR.DeviceDesc%=USRVOICE, MODEMWAVE\U.S._Robotics_56k_Voice_Pro_USB But I guess it is already available. I will copy it into the modem drivers folder and see what happens. Do you know whether either of these little white plugs is relevant?

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As far as the internal connections, the supra modems vary--I've installed several. They usually don't have any connections for sound signal input. But don't randomly start connecting cables unless you're sure you're doing it right. I opened a case one time and found someone had connected one of the floppy power connections to a sound card. It was ruined of course. I've never used the modem as a sound device. I have all my sound muted because I don't like my computer making noises everytime it does something. So I'm not the person to suggest to you how any of those cables should be connected--if they're there at all. It's not uncommon to have several unconnected cables inside the case. I did have an odd occurance once trying to install the wave driver. For some reason it wouldn't take and kept showing in device manager as not having the drivers installed. Then later on I booted up and it showed to be OK in device manager even though I hadn't done anything. So, assuming you have the right driver for it, just keep trying to install it. Make sure you're having it look in the right place.

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OK, understood, and thanks very much for your help. I'll just keep trying. I also have a vague memory of something like that happening spontaneously. I need the sound on modem for my fax/recorded messages facility. I'll report back if it sorts itself out!

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I'm not sure what the 'little white plugs' are unless they're loose power connections. Are they coming from the power supply? Windows dumps all the .inf files in that windows\inf folder. Most of the files were placed there when windows was originally installed. Any hardware you added that needed it's own drivers would have its .inf file copied there when the drivers were installed. Sometimes they're in a subfolder named something like 'other'. Windows automatically searches the inf folder if it doesn't find the file it needs in the place you ask it to search. So you shouldn't need to copy that USR file to the modem folder, although I shouldn't hurt anything if you do.

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It is actually called usBwave.inf The plugs emanate from the same socket on the motherboard that the wire to the CD player comes from, and are of the same type. The tiny white one, not the ribbon or power plug. I think you have solved the problem for me. The messages were coming up because of the on-board modem. Now I see that I don't need any of this anyway. Stupid me. The fax program works without it. The reason why I was getting no sound was because the "playback messages" in the fax program were not actually messages, just files it was inviting me to make by recording my own! So what on earth does anyone need this "Wave device" for ?? Just out of interest, I am wondering whether the on-board modem could have been used instead. It is said to be a C-Media V.90 Modem. Is there a connection from it to another port, or what? Just curious.

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Let the above be a lesson to all those that think formatting is the best way to "fix" a problem. Asus A7N8X-X 1800+ @ 8.5 x 200MHz 768MB PC3200 Asus A9550 128MB/128-bit Gamer Edition WinME/WinXP Pro

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Most on-board modems need a riser card to complete the setup. Without that card (or unless your compaq has some different configuration) it's a good idea to keep it disabled in cmos. But yes, if you had all the necessary external connections for it you could use it instead of the supra. Here's some info on voice modems that describes the wave device function: http://www.modemsite.com/56k/voice.asp

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The motherboard plugs may be there to accomodate various audio inputs.

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