On around Wed, 12 Dec 2001 08:15:13 -0800, Gary <[log in to unmask]> posted this message in news:internal.mailing-list.computers.pc-build . . . > In the past, I've used US Robotics modems with great success > (connect speeds up to 44-46k), so I bought a 56k Performance Pro > modem (3CP5610A) and installed it. It worked fine for about the > first three times, then I noticed that it would drop the line > intermittently. [...] I tried to use an external controller-based modem on my computer, too, and I had nothing but trouble with it while a Winmodem performed perfectly. I still have an external modem connected, but I have no drivers loaded in Windows for it. My problem was with losing TCP/IP functionality, and of course, with no functionality, no data is sent or received, so I'm eventually disconnected. No problems like that with a Winmodem, and in fact, a Winmodem gets me better connect speeds and download speeds. One thing I noticed, however, was that when I have the drivers for the external modem installed in Windows, it causes the Winmodem to misbehave in the same way the external modem misbehaved. So it could be that the drivers for your external modem are affecting some crucial part of your communications stack. Try installing drivers for both modems, and then use your Winmodem to connect to the 'net for a while and see if it acts the same way as your external. If it does, please keep us informed because I may get some clues as how to fix my problems. I tried to get mine figured out for over a year with tech support help from Creative, Earthlink, this list, Experts-Exchange and the dcom newsgroups on usenet. Nobody could figure it out, and a lot of people just ignored me after their first solutions didn't work. Ethan The NOSPIN Group provides a monthly newsletter with great tips, information and ideas: NOSPIN-L, The NOSPIN Magazine Visit our web site to signup: http://freepctech.com