Major issues this week as you can see.

Somehow my computer is detecting hardware (a PC card and a new modem) that I didn't install. It detects it once I turn on my computer and then my "old" modem doesn't work, and neither does the new one. In fact it doesn't detect my "old" modem at all. In the modems window it says "not present".

I had this happen last week also, did a system restore and everything was working fine until last night when it happened again. I did another system restore and that is how I got online. I can't keep doing system restores to get online as I am losing software that I installed that I really need every time I do one.

Does anyone know how to fix this problem?

P.S. I am running a virus scan right now, just to make sure it's not a virus.

My recommendation:

(Right Click My Computer -> Properties (9X) or Manage (2000/XP)
1. Go to the Device Manager
2. Right click any of the non-existant "New Hardware"
3. Select "Properites"
4. Click Disable
5. Do that for all of the hardware. ;)
6. Shut Down the Computer.

(If you can)
1. Open the box, and remove any, and all PCI hardware (such as modems, Etc..)
2. Then turn on the computer
3. This should refresh your CMOS, and clear any of that "Non Existant" hardware.
4. Now Shut It Down, and install all of the hardware back.
5. Turn Back On The Computer
6. Now, if you can do a "System Restore"
7. Otherwise, just let windows load, and it will resore all of the drivers for your real hardware. :)

Can you go to your 'My Computer' then 'Control Panel' and then 'Add/Delete Programs' and see if there is something there that might have automatically downloaded itself?

I had to do just that this morning, but, my son did add something I didn't want. A window popped up and I was able to delete it pretty easily. Almost too easily and I had to be very careful not to delete something I wanted!!

Good Luck, HB! It sounds like it might be a virus, maybe, as I had an issue like that last year.

Thanks MM. Next time this happens I will try that.

What seems to happen is that once the new (non-existant) hardware is dected the old (and present) hardware stops working.

Stupid comptuer!

It's doing it again! :(

Last night, after an evening of productive Padding I shut down. Later I had to restart to come back on for something and the "new" modem was detected. Doing with MM suggested I disabled it and the old modem still wouldn't work. I had to do a system restore.

I can't figure this out!

I had disabled the install of this driver thing, maybe it got installed somehow, I will have to check when the window pops up again.

:confused: This is frustrating :(

I was able to do a system restore and a few days later it came up again... :(

Ok, calm down. It doesn't sound life threating....yet. ;)

What Model/OS is your Computer?

It could be that the driver is corrupt....

If that new modem is still there, do this:

1. Click Start -> [Settings] -> Control Panel
2. Go to "Modems" (Phone & Modem Options in XP)
3. Now, go to the "Modems" tab.
4. Now, look here. There should be the current Modems listed.
5. Take the "new" non-existant modem, select it, and hit "Remove".
6. Restart.

If it comes back, tell me. :)

If, not, a visit might be in order. This has me really confused, and that doesn't happen often. ;)

Okay, I think I may know what the promblem is. First off, what does Windows name both of the Modems? (For instance, mine is named "Generic SoftK56") Secondly, I am assuming you have a laptop. Is this correct? Finally, Do you, by any chance, have a network card installed, or do you not use your modem and connect through either a USB or Ethernet high speed connection (aka DSL or Cable?)?

BTW: You could also try reseating your BIOS. To do this, open up your computer, look for a tiny battery (a flat and round one), take it out and leave it our for an hour or two. Then put it back in (make sure your put it so that the face that was on top before you took it out is still on top!) and restart your computer. Don't worry, no info is lost except for your BIOS settings (they will return to the way they came with your computer).

MM,

I have done the remove, the disable, everything you have suggested with the "new non existant modem". The problem is this: once the "new non existant modem" is detected, the "old actual modem" doesn't work anymore. The "new" modem which doesn't exist disables the "old" modem. :(

I think the actual problem is Windows is downloading a new modem somehow via Windows update. Last time this happened I didn't allow the specific download to happen. Somehow it got downloaded.

I am running Windows XP, HP Pavillion.

I can't call HP tech support, they want lots of money to help me and well, I am flat broke :(

DF,

The comptuer names one Lucent Modem 1 and Lucent Modem 2. One is on Com 5 and the other is not dected. The one that isn't detected is the one I need to get online.

