Hi,

This is my first time posting...so go easy on me please.

I am helping a friend with her computer...and I'm quite proficient with computers but am very stumped here!

My friend uses AOL and has version 9.0. O/S is WinXP Pro..SP2.
She has no problem connecting to the internet, but if she signs off and then decides to go back on, she can't without rebooting the system. The modem com port is staying open.
I've tried updating the driver, no change in performance. Same problem keeps happening. Tried looking up init string settings....doesn't seem to be the prob either.
Her modem is a PCTEL Platinum V90....
Any idea how to make sure the com port closes without having to reboot? Why the heck is this happening? AOL says it's not their software...go figure..
Any/all help would be muchly appreciated!!!

Red

Hello and welcome to PCHF (please read the rules about sending messages to staff)

Have you tried assigning a different port to the modem yet?

Hi Hengis,

Yes, I've tried reassigning the com port from 3 to 1..didn't work at all so I had to go back to 3..I haven't uninstalled the modem yet..and reinstalled...should I maybe do that? Thing is, I just wiped this computer 2 days ago and reinstalled all the software, so I don't think that is the issue. This problem has been ongoing for about a year now.

Red

Ahhh...sorry, I assumed you had un-installed and re-installed...yes, by all means do this! Don't forget to make a note of the dialup settings before doing it

...a YEAR!! Have you suspected the modem yet???

I do suspect the modem...but wasn't asked to fix this till just the other day..I wasn't aware until then. My friend has been having the issue for a long time though..yes, almost a year.
She just mentioned something else, when she's signed on to AOL and is 'inactive' and AOL drops the connection, she's able to reconnect no problem (without rebooting) But..if she 'signs off' and goes to sign on again, she recieves an error and has to reboot to get connected again.
Royal pain..

BTW..I've read the rules now...and I apologise for not reading them before sending my email.

Kind Regards,

Red

My advice, try another modem my friend - it could be the problem all along

that happens to me, i sometimes disconnect soon after connecting (speed to low) and I sometimes have to reboot, I think it's a modem thing.