Broadband/Win ME problem

Is anyone aware of any issue with installing an adsl modem and running
broadband (I believe Wanadoo) on a computer running Win ME? I believe it
would be the modem supplied by Wanadoo.
Below is part of an email from a friend who is experiencing problems of Win
Me crashing :-

"Considering that I had a new telephone point sited near the computer,
together with your comments of the PC World's suggestion being 'iffy', I
reloaded the broadband modem again and guess what? It kicked the computer
into touch again.

My computer repair man sorted out the problem for me [again] after which he
loaded the broadband modem hardware for me. Guess what, it kicked the
computer into touch once again. Maybe PC World have got it right.

No more broadband for me, pity, but better a computer that works without
than one that doesn't with."



PC World had told him there were 'bugs in ME that created problems with
Broadband use' and wanted to sell him a new computer!

I haven't been able to 'speak' with friend yet to get any more details.

I know his comments are somewhat less than technical, but until I can speak
with him and find out things like 'what exactly happened' and what did his
'computer repair man have to say', I would appreciate any help.



dfrog

On Mon, 31 May 2004 11:52:40 +0100, "dfrog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Below is part of an email from a friend who is experiencing problems of Win
>Me crashing :-

Windows ME is famous for crashing for little or no reason at all...
>
>"Considering that I had a new telephone point sited near the computer,
>together with your comments of the PC World's suggestion being 'iffy', I
>reloaded the broadband modem again and guess what? It kicked the computer
>into touch again.
>
>My computer repair man sorted out the problem for me [again] after which he
>loaded the broadband modem hardware for me. Guess what, it kicked the
>computer into touch once again. Maybe PC World have got it right.

Broadband modems have two main problems, as I understand it.

1) they put a big power drain on the USB port, which can cause
crashing - especially if the computer's not up to it
2) as I understand it they offload a lot of the processing to the
computer, slowing it down and making it more unstable.

I would suggest one or all of the following:

1) changing Windows version. "Down"grading to Windows 98 (more stable,
at least with the patches, though horribly out of date) or upgrading
to Windows 2000 if the computer will run it well.

2) getting a router, which has its own power supply and does its own
processing.

Cheers

Doug
--
King Queen - Remove .lartsspammers to reply. http://www.kingqueen.org.uk
"Advertising is the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket" George Orwell

"King Queen" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Mon, 31 May 2004 11:52:40 +0100, "dfrog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >Below is part of an email from a friend who is experiencing problems of
Win
> >Me crashing :-
>
> Windows ME is famous for crashing for little or no reason at all...
> >
> >"Considering that I had a new telephone point sited near the computer,
> >together with your comments of the PC World's suggestion being 'iffy', I
> >reloaded the broadband modem again and guess what? It kicked the computer
> >into touch again.
> >
> >My computer repair man sorted out the problem for me [again] after which
he
> >loaded the broadband modem hardware for me. Guess what, it kicked the
> >computer into touch once again. Maybe PC World have got it right.
>
> Broadband modems have two main problems, as I understand it.
>
> 1) they put a big power drain on the USB port, which can cause
> crashing - especially if the computer's not up to it
> 2) as I understand it they offload a lot of the processing to the
> computer, slowing it down and making it more unstable.
>
> I would suggest one or all of the following:
>
> 1) changing Windows version. "Down"grading to Windows 98 (more stable,
> at least with the patches, though horribly out of date) or upgrading
> to Windows 2000 if the computer will run it well.
>
> 2) getting a router, which has its own power supply and does its own
> processing.
>
> Cheers
>
> Doug
> --
> King Queen - Remove .lartsspammers to reply. http://www.kingqueen.org.uk
> "Advertising is the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket" George Orwell

Doug--------------thanks for your very quick response.
I'll endeavour to let you know when we fix it
Thanks again
dfrog

I used my old PC which has Windows ME installed for a while after having
ADSL installed last summer. I bought a router which has USB & Ethernet
connections,the USB was unstable even though the router is self powered
---- I changed over to Ethernet and it worked fine.
I suggest that an Ethernet router and an Ethernet PCI card is the way to
go. I'm still using Ethernet with my new PC, it's quite common to see
messages from people with USB modem problems & one school of thought is
that USB is OK for connections for brief downloads from cameras etc, but
not reliable enough for an always on Internet connection.

"dfrog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Is anyone aware of any issue with installing an adsl modem and running
> broadband (I believe Wanadoo) on a computer running Win ME? I believe it
> would be the modem supplied by Wanadoo.

If its the Alcatel USB modem - try using the latest drivers.

One of the earlier versions used to cause a BSOD in WinME..

Regards
Sunil

"john" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:c9fee0$mgp$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I used my old PC which has Windows ME installed for a while after having
> ADSL installed last summer. I bought a router which has USB & Ethernet
> connections,the USB was unstable even though the router is self powered
> ---- I changed over to Ethernet and it worked fine.
> I suggest that an Ethernet router and an Ethernet PCI card is the way to
> go. I'm still using Ethernet with my new PC, it's quite common to see
> messages from people with USB modem problems & one school of thought is
> that USB is OK for connections for brief downloads from cameras etc, but
> not reliable enough for an always on Internet connection.

