AST RESEARCH, INC.          TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1823          5/26/98

TITLE  Microcom 28.8 Travel PCMCIA MODEM will not dial.

ISSUE

   On laptop computers the Microcom 28.8 Travel Card Fast MODEM 
   PCMCIA card will not dial consistently due to an incorrect 
   registry entry.
   
   When the Microcom MODEM is installed Windows 95 will properly 
   detect and install the default drivers for it.  If diagnostics are 
   run from the MODEM area of the Device Manager, the Microcom MODEM 
   will test fine.  However, attempting to dial using HyperTerminal 
   may not work.  The MODEM will not dial out using the automatic 
   dialing mechanism of Win95.  However, it will dial out if you 
   manually type in the AT command used to dial (ATDTxxx-xxxx).  
   Dial-Up Networking will also experience this same issue. Dial-Up 
   Networking has no method of manually dialing, therefore you can 
   not make a connection.
   
   This issue may affect any system with PCMCIA support using any 
   version of Windows 95.


BACKGROUND

   When Windows 95 creates the Registry entry for the Microcom MODEM, 
   it sets the PortDriver to “ppm.vxd” which is a Parallel Port 
   driver.  Changing the PortDriver to “Serial.vxd”, the generic 
   Windows 95 serial port driver, corrects the issue.


ACTION

   To correct the Registry the PortDriver of the Microcom MODEM must 
   be modified. Download MICRO-FX.EXE.  It will create a 1.44 floppy 
   disk containing MICROFX1.REG and MICROFX2.REG.
   
   If the Microcom MODEM is the only MODEM in the computer, run the 
   Registry fix-up file MICROFX1.REG then re-boot the computer.
   
   If the Microcom MODEM is the second MODEM in the computer, run the 
   Registry fix-up file MICROFX2.REG then re-boot the computer.  This 
   would be the case for computers that have built-in MODEMs like the 
   Ascentia J or the Ascentia P units.
   
   If the computer has more than two MODEMs it will be necessary to 
   manually edit the registry entry.  MODEM entries are found in the 
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Modem  
   key.  This key is further broken down by the MODEM number.
   
   Example:
   
   In an Ascentia P the built-in MODEM would be # 0000.
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Modem\0000
   
   The Microcom MODEM would be #0001.
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Modem\0001
   
   If the Microcom MODEM were the third or fourth MODEM then you 
   would edit the appropriate key (0003, 0004 etc.)
   
   Once the correct key is found change the PortDriver field from 
   “ppm.vxd” to “Serial.vxd”.  You must then reboot the computer.
   


NOTES

   It is most strongly recommended that you make a backup of the data 
   on your hard drive before attempting to make Registry 
   modifications. 

   You can download this file from the following services:

      AST WWW Site:  http://www.ari-service.com 

      AST On-Line! BBS*:  See IB0001.TXT
      CompuServe:  GO: ASTFORUM
      Prodigy:   JUMP: ASTSUPPORT
      * Refer to IB0001.TXT for a list of AST's
        international BBS numbers.

SYSTEMS AFFECTED

   All AST laptop computers running Windows 95.


TAN  000656PS

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