Where to Obtain Drivers when Mfr Website has none?  

Hi, It looks like I need some drivers for my internal 56K dialup modem, since my Windows 7 doesn't have them. It's an old modem and needs the old drivers, I guess. Since it is an Askey Computer Corporation modem, I searched for a download from the Askey website. They don't even mention downloads. So I will have to deviate from the prime directive of only downloading drivers from the mfr website! I see there are a bunch of websites that say they have what I need, including model number, fcc number, Askey brand name and everything. Websites like modemdriver.com, driverguide.com, nodevice.com, modem-drivers.com, driverzone.com, download.cnet.com and more. Is one of these sites better than the others? Will I be taking a chance of getting bloatware or worse in the download? I would think CNET would be the safest site. Opinions, advice? Thanks

Hi Byzantine,
INCORRECT
MS does have W7 drivers for Askey modems see screenshot,
it only shows some of them
device manager > modem > update driver >> browse >> let me pick choose >> uncheck show compatible hardware.

take your pick

Roy

Torchwood. You rule! Yes, I found a matching model number of my Askey modem in the device manager list. DM had a 7 digit model number which matched the first 7 digits of my 9 digit model number, so I assumed my last 2 digits would be OK. DM only had the first 7, not the whole 9. So I went ahead and clicked on that model number and "install new modem", but then DM gave me a warning that updating the driver might render my pc unusable (didn't say permanently bricked or just unusable until next reboot) since Windows cannot verify that the the driver is compatible with the hardware!! So at that point I canceled out. There were also some generic options like "56K voice data fax modem" but didn't try them yet.

Another thing. When I installed the actual physical modem, it set up in Device Manager as PCI Simple Communications Controller with exclamation point next to it. I then let Wizard install the modem as legacy hardware, and now have a modem entry in DM (even though not working). Can I ignore the PCI Simple Communications Controller entry or do I need to uninstall it, or maybe even try to install drivers for it? Thanks

Hi Byzantine,
Now that you have installed the Modem, even thou its Legacy, is it actually showing as having drivers, or code 28, (no drivers installed).
If the drivers are showing as installed,
run the network troubleshooter
Otherwise were going to need to get the pci drivers from your motherboard CD.

Roy

Torchwood, Greetings, Yes, as soon as I installed the modem, I got a code 28 for drivers not found, and got the entry added to Device Manager for PCI Simple Comm Controller in "Other Devices", not "modem". So the code 28 is under PCI Simple Com Controller. The Wizard let me add the legacy modem, supposedly, so I then had a "modem" entry appear in DM. Clicking around under "modem" says all is well, device is functioning properly, and yes, it has 2 driver files listed: system32\ drivers\modem.sys and system32\drivers\RootMdm.sys. But when clicking on query modem in diagnostic panel, I get aerror msg "modem failed to respond, etc". No code 28 under modems, but yes, a code 28 under PCI Simple Comm Controller. Going into Network Troubleshooting I get something about a network adapter lacking drivers. There used to be a network adapter listed by DM but it disappeared somehow. I don't think the modem needs a network adapter, though, right?

Just noticed something else. Troubleshooting in Hardware and Devices wants me to click to add a driver for PCI Simple Communications device. I haven't done it yet since somewhere else DM says it does not need a driver.