I had a modem that would not dial-up, it would attempt to connect but could not detect a dial tone even though the line was fine and the modem appeared to be fine in the device manager, latest drivers, etc... so I replaced the modem with one from another machine that i had and this one worked perfectly. I assumed then that it must be the modem that was broken so i purchased a new one to solve the problem. I installed the new modem and it crashed the computer, blue screen, fatal errors, nightmare....... I formatted my harddrive and reinstalled 98 and eventually got the modem installed. I set up a new internet connection and when a tried to connect i got the following message Dialing..... Unable to establish a connection. It didnt get an error message or error number and i could not hear any handshaking sounds (squeeks n bleeps). I checked the device manager and it says: This device is working correctly. The username and password are correct but its not even getting that far. Another point to note is that, I have two computers connected to the internet and i connect them with a double jack so i dont have to constantly keep plugging the one phone cable in and out. a bit like below. phoneline - comp1 - double jack - comp2 Comp2 can only connect to the internet if the double jack is connected to comp1. I basically have another computer connected instead of a phone but if i replace comp1 with the computer that is unable to establish a connection, comp2 will not connect. It gives me back, no dial tone available. Help, please help, dont know what else to try. Ive had a look on the forum n tried a few things from there but still no joy. Thanx in advance Ive tried to include as much info as possible but if ya need more just ask, thanx again

Please accept that any problem with your description is probably temporary brain failure on my part (getting late/early here in UK). Can you confirm that if you plug the rogue computer into the phone jack all on its ownsome lonesome that it still refuses to connect? Derek.W

Yea tried a couple of different connection setups to get comp2 workin but if i plug the phone jack directly into the rogue computer i still refuses to connect????

Hi Craig, You're on the right track. For now, leave it connected directly. Sort out the splitter later. You seem to know what to look & listen for. You say there's no handshake. Way before that: Does it go off hook? Do you hear dial tone? Does it dial? Pulse or tone? Does it 'break dial'? Does the dialed number answer? Does the number answered have a modem? M2

1. Not sure what off hook means? 2. I can not hear a dial tone 3. the computer says Dialing.... Unable to establish a connection but i dont hear any number being dialed 4. The phone is tone dial and presume the modem would be set up as tone dialing as default but dont know how to check. 5. I think break dial means you have a dial tone but are unable to break out of the dial tone to dial the number (not even a dial tone) 6. No number being dialed so cant get an answer 7. The number dialed does have a modem cos the same connection settings (ie number dialed, etc...) work with the other computers cheers craig

Off hook means looping the line and making a connection. Calling would be another name for it - like picking up an old style phone. To set tone dialing, go to Control Panel/Modems /General. Hit Dialing Properties button and set it there. Break dial means to break (or disconnect) the line. In pulse dialing you use a series of breaks - 10 impulses per second. Tone dialing keeps line looped and sends tones instead. Sometimes you can tell quite a bit by lifting phone and listening during various parts of the process. Check speaker volume is set to max in Control Panel/Modems/Properties button. Derek.W

Cheers guys, its working at last, changed it to pulse dialing and put in the area code and its working. Thanks a bunch for all the help, its often something simple in the end. Thanks again Happy Craig