Anyone know of a virus that affects Win 98 and internal modems? Both me and a mate's modem have stopped being able to detect a dial tone within a few weeks of each other, although the PC still detects them ok. External modems work ok. Tried two internal modems in different slots, still no luck. Anyone help? Thanks

Have you heard of anti virus software ? AVG is free. So is fprot (dos version). Many virii effect dial up networking. You could also have a trojan. First step though is to do a virus scan.

"No Dial Tone detected" error messge on DUN when trying to connect to the ISP in two PCs in the same vicinity, based on probability, is most likely from an electrical death; either Lightning (most likely) or severe Power surge. Without knowing the complete details [Makes and Models; whether they are taken out staright from the Retail Box or picked up from 'old stock of dicards'; ALL the steps done in their installtaion etc] of the two Intenal modems that failed, it is hard to comment.

Might not work but ... try removing the modem in the Device Manager and Dial up networking in the Control Panel/Networking window. Reboot and reinstall them.

So where can you get AVG from? The two cards are standard v90 56k modems, one was already in the PC, one was borrowed from another PC. Tried both cards in all slots. Uninstalled them, re-installed them. Still no luck. The PC recognises the modems, say's they are ok, just won't dial up. Hence why I thought it was a virus!

Although it might be possible to create a software to block DUN from accessing the Internet, it seems counterintuitive to think that a virus (a malicious Computer program intented to damage functioning of as many computers as possible by spreading through the Network)would selectively block the DUN from Dialing the modem to connect to the ISP. Modem Hijacking by Spyware, on the other hand, is NOT a Virus, albeit, a real threat. It involves installation of "Dialer" programs via ActiveX controllers surruptitiously installed on the PC while surfing to high- risk sites [Example: while downloading freeware from some sites they may insert ActiveX script to vulnerable browsers like 'unprotected' Internet Explorer [where your setting accepts ActiveX freely not even giving you the usual warning about its potential abuse.]As you can see, here, the DUN works and Modem dials, but only to connect to sites you don't intend to visit! Click the following, if you want to test your current browser setting for ActiveX vulnerability: Click here for the test I will change my impression about the effect of computer virus on DUN, if documented reports are sited about creating the error " No Dial Tone". AVG used to be a freeware until a few months ago, I doubt it is still a Freeware. Regarding the 2 modems that worked in another PC but failed to work, I have some more questions for clarifications. 1. Did you Uninstall the software of the modem that gave the No Dial Tone error message through Control Panel> Add/Remove Programs or using Remove button in Modems in Control Panel or Device Manager before you physically removed it from its PCI slot and inserted the 'new' Modem from the other PC? 2. Did you Install Modem software for the second Modem(and later third)using a Disk/Disc or let Windows 98 install its drivers after the New Device Wizard detected and prompted to install the drivers for the newly detected PCI Communication Device? 3. Did you try any Modem Diagnostics using Modem Properties in Control Panel or using Hyper Terminal before trying the DUN to connect to the ISP and if so, the results please. 4. Did you try the removed "No Dial Tone" Modem in the other PC to see if it worked? 5. Did you try the second Modem back on its original PC to see if it worked?

I do get the "no dial tone", although if I tell the modem not to wait for the dial tone, it will dial as usual. (It just won't connect as it doesn't actually "pick the phone up". I removed the software from the control panel. I did this before removing and moving the card. I also tried this withou moving the card. But I always had some modem driver installed on the PC whilst moving the cards. I used the drivers from Win98 as I have no other drivers present. (I guess the driver may be corrupt?) (Is there anywhere that I can download a selection of drivers so I may take them home?) As for modem diagnostics, I am pretty sure I did them and it just came back with the no dial tone. Obviusly my PC is at home and I have to try and remember all of this until I get into work, so my apologies if things are a bit "wooly". I cannot try the modem in the other PC as it has got a motherboard fault.