Thanks John

dfrog

"Sunil Sood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "dfrog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Is anyone aware of any issue with installing an adsl modem and running
> > broadband (I believe Wanadoo) on a computer running Win ME? I believe it
> > would be the modem supplied by Wanadoo.
>
> If its the Alcatel USB modem - try using the latest drivers.
>
> One of the earlier versions used to cause a BSOD in WinME..
>
> Regards
> Sunil
>
>

Thank you Sunil

dfrog

I ran Me and a PCI BB modem without problems.

RobertJM

"dfrog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Sunil Sood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > "dfrog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > Is anyone aware of any issue with installing an adsl modem and running
> > > broadband (I believe Wanadoo) on a computer running Win ME? I believe
it
> > > would be the modem supplied by Wanadoo.
> >
> > If its the Alcatel USB modem - try using the latest drivers.
> >
> > One of the earlier versions used to cause a BSOD in WinME..
> >
> > Regards
> > Sunil
> >
> >
>
> Thank you Sunil
>
> dfrog
>
>

"dfrog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Is anyone aware of any issue with installing an adsl modem and running
> broadband (I believe Wanadoo) on a computer running Win ME? I believe it
> would be the modem supplied by Wanadoo.
> Below is part of an email from a friend who is experiencing problems of
Win
> Me crashing :-
>
> "Considering that I had a new telephone point sited near the computer,
> together with your comments of the PC World's suggestion being 'iffy', I
> reloaded the broadband modem again and guess what? It kicked the computer
> into touch again.
>
> My computer repair man sorted out the problem for me [again] after which
he
> loaded the broadband modem hardware for me. Guess what, it kicked the
> computer into touch once again. Maybe PC World have got it right.
>
> No more broadband for me, pity, but better a computer that works without
> than one that doesn't with."
>
>
>
> PC World had told him there were 'bugs in ME that created problems with
> Broadband use' and wanted to sell him a new computer!
>
> I haven't been able to 'speak' with friend yet to get any more details.
>
> I know his comments are somewhat less than technical, but until I can
speak
> with him and find out things like 'what exactly happened' and what did his
> 'computer repair man have to say', I would appreciate any help.
>
>
>
> dfrog
>
>
>
>

Some older motherboards (VIA in particular) have problems providing power to
USB devices. This can cause lots of problems up and including computer
crashes.

If your friend's PC is a few years old (using WinME would suggest this),
then connecting a USB modem via a powered hub is often recommended. This
releives the motherboard USB port from the load of having to power any
devices.

WinME can have a few problems networking, (I've just upgraded my desktop
from ME to XP Pro and also have ME on a networked laptop) but should be OK
for BB.


--
Antony Colwood

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Antony Colwood <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> "dfrog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Is anyone aware of any issue with installing an adsl modem and
>> running broadband (I believe Wanadoo) on a computer running Win ME?
>> I believe it would be the modem supplied by Wanadoo.
>> Below is part of an email from a friend who is experiencing problems
>> of Win Me crashing :-
>>
>> "Considering that I had a new telephone point sited near the
>> computer, together with your comments of the PC World's suggestion
>> being 'iffy', I reloaded the broadband modem again and guess what?
>> It kicked the computer into touch again.
>>
>> My computer repair man sorted out the problem for me [again] after
>> which he loaded the broadband modem hardware for me. Guess what, it
>> kicked the computer into touch once again. Maybe PC World have got
>> it right.
>>
>> No more broadband for me, pity, but better a computer that works
>> without than one that doesn't with."
>>
>>
>>
>> PC World had told him there were 'bugs in ME that created problems
>> with Broadband use' and wanted to sell him a new computer!
>>
>> I haven't been able to 'speak' with friend yet to get any more
>> details.
>>
>> I know his comments are somewhat less than technical, but until I
>> can speak with him and find out things like 'what exactly happened'
>> and what did his 'computer repair man have to say', I would
>> appreciate any help.
>>
>>
>>
>> dfrog
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> Some older motherboards (VIA in particular) have problems providing
> power to USB devices. This can cause lots of problems up and
> including computer crashes.
>
> If your friend's PC is a few years old (using WinME would suggest
> this), then connecting a USB modem via a powered hub is often
> recommended. This releives the motherboard USB port from the load of
> having to power any devices.
>
> WinME can have a few problems networking, (I've just upgraded my
> desktop from ME to XP Pro and also have ME on a networked laptop) but
> should be OK for BB.

If it *is* a USB modem, it is the likely cause of the problem. You could try
replacing it with an internal ADSL (PCI) modem - which you can get from the
likes of Dabs for about 20 quid.

Better still, connect using an ADSL router - which physically connects to
the PC via a network port.

--
Cheers,
Tim
______
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