Troubleshooting and Maintenance
Troubleshooting Your Computer
Corporate Evaluator’s Guide 175
If the modem doesn’t dial or no dial tone is detected
• Check all cables and connections.
• Connect a standard telephone to the phone line and make sure the line is working.
• Make sure someone else isn’t using the same phone line.
• Try another telephone line, preferably one normally used for a fax machine or
modem.
• If you’re in a foreign country, the dial tone may not be recognized by the modem. In
Control Panel, open Modems (Windows 98) or Phone and Modem Options
(Windows 2000 or XP), and try disabling the option that waits for a dial tone.
If the modem dials incorrectly
• Check the telephone number you entered, including any digits required for outside
access or long distance.
• In Control Panel, open Modems (Windows 98) or Phone and Modem Options
(Windows 2000 or XP). Check the dialing options—look for duplicate digits for
outside access or long distance.
• Make sure the number you’re calling isn’t busy.
• If you’re in a foreign country, the dial tone may not be recognized by the modem. In
Control Panel, open Modems (Windows 98) or Phone and Modem Options
(Windows 2000 or XP). Try disabling the option that waits for a dial tone.
• If you have call-waiting, disable it—your telephone company can provide
instructions.
If the modem dials but doesn’t connect
• Make sure you’re using an analog telephone line. You must not use a digital line. In a
hotel, ask for a data line.
• Try another telephone line, preferably one normally used for a fax machine or
modem.
• The modem at the other end may have a problem. Try dialing to a different modem.
• Try disabling error correction and data compression.
If the modem isn’t detected
• Check the modem setup. In Control Panel, open Modems (Windows 98) or Phone and
Modem Options (Windows 2000 or XP). Check the COM port.
