Radio Shack sells a line tester for about $5. which will test the 
proper polarity.  It just plugs in like a phone cord, then a red 
or green LED lights up.  I would check all the phone jacks first, 
if they are all wrong, the wires could easily be reversed where 
they first enter the house, which will correct them all, rather 
than changing several jacks around the house.  Otherwise, just 
reverse the (usually) red and green wires to correct the problem 
at each jack.
The cable from your other laptop seems to work fine, but not in 
the new laptop.  Can you check the wires in the phone line port on 
the laptop?  You should see either 2 or 4 wires hanging neatly in 
the center of the hole.  If they are crossed, bent or otherwise 
damaged, you're not getting the proper connection.
Lastly, are you sure you're using the phone port and not the 
slightly wider network port which would have 8 wires?  Most 
laptops and pc's have both connectors today, the phone wire will 
plug into both, but will not work in the internet port.
.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103388&cp=&kw=phone+line+tester&parentPage=search
.
[log in to unmask] wrote:

> Hi,
> I have seen problems with the polarity of the phone jack not letting some systems work.
> Does this happen in all the phone jacks in your home?
> Years ago I had a polarity tester that I used when wiring new installations.
> Try reversing the wires going to the center two pins in the phone jack.
> In older installations they are red & green.
> The newer multi-line cables have several more colors, you are looking for what is connected to the center two pins.
> Hope this helps.
> Clint Worley
> Worley Technology
> 
> 
> I bought a Toshiba Satellite laptop with Windows XP 2000 Home from Best Buy a couple of months ago.  At first, it intermittently would not pick up a dial tone; now it won't pick one up at all.
>    
>   Best Buy could not replicate the problem, i.e., it dialed in everytime they tried it in their store, and said they couldn't help.
>    
>   I called the Toshiba 1-800 number, they had me do a system restore; when that didn't work, they told me to take the laptop to their authorized dealer.  
>    
>   The authorized dealer found a faulty modem and replaced it.  When I got the laptop home, it still would not pick up a dial tone and gave a "no dial tone" message.  However, when I called the Toshiba dealer, they said it worked in their shop just as it did at Best Buy.  
>    
>   Naturally everyone's first thought was my home telephone line is faulty in some manner; and I would think that, too, except my other Toshiba laptop has no problems picking up a dial tone.  It dials right in, and I'm typing on it now.  I have taken the phone cable from the working laptop and connected it to the one I'm having problems with, and no dial tone.
>    
>   When I told the authorized dealer folks another computer in the house worked just fine, they said their next step would be to order and  replace the cable that runs between the modem and computer telephone jack. They'll call me when it's in. 
>    
>   I've asked Toshiba about replacing the laptop I've just bought, and they say they have a no replacement policy.  So if something can't be done about the new but non-functional Toshiba laptop, I am out a lot of money because it's paid for.
>    
>   Does anyone have ideas beyond replacing the modem and cable?
>    
>   Many thanks -
>    
>   Anne Neighbors  
>    

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