Can someone please explain to me why Windows XP did this?

Factual Questions
1

First off, system components:

XP Home
Athlon 1.2Ghz (not overclocked or anything, 12x100Mhz)
MSI K7T Pro2A Mobo
640MB PC133 RAM (On 3 dimms)
SB Live Value
Netlink 10/100 card
GF3ti200
Quantum 30GB HD
LS120
Aopen DVD
Teac CDRW
USR 56k Winmodem

I was having a problem with a couple of games not running, so I said to hell with screwing around and just decided to re-install XP Home (something I do from time to time)

However, since my mobo has AC97 and I have no use for a modem anymore as I am on ADSL, I decided to remove both the sound card and Winmodem.

I start the install procedure, format the HD and install XP. All appears to be OK. I go to Microsoft Windows AutoUpdate (to get the service pack, etc). I get as far as running the updater and preparing to install. I hit “OK” to start the actual download of the program, but it just sits at 0K recieved. Its not downloading a thing. To explain, I just get the download window and it sits, not receiving anything. I try to go the the Nvidia site to get vid drivers, and it won’t even download the entire webpage. It just hangs with about 7 items left to go. And when I mean “hang”, I don’t mean Windows hangs, IE just stops “downloading” the page… like its trying to download but no data is coming through.

So, I figure something must have screwed somehow with the install. So, I reinstall. Reformat, the whole 9 yards. The EXACT same thing happens. I can browse “some” webpages, but “most” don’t download entirely, and IE just sits there waiting for the rest to come but it never does, no modem activity or anything (flashing data lights). I’m begining to think I may have some sort of weird hardware problem. However, as a last resort I think to myself, “I could browse and everything fine with the modem and soundcard in, I’ll try re-installing them.” So, I reinstall the cards. Power up windows (I did not reinstall again) and try auto update again. It works. It downloads everything just fine.

WTF I think. I take the cards out, and try again, no go. Same as before. So, I install just the winmodem. Power up, get into IE, Everything works fine. Note: I am not connecting to the Net with the modem, I am using the broadband. My modem is just sitting in the PCI slot with nothing connected to it.

So, I re-installed XPHome with just the modem installed. Updated windows, I can browse the net like normal, everything is fine.

So, the question is this. WHY??? Why is my system not downloading/browsing the web properly when the winmodem is not installed? However, as soon as it is, everything is fine (remember, I am connecting the the net with DSL. The modem isn’t even plugged in to the phone line!) Does XP home somehow require a dialup modem to be installed?

2

Try removing the modem, and running one of the network setup wizards. It MAY be that Windows is only installing the correct protocols and services automatically for you when a modem is present. By running one of the network wizards, it may install the stack for you.

I’d be more helpful, but XP is so stupid that it won’t let you do anything without a Wizard. Yes, I have XP installed on one of my machines :(. Sincerely, if anyone has an answer to the stupid Wizard problem, then I sure could use some advice :).

3

I would just leave the modem card in there. I have ADSL but have a modem as a backup and for dialing and for faxes.

4

The AC97 is using the same Interrupts as your modem. Exact same thing happened to me, (even though I was on dialup). You may have noticed it only happeneing when you were playing something with sound, like a CD or an MP3. If so, then that’s what it is.

Solution: Use your proper soundcard, as AC97 sucks ass.

5

So, why is it working now with no soundcard and only with the modem?

Regardless, I’ll give it a try with the AC97 for a bit, I can always revert to the Live if I want.

Well, I do know it installed the TCP/IP stack… but maybe you’re on the right track… maybe it didn’t install everything I needed since the modem wasn’t hooked in.

6

For me, it only failed to download when I started to play something with sound involved, including an MP3, a video, a CD, or attempting to download a Flash animation. WAV files seemed to be okay, but they are very short. Otherwise, without sound acticely being used, it worked fine.

I put in a new soundcard, and all my download troubles were solved. (It also fixed my video playback troubles)

7

Yeah, some sound cards have modem issues but you would have to know the name of the card. Probably an IRQ conflict. But XP has diags for that sort of thingy.

8

Remove your winmodem. If it is on board, disable it from the BIOS.

9

Ranger, I appreciate your trying to help, but did you even read my OP? If I remove my winmodem, I can’t browse or download IE properly. That’s the whole problem.

10

Here is an educated guess:

Check your network connections under the control panel.

Check if the default is the winmodem. (usually under dial-up)

The solution could be just to simply delete the default winmodem connection.

And leave the broadband conection as the only one.

11

Disable AC97 via BIOS. Remove winmodem. Make sure you have everything you need yo access the Web - most ADSL needs either hardware or PPoE. Then try again.

12

Actually, I did that the very first time I re-installed Windows with no modem or soundcard. I couldn’t figure it out so I went into the BIOS to see if there was anything that I thought would be causing the problems. I disabled the onboard sound. No go, same problem. It required the modem.

13

Oh, some bioses have NVRAM. That’s a save setting where the bios remembers what you have plugged into the computer. So, if you take out something it doesnt know that & thinks the old stuff is there but its not so it wont boot.

Might be a bios setting to clear it, which you have to do when you change anything. One of my computers is like that.