modem works but program doesn't dial out

So, as usual I'm working on an ancient computer for someone else... for free... I need to get a life. Anyway, the modem was dead (along with the OS, the CD/ROM, and the floppy drive, but they all got fixed). I installed a modem (Conexant RD01-D850 chipset) and the driver for it (found at Driver Guide).
The computer is an old Compaq with 88K RAM (weird I know), a small 3gb C: drive, and an empty 18gb D: drive, running Windows XP. It runs pretty fast too, once it's taken forever to boot. Anyway, from Control Panel I go to Phone and Modem, to Modems, to Properties, to Diagnostics and the computer sees the modem and communicates with it--says it's working properly, gets a response from the modem. Anyway, since I use DSL I keep a copy of "Free Juno" around just to test modems. I installed it, all went well. But Juno doesn't dial the modem. It says it's dialing the modem, but there's no sound (modem sound is unmuted), nor is there any modem-dialing or communication sounds when I pick up a phone on that line. I tried the modem on Comm Ports 1 and 3. Any thoughts?
Keith

 

I use this Modem Test program. It's free for 30 days and does a great job of testing modems. Be sure to configure it to use the same COM port that the modem uses, and be sure to have the phone cord from the wall jack plugged in to the modem. Which reminds me.... have your tried a different phone cord? Preferably a 4-lead cord instead of the more common 2-lead cord. Are you 100% sure the modem is 100% functional? Have you tried the built-in Windows XP phone dialer?

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I tried the modem test program and it worked--said my modem was working fine. How to you do the XP phone dialer? I did try different phone cables and used them on my laptop (which admittedly is Vista) with Juno. It all worked fine, although excruciatingly slow.

Juno still didn't work on the old computer. For some reason it appears that Juno is trying the wrong comm port. There doesn't seem to be any way to tell Juno what comm port to use. Hmmm. Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Keith

 

Hyper Terminal should give you a dialer. Start>All Programs>Accessories>Communications>Hyper Terminal See if you get an error or that it sees your modem and if it gets a dial tone.

 

Thanks. Hyperterminal worked, but Juno (now NetZero) still won't, altho we're making progress. Now it goes to the right comm port, just says that the modem is busy so it can't use it. The modem isn't busy... But how can I convince the software that it isn't busy?
Keith

 

Did hyperterminal find the dial tone and try to dial? Just want to amke sure you have the correct driver.

Have you tried both Juno and Netzero software? Even try something like att(worldnet). You don't have to signup you just want to see if the modem can connect to the server and download data like the signup page.

 

Yes, hyperterminal found the dial tone and dialed out. I tried both Juno and NetZero, neither worked. "Help" instructions said to change the comm port if it was reported busy, so I also changed the comm port to port 4. Now Juno doesn't see it anymore.. again.
Keith

 

Still having the same problem with this computer. It seems like Juno/NetZero can't find the right comm port. Hyperterminal works.

Keith

 

Yes, the phone jack is good. Normally a phone is plugged in there and it works fine. As stated, Hyperterminal calls out, establishes a link with the Juno phone number, gets the information it needs, etc. You can't log onto Juno or Netzero with Hyperterminal because those services will only interact with their own programs, but you can hear Hyperterminal dial and log on, and you get the modem signal when you pick up the phone. Just Juno/NetZero can't seem to find the right comm port--they can't even get a dial tone.
Keith