Where to Obtain Drivers when Mfr Website has none?

[byzantine]

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

 

[fireberd]

Cnet requires installing their software and still can have bloatware.
Might be better off buying a new model that comes with Win 7 drivers.

Most of the driver sites will list what they tell you is out of date and that they have the drivers but that is not always the case and in all of those sites I've seen you have to pay for their drivers.

 

[torchwood]

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

 

[RoasterMen]

Nice to see someone using 56k modem. Ever since I was 9 years old I wanted to experience how fast can such internet connection keep up with today's standards.

 

[cornemuse]

Nice to see someone using 56k modem. Ever since I was 9 years old I wanted to experience how fast can such internet connection keep up with today's standards.

My 1st modem was a 'Practical Peripherals' 14.4, a real rocket, , ,

-c-

 

[byzantine]

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.

 

[byzantine]

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

 

[torchwood]

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

 

[byzantine]

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?

 

[byzantine]

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.

 

[torchwood]

please ADD the PCI drivers.
Never used a modem,
Maybe the other boys can comfirm the correct set-up, modem>>cable>>PC ??

Roy

 

[byzantine]

I just tried to add drivers for the PCI Simple Communications Controller. I actually had to click on Modems again, and it pointed me to the same driver options, and gave me the same warning that the system may become unusable if I install them. Where is the nearest tall cliff?. I want to jump off.

 

[torchwood]

Create a sytem restore point
Then jump off the cliff after you install the drivers, IGNORE the warning

Roy

PS if the water is nice and warm tell me where it is and i'll join you

 

[byzantine]

OK! I thought maybe someone would tell me to throw the old modem off the cliff. Will create restore point and hope that doesn't cause it's own problems somehow. Ha Ha!

 

[byzantine]

I ignored the warning and clicked on *yes* to install the the askey driver for the PCI Simple Communications Device. Then immediately got an error msg saying "Windows found driver software for your device but encountered an error while attempting to install it. The device cannot start (Code 10)". The PCI Simple Comm entry has disappeared from DM, and I have a new entry in Modems. But no Diagnostics tab and no Advanced tab to click on. The location of the device is stated as PCI bus 0 device 15, function 0. What now?

 

[byzantine]

A scary thing happened. The next day after I installed the modem driver, I tried to start the computer and nothing happened. Dead, as in bricked. There had been a lightning storm overnight. I have a surge protector, but who knows, right? I then unplugged the PC and held the power button in for about 10 seconds. Then plugged it back in, pushed power button, and thank God, the red light came on on the tower, but nothing on the screen! I then pushed in a vertical button under the regular power button and the green light came on. Still no screen! I think I then held the power button down until it shut off, unplugged the pc again, then plugged it back in, finally got a screen to show up. It said something about having been shut down improperly starting in safe mode vs starting windows normally, and I chose to start windows normally. I hopped over to device manager and uninstalled the modem, which uninstalled just fine. Shut down, booted up again, and the thing is working OK!! I thought I had possibly bricked my computer with the modem drivers. I didn't have to go back to a Restore point. Just uninstalling the drivers seems to have fixed it. But now I'm paranoid! Maybe buying a newer PCI modem that comes with windows 7 drivers is the way to go? I heard that USB modems had more problems than PCI internal modems. Thanks