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General discussion

Fax modem stopped working

Jan 25, 2006 7:08PM PST

I have a motorola SM56 fax modem that used to send faxes fine. I don't use it that often so I don't know when it stopped working. When trying to send a fax now through mighty fax it says modem not configured correctly. I tried other fax programs that said there was a problem with the modem. Device manager says the modem is working properly and it queries it with success. Mighty fax has a button to test the modem and it says it works fine. I don't believe there's a problem with the phone line as I plugged the modem directly into the wall and connected the phone into the modem. The phone works fine. I tried this program called modem doctor which gives various error messages. It says the modem is not connected or turned on and the driver is not windows compatible. These don't seem to make sense as winxp in device manager sees the modem. I tried different initialization strings that didn't make any difference. I've uninstalled and reinstalled the modem as well as reinstalling the driver with no success. I've totally run out of ideas. Help!

Discussion is locked

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Check config again....
Jan 25, 2006 9:00PM PST

Make sure the fax side is setup to direct itself to the COMport that the modem is setup as plus under its config give it more time to connect. They can vary if they don't match. If you can access the www via the modem w/o problems then it seems the modem h/w is OK, but also this is a s/w driven modem. However, the fax side is 100% s/w driven and accesses a portion of the modem that's a step-up from the modem usage. The extra set-up config maybe hosed as this modem is wholly dependant on s/w to drive it. If none of this works, uninstall the modem again, shutdownm system, move modem card to another open slot and re-install again. if it works then, OK, if not, then get another modem card. The hassle is too great for the low expense of a typical modem. You can try newer(if available) drivers for the SM56, google for them just be sure its for that model modem.

tada -----Willy Happy

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problem solved
Jan 27, 2006 10:50AM PST

I bought an external usb modem from compusa for $39 and it works perfectly. Obviously the old modem got borked somehow. I guess like in life if something isn't used much it stops working. (Any innuendoed pun intended Happy)