Another IDEA:

1. Remove BOTH of them.
2. Restart.

See what happens. :)

Originally posted by MonorailMan
Another IDEA:

1. Remove BOTH of them.
2. Restart.

See what happens. :)

Did this, the only thing that happened is I have no modem :(

The only thing that seems to temporarly fix this whole mess is to do a system restore to a day where it worked.

I have found that the common link right beofre this issue is a Windows update and then install of what is supposed to be a patch for the Blastar worm. I think I am going to pass on this installation since I already downloaded the patch. That is this time, last time I didn't find a link.

This is so frustrating :(

This is exactly why I never run a Windows update. I get a bunch of problems afterward.

Originally posted by Bill Catherall
This is exactly why I never run a Windows update. I get a bunch of problems afterward.

Ok, now how do I do that because I found the issue is with Windows Update v.4 something or other.

I found the disable thing once and I can't find it again (and it's not disabled since I had to do another restore).

Originally posted by HB Tigger Fan
Ok, now how do I do that because I found the issue is with Windows Update v.4 something or other. Are you asking how to not run a Windows update? Simple. When it asks you to update say no.

Are you running WinME or a newer version?

Originally posted by Bill Catherall
Are you asking how to not run a Windows update? Simple. When it asks you to update say no.

Are you running WinME or a newer version?

I am running XP. And it doesn't ask me to run a Windows update, it is done automatically. Some of the updates are installed automatically and some require me to install them.

Theres a setting somewhere to disable all Windows Updates, I found it once, but I can't find it again.

Be >very< cautious if you decide to shut off Windows updates. In particular, you need to be absolutely certain that you have a good anti-virus product and a firewall installed and that you keep them constantly up to date.

People that failed to keep Windows up-to-date, and who weren't well protected against viruses and network intruders, were the main reason for the massive spread of the Blaster worm last week. Computers that were up-to-date with Windows updates were not vulnerable to it.

My own experience has been that Windows updates have generally been harmless unless there is something wrong with your installation already or if you have some sort of highly non-standard configuration. Frankly, I think it is kind of irresponsible not to keep Windows up-to-date in light of recent events.

-Jeff

Jeff,

Then since it's irresponsible to shut down Windows update, do you want to tell me what to do to stop my origional probelm that is coming from Windows updates?

Originally posted by JeffG
People that failed to keep Windows up-to-date, and who weren't well protected against viruses and network intruders, were the main reason for the massive spread of the Blaster worm last week. Computers that were up-to-date with Windows updates were not vulnerable to it. Yes, and I'd like to thank every one of those people for contributing to the 400+ virus e-mails I got - and still get - daily as a result.

Thank goodness for e-mail filters. :rolleyes:

AVP

Originally posted by AVP
Yes, and I'd like to thank every one of those people for contributing to the 400+ virus e-mails I got - and still get - daily as a result.

Thank goodness for e-mail filters. :rolleyes:

AVP

Actually, AVP, that was Sobig.f, not Blaster. It was Worm Week on the Internet, and we got load of fun from all of them. We detected (and blocked) almost 30,000 infected emails in the last week, when we were averaging less than 5,000 per year. And I get a detection notification for each time one is caught. Thank goodness for e-mail filters indeed! :rolleyes:

Originally posted by JeffG
Be >very< cautious if you decide to shut off Windows updates. In particular, you need to be absolutely certain that you have a good anti-virus product and a firewall installed and that you keep them constantly up to date. Along with some common sense. Anybody who opens an email attachment without a) knowing who sent it, b) knowing exactly what it was, or c) scanning it gets what they deserve.

I don't do Windows update because I'm running Win98SE, I have hardware that is cheap and uses old drivers, everytime I run the Windows updates it updates or installs a ton of junk I don't want or need and just ends up causing hardware problems. I do have a firewall and virus software. I don't open email attachments if I'm not expecting them or don't know who sent them. And if I am expecting them and they're from someone I know I still scan them. I've been virus-free since 1995 (didn't have a computer before that).

I think it's irresponsible for Microsoft to be selling software that really isn't complete, has tons of security holes in it, and requires constant updates just to keep hackers or worms out.

Originally posted by Bill Catherall
Along with some common sense. Anybody who opens an email attachment without a) knowing who sent it, b) knowing exactly what it was, or c) scanning it gets what they deserve.


