Need help on older laptop

[Tanked]

I have a IBM Thinkpad 755CE laptop that has a problem connecting to the internet with dialup. It works just fine with the DSL software, but I can never get a dialtone.

Yes, the computer is plugged in.
Yes, the computer is turned on.
Yes, the phone line is connected and the phone jack and the cable is okay.
Yes, the drivers are installed (and Windows reports it as working properly).

That's about all of the support I found on the internet so far, and it's beginning to drive me crazy. I also tried connecting with a PCMCIA 28.8 modem and I get the exact same problem. Here are the complete system specs:

Intel 486-DX4 100
10.4" 16-bit TFT display
24 MB RAM
540 MB Hard Disk
New Ni-MH battery
Internal 33.6 Modem, "MWAVE" controlled
Internal Soundcard, "MWAVE" controlled
Megahertz 28.8 PCMCIA modem
D-Link 10 megabit ISA card (In Dock)
Windows 95B

If anyone can help me with this, it'd be greatly appreciated...I have been working on this for a long time now with no luck.
Thanks

 

[neuralfx]

what does it say in Control Panel under Modems, when you run the "diagnostics" .. also if your in win9x do a ctrl-alt-del and get rid of any programs running in there besides systray and explorerer .. especially if you see a program called Rnaap .. then try to run Phone dialer, and dialer ur cell phone or whatever ..
-neural

 

[Tanked]

Ok, I ran the diagnostics, and it reports that the modem is working.
I also tried the phone dialer, and this is what it says:

"The selected line or address is in use by another program or device on the line. Your call can not be placed at this time."

=(

 

[neuralfx]

Ok, thats your problem, did you check to see what was running in the background? try turning of everything except systray and explorer .. even turn off your pc card monitoring software ..
-neural

 

[bacillus]

do you have any services on the phoneline like call waiting,etc...............

 

[Gunbuster]

The Mwave software is a beast, a full OEM restore is the best chance for fixing it


Edit: run the restore CD

 

[Tanked]

No, I don't have any services...
When you say "A full OEM restoration", do you mean taking it to IBM, or is there some complete overhaul software?

 

[Tanked]

Neural: I closed everything except SysTray and Explorer and it still doesn't work, but there is a plethora of other hidden applications running (as seen through the SiSoft monitor).

 

[neuralfx]

modems are a pain, I still wonder if something is running that is causing it. Yes the mwave software is a pain, actaully all modem software are a pain. The full OEM restore means to take ur IBM thinkpad restore disk and use it, which well might fix the problem. Another thing, when you go into control panel>modems, how many modems do you see? go ahead and remove all modems there, and in device manager if any still exist, then install the software for your modem again. Ok, then when you run phone dialer again, go in the "Tools" drop down menu, and select "connect using", make sure your modem is listed there. Well hope this helps ..
-neural

 

[OpalFrost98GT]

Try installing msconfig.exe. Check it out here--->]Link


Clean boot troubleshooting article----->Link

This article pertains to Win98 but applies top 95 as well....

 

[Tanked]

Hmm, a full OEM reinstall might be a problem since I bought this thing used off ebay... =(

 

[Tanked]

Well, thanks for the help guys...any ideas where to get the restoration disk files? This is about the last thing i'm going to try before giving up completely...

 

Had the same problem with my Laptop. The problem was in control panel/Network there were 3 identical modem strings.Removed them all then re-booted and everything was fixed. Don't know if this is the case with yours but its worth a look.

 

[jschuk]

Make sure you are plugging a filtered phoneline into the modem since you have DSL. Your DSL modem should have a line out that filters out the DSL signal (which could cause problems getting a dialtone). Also, when you are dialing out, make sure you have the right modem selected (since you are using multiple modems).

 

[OpalFrost98GT]

Did you try the msconfig utility to turn off those hidden applications that are running in the background?