Thread: My laptop's internal dial-up modem just got fried.

Originally Posted by Man of Steel

I was online, roaming DV as usual, and it was raining outside. I usually disconnect and unplug the line during thunderstorms, but there was no thunder yet, so I thought all was well. Then I get knocked offline, and lo and behold, it starts thundering. I unplug the line, check the phone; no dial tone. This isn't unusual here in T-storms. So later, after the storm has passed, I go back to re-connect. Nothing. No dial tone. Now, I get a dial tone with the phone, just not my modem. And if I plug the phone line into the modem while listening in with the telephone, the dial tone drops to an almost inaudible level, and even when I try to dial out with the modem, it gets no dial tone, though I can hear it with the cordless phone. After a few seconds, the typical "If you'd like to make a call..." can be heard on the phone. So my modem got fried by a power surge, I guess.

Now here are my questions: one, is it likely that this will be covered under warranty? The laptop is an Acer. The warranty doesn't specifically say it doesn't cover it, to my knowledge, but it just seems somewhat unlikely that it would be covered, to my cynical mind. Two, if they won't fix it, could a computer technician replace/repair the modem? I think it's probably a Mini-PCI, but for all I know it's integral with the motherboard. My brother-in-law does that sort of thing, but he's really sick right now, and I'm not actually sure if he's on speaking terms with me currently (long story). I'm still going to call him tomorrow, though. And third, if that's not viable either, does anybody know of a good USB dial-up modem that works with Vista, and preferably Linux, too?

Thanks in advance, guys, your help is much appreciated. I'm kinda panicking here, as I live on the internet, and while I'm connected on my loaner laptop now, it has nearly the same problem. It's modem won't hang up, and it takes multiple attempts to connect to my ISP (NetZero) so I have to unplug the line every attempt. Usually about twenty-thirty tries later, I finally connect. Too, this computer sucks compared to mine.

And while I'm here, and have your attention, does anyone know of any good rural providers of high-speed internet service? Where I live, out in the country a bit, we can't get cable, it stops three miles away, and DSL is out because we're too far out. There's one of those wireless providers in our area, the ones that broadcast a signal over cell towers, but they say that living on our road, we'd have to have a two-story house to get their service. We live in a mobile home, so that's not happening. Apparently, the antenna is attached to the modem, and isn't an outside antenna. I was thinking about satellite, through WildBlue, but after doing some research, I've heard nothing but bad and worse things about them, their customer support, and their internet, so no luck there. So, any other suggestions, if there are any, would be amazingly greatly appreciated. I'm talking, I will personally overnight you a box of homemade cookies of your choice if your suggestion goes through.

Again, thanks in advance, guys and gals. Y'all are the best.

I don't think it'll be covered by warranty. Never hurts to ask though, but they'll probably say "sorry sir, but it's your own damn fault, go to hell" in the usual helpful tech support tone
A technician should be able to replace it. I had a technician take apart my XPs M1710 once, and the modem was just a small card (probably MiniPCI). But Acer might be different.
I can't help you with your other questions. Damn, I wanted overnight cookies

Acer doesn't cover shit, so I doubt that it's under warranty. As for high speed internet try calling DirectWav (they keep changing their name, I think that's what it's called now.) It's that satellite internet thing.

I had an Acer once, I doubt that it has a real modem, they tend to have WinModems.

OHHHHH! I sell that laptop, its the crapiest thing I've ever seen. Is the screen bright enough for ya on that thing?

Originally Posted by Webmaster

I don't think it'll be covered by warranty. Never hurts to ask though, but they'll probably say "sorry sir, but it's your own damn fault, go to hell" in the usual helpful tech support tone
A technician should be able to replace it. I had a technician take apart my XPs M1710 once, and the modem was just a small card (probably MiniPCI). But Acer might be different.
I can't help you with your other questions. Damn, I wanted overnight cookies

Yeah, that's pretty much my thoughts as well. I'm pretty sure their tech support isn't toll free, too, so for what I could have them tell me "No," for, I could probably just buy a USB modem. Thanks.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Acer doesn't cover shit, so I doubt that it's under warranty. As for high speed internet try calling DirectWav (they keep changing their name, I think that's what it's called now.) It's that satellite internet thing.

I had an Acer once, I doubt that it has a real modem, they tend to have WinModems.

Great. Yeah, it's a software modem. Like I said above, I'm not going to bother calling them. Thanks for the suggestion, but DirecWay (I think they're calling themselves HughesNet now, actually) is really expensive, and have nearly as bad a rep as WildBlue. Thanks, though.

Originally Posted by IZ

OHHHHH! I sell that laptop, its the crapiest thing I've ever seen. Is the screen bright enough for ya on that thing?

I actually quite like the computer, it's served me well so far. It was a great buy, too.

Just don't say it was thundering. SAy you were browsing one day in fine weather and kaboom! They'll fix it, you just have to be sincere, stern and polite.