This is all very good advice, but the Blaster worm didn't actually spread via email attachments. In fact, it exploited a vulnerability in the networking components of Windows NT/2000/XP that allowed it to be transmitted simply by connecting to the Internet. If a machine was vulnerable and an infected machine could reach it (without being blocked by a firewall), the chances are it would be infected. The usual rules about email filtering and attachment handling did nothing to protect against this one.

Microsoft had issued a fix for this vulnerability before this worm surfaced. Anyone who had stayed current with their updates was never at risk of having an infected machine. For the most part, virus scanners and firewalls also protected against it, although not as thoroughly. A firewall might block the port that the worm used to transmit itself and a virus scanner would likely detect the presence of the worm and stop it before it did its work. Having the patch in place, though, renders the worm completely harmless.

That said, I do certainly agree that Microsoft needs to work harder at preventing these kinds of vulnerabilities, although as a professional software developer I certainly know that bug-free software is a pipe dream, particularly with something as complex as an operating system that is intended to work with such a wide variety of different hardware configurations. At the very least, I think they need to do more thorough testing on their patches/updates as well as trying to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the update process. They have rightfully received some criticism in this area over the last couple weeks.

I also do understand that those using outdated hardware and software are probably going to eventually be left behind by the current updates. I also realize it may not always be feasible for everyone to keep up with the latest hardware/software. In those cases, I do think it is vital to at least monitor all of the OS and other software and driver updates, though, and thoroughly understand the potential impacts of not installing them. In fact, I do review each update before installing them on my system. I think having the updates install automatically is foolhardy as well.

What I think is irresponsible (at least if you intend to connect to the public Internet -- if you are keeping your system isolated, you are only hurting yourself...) is to dismiss all updates automatically or to decide it is easier to skip a critical update than it is to try and figure out the causes of a system conflict and, if necessary, remove or replace the problematic component. I know from experience how difficult (or possibly even expensive) it can be to diagnose a problem and the temptation to just take the easiest possible solution, but now that pretty much all computers are connected, taking the easy way out can affect a lot more people than just you. I believe that one of the responsibilities of being a computer owner, if you intend to go on-line at all, is to put a full effort into making certain that your system is appropriately secure and safe.

I do admit that my strong feelings on this topic are largely influenced by direct experience with having to deal with some of the direct business impacts of the worm and virus that hit hard over the last couple weeks (and I will proudly state that no system that I administer was infected with either). Both were easily preventable if people would just use and maintain their computers responsibly. I also realize that I've taken this thread a bit off-topic, but I couldn't help but react to what I saw as being suggestions that it was best not to install system updates.

Columnist John Dvorak (a long-time computer-industry commentator who currently writes for PC Magazine) had an interesting article (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1224343,00.asp) on this subject last week. Although his suggestion (to require licensing of computers) is probably a bit extreme, I think his key points are very well-stated and accurate. It is well worth a read.

-Jeff

I agree that keeping up-to-date with critical updates on newer systems is important. That's why I asked HBTF if she was using WinME (I thought she was based on my recollection) or a newer OS. (I still haven't received that answer though.) If she was using WinME then there's really no reason, in my opinion, to be installing any of the updates. On the other hand, had she told me she was running WinXP I would have withdrawn my suggestion to forgo updates.

EDIT: Oops. I see she did answer the OS question but I missed it. Never mind HBTF...keep up with the updates. I thought you were running an old OS. But I would stick only to the critical updates and leave the other stuff like Media Player, etc. alone.

I am running an anti-virus program, and I have installed the patch for the blaster worm. The only common link I can find between my origional problem reoccuring is the windows update (which is a critical update).

This is frustrating, irritating and annoying and I don't know how to fix it. I ended up calling HP last night (I will never do that again, they wanted $20+ to fix it on top of the long distance phone call). Needless to say I didn't get it fixed, and until I figure out how to fix it I'm not sure I will keep running the Windows updates.

Ok, So the last time this happend I got really upset. I ended up using the install new hardware wizard that came up and viola! It worked! :rolleyes:. Go figure.

It seems that it was some sort of driver update that needed to be done, or the drivers got deleated and needed to be reinstalled. Anyways I wanted to update.

Congratulations on getting it fixed, however you did it! These things are always so stressful.