i installed a new generic modem driver from conexant website. everything was fine, until i dialled up! the problem was with the noise. i don't mind a dial up noise, but i had a constant hiss whilst on-line. i tried turning the sound slider down but to no avail. i also tried entering some initialization strings but they didn't work. what else can i do? my modem is described as a conexant soft 56k data, fax, speakerphone pci device. there was only 1 driver availiable on conexant website for win ME. i upgraded from win 98, could that be an issue. if anyone knows the init string or any other way round this, could you please help? i have used system restore to go back to my old driver. the reason i want this new driver to work, is because i don't have a driver anymore, so when i format and re-install my OS in the future, i will have a problem. thanks.

Try this: Go to START/SETTINGS/CONTROL PANEL/click MODEMS/click PROPERTIES/click CONNECTION tab/click ADVANCED button. In the EXTRA SETTINGS box type in any of the following: M0 (that's a zero) will keep the speaker off. M1 Speaker on until carrier detected M2 Speaker always on M3 Speaker on during answering only L0 (zero) Lowest speaker volume L1, L2, L3 Higher and higher volume I use: L0M1 This keeps speaker on until carrier is detected, then goes off. I also use W2 to force the reporting of modem to modem speed, instead of my modem to my computer. &D2 helps the modem to terminate the call at the end of the session. So my modem init string looks like this: L0M1W2&D2 Lower case is OK, AT is not needed in Win 9x or ME. Search for "Modem initialization string" for more info.

i tried M0 to keep it off and it didn't work. i tried a few strings but none made a difference, even after re-boot. what does this mean!!?

I too had the noise coming from my modem on my older computer and I tried everything suggested. I use Compuserve to get on the internet. I sold this computer to my buddy, who uses Earthlink to connect. Strangely, no sound from the modem when he connects. I can not explain this, but maybe it is a Compuserve (or AOL--who owns Compuserve) thing. I really don't know much about it, but this is just some insight.

you should try the shortcut to solve this problem, open the cpu case, find the modem speaker , get a toothpick and stab the speaker until its dead, it's not really a smart way, but it works anyway.

I did the M0 command and it worked!! I'm absolutely thrilled! Thanks!!