My XP is behaving .... differently...

[sparrow18]

Guys, I'm using XP, on an ATX computer along with a external modem. Everytime I shut down my computer, it'll do the normal procedure and turn the computer off by itself. But now it boot to a screen where I could see "It's now safe to turn off your computer". Earlier i could shutdown the computer, but now, i have to manually shut down the power, what is actually wrong ???
Another thing is, everytime I wanted to online, I MUST switch on the modem before loading windows or else it'll detect the modem as "not present" and therefore couldn't dial the ISP. This is also another strange thing going on cause earlier i could always switch on the modem after windows booted, but now...... does this gotta do with the 'administrator' logon ?

Help would be appreatiated.


Andrew

 

[sparrow18]

updating forum..

 

[sparrow18]

tdas 2 : THANX, your suggestion fixed the "it's now safe to turn off your monitor" problem !!!!

but the other problem still exist, the modem still have to be switch on FIRST before logging into windows XP or else it wouldn't detect it !!!
Anyone could help with this problem ???

 

[dahunan]

Originally posted by: sparrow18
tdas 2 : THANX, your suggestion fixed the "it's now safe to turn off your monitor" problem !!!!

but the other problem still exist, the modem still have to be switch on FIRST before logging into windows XP or else it wouldn't detect it !!!
Anyone could help with this problem ???

Because the modem is externally powered it has to be on for the operating system to detect it.

Something I like about 2000/XP is you can disable the port it is connected to and then re-enable it instead of restarting the whole system.

 

[sparrow18]

dahunan : i c, i have some question still, why winXP have to initialize the modem this way??? I remember for win98SE, once installed the driver, it'll always be there, you could switch on the modem at the very last minute and it'll still be detected, but not for winXP ??? Is this something to do with the hardware profile or something ?

 

[igiveup]

Every time you reboot your computer Windows XP or 2000 for that matter, will scan the computer for new devices. I wouldn't count 98 as being that great.

Because your modem is external, and more than likely connected via Serial port, these are only scanned (initialized) on bootup. If its not powered on and connected at bootup it won't detect it.

Read the Installing Modems Overview in XP's Help and Support section under the full text search matches. Should be number 6. Specifically search on "external modem".

To be a little bit more of a help, the only thing that I can think of to make your computer rescan if you want to turn it on later (for whatever reason. Why not just leave it on?) you can go into computer management and under Device Manager you can scan for changes in hardware.

Right click on My Computer and choose manage. Click on Device manager and then right click on the computername you have given your computer at the top of your device list on the right. Choose the only option there, Scan for hardware changes. This might recognize your modem when its switched on.

 

[sparrow18]

igiveup : Thanx for your info, just for your info, previously I was dual OS with 98 and XP, and dunno for what reason, XP could detect the modem even if it was switched off during the boot sequence. I was just curious.

And the reason i turn it off everytime is because my area here is prone to lightning, (2 of my friends encounter this disaster) and although I have a lightning surge protector, still i have to replace it if anything happened and i was trying to be preventive.


Thanx again.

 

[igiveup]

Switching it on and off won't help that. I had a PG&E (power company here in California) guy work on power for our apartment complex. Somehow he doubled the amount of power that was supposed to flow. For some reason the breaker didn't trip fast enough and even though my computer and other gear was behind an APC 8T2 surge supressor, it still blew out my cablemodem and my speakers. I am still trying to get reimbursed. I don't know about lightning, but if PG&E can fubar my stuff I would hate so see what lightning could do.

 

[sparrow18]

igiveup : LOL, I'll try to remember that. Seeing that you have proof, I'll just leave the modem on next time but disconnect the phone line....... that would've reduce the probability by half