Mobile broadband connection (system-specific)

nomdeboardie

Long story short: Physically broke my O2 "mobile broadband" USB dongle (Huawei E1752) in my main computer (Dell Inspiron 9400, Windows XP SP3). Replacement device (Huawei E173, incurring 6 month re-contract) installs drivers and new O2 software etc and seems to do everything but transfer data. Device works with a small Vista laptop that I have, but not with brother's Windows 7 machine. Spent ~ an hour on phone with O2 tech support; rep's conclusion was that something on I9400 must be "blocking" the full connection. Tried disabling firewall and antivirus (MSE). Rep also said I should find out about and play with telephony and RPC, but I think these are both enabled. Went back to O2 shop, confirmed dongle works with their computer etc. (no surprise). Same in 2 computer repair shops I called in to. First spent quite a while looking at settings etc. and said full system reinstall would be needed in his opinion ("too many possibilities"). Second said he did not see anything overtly alarming on ~5min inspection; reinstallation would be last resort, but full troubleshoot of system would be needed, and their minimum fee is 69 euro. Other things tried (by myself) include rolling back system a couple of days (before previous dongle broke), then additional few months, + things I haven't taken notes on but would remember if prompted.

Wondering whether to try a system "repair" with the Windows SP2 disc that came with the laptop.

If I decide not to do this, or do and it's ineffective, and there aren't any shorter fixes, options include:
--Full system reinstall (myself; have done Vista a few times, although with few additional programs to reinstall)
--Go to Vodafone or 3 and see if their product would work with the I9400, and is so, take the hit on the O2 contract (O2 will probably not let me out of the 6 months, but I'd try to negotiate)
--Try setting up a network between the small computer and the I9400 to access internet indirectly by WiFi (awkward if want to move I9400 outside house)
--Get a WiFi mobile broadband from O2 (extra money + longer contract, + have extra powered device to lug around if outside)
--Get a wireless router to use with the dongle (similar considerations)

Any suggestions welcome (I'll try anything I feel comfortable with, not that that's saying a lot as my computer understanding is fairly low level).


Edit: title should include the word "problem" after "connection" (if a mod could edit this, I'd be grateful as I'm not allowed to do that or delete and re-post!)

yoyo

Those mobile dongles are an awful pain in the a**, just make sure you uninstall all Hawaii drivers, that includes vodafone, Three, Meteor etc ones if present. If not try looking for newer drivers online, apart from those you'll prob need to reload the OS. I amn't that familiar with those things unfortunately so can't help further!

Nick

nomdeboardie

yoyo wrote: »

Those mobile dongles are an awful pain in the a**, just make sure you uninstall all Hawaii drivers, that includes vodafone, Three, Meteor etc ones if present. If not try looking for newer drivers online, apart from those you'll prob need to reload the OS. I amn't that familiar with those things unfortunately so can't help further!

Nick

Thanks Nick. What's the best way to check for the presence of the device drivers, as such (as opposed to the O2 connection software) - device manager? I do know that they seemed to be removed each time I uninstalled the latter (via Add/Remove Programs), as the device seemed to have to reinstall them when next plugged in.

Amalgam

Have you tried booting into a live Linux CD\USB environment like Mint or Ubuntu, on the problem machine, to test the dongle there?

Doing that would definitely rule out a hardware issue. Having said that, it is quite probably software related.

When unistalling any Huawei drivers, I would restart the machine, also, afterwards, plug the dongle into a *different* USB port, to trigger the virtual drive and a re-install..

I've sent you a PM OP..

yoyo

nomdeboardie wrote: »

Thanks Nick. What's the best way to check for the presence of the device drivers, as such (as opposed to the O2 connection software) - device manager? I do know that they seemed to be removed each time I uninstalled the latter (via Add/Remove Programs), as the device seemed to have to reinstall them when next plugged in.

Add/Remove programs. If you see Vodafone, Meteor, etc dongle stuff in there remove it. I don't know what these things appear under in device manager, probably network connections or USB devices. Do a complete uninstall of all dongle drivers inc. o2, then re-install using the latest ones. That would be my advice

Nick

nomdeboardie

Amalgam wrote: »

Have you tried booting into a live Linux CD\USB environment like Mint or Ubuntu, on the problem machine, to test the dongle there?

Doing that would definitely rule out a hardware issue. Having said that, it is quite probably software related.

When unistalling any Huawei drivers, I would restart the machine, also, afterwards, plug the dongle into a *different* USB port, to trigger the virtual drive and a re-install..

I've sent you a PM OP..

Thanks Amalgam. (+ PM reply sent)
-- No Linux experience, so haven't gone there.
-- I've restarted after all the (many) uninstallation-reinstallations. Also tried all of the 6 USB ports (all receive the drivers OK).

Firblog

yoyo wrote: »

Add/Remove programs. If you see Vodafone, Meteor, etc dongle stuff in there remove it. I don't know what these things appear under in device manager, probably network connections or USB devices. Do a complete uninstall of all dongle drivers inc. o2, then re-install using the latest ones. That would be my advice

Nick

Have to agree with Nick here, uninstall ALL 3G programs & drivers that you can find; then try start -> run -> cmd -> sfc /scannow which will check your system files an replace any corrupted missing ones that may be causing the prob.
If that doesn't sort it re-install the O/S...

nomdeboardie

Firblog wrote: »

Have to agree with Nick here, uninstall ALL 3G programs & drivers that you can find; then try start -> run -> cmd -> sfc /scannow which will check your system files an replace any corrupted missing ones that may be causing the prob.
If that doesn't sort it re-install the O/S...

Thanks Firblog. I tried this now, but device still doesn't work on re-installation. (Unfortunately, I had my back turned at the moment the scan ended, so I don't know if there was a momentary message from the system, but presumably it would have left a note in place if it found something it couldn't fix.)

If I do end up reinstalling the OS (XP), I'm toying with the idea of replacing it with Windows 7. Although the machine is 6 years old :eek:, I think the spec (2GHz processor, 2GB RAM, 80 GB hard disc) meets requirements - but any thoughts on the advisability of this are welcomed.

(Great username by the way - "I see what you did there":pac:)

Evelynmc

if u do end up needing a new modem u do not have to enter a new contract if u stick with the o2 modem.... Just buy a pre pay one and stick your current sim card into it (if you really dont wna enter a contract) =P

nomdeboardie

Evelynmc wrote: »

if u do end up needing a new modem u do not have to enter a new contract if u stick with the o2 modem.... Just buy a pre pay one and stick your current sim card into it (if you really dont wna enter a contract) =P

Thanks Evelynmc. Yes, this might be an option if the problem is specific to the modem hardware.

Firblog

nomdeboardie wrote: »

If I do end up reinstalling the OS (XP), I'm toying with the idea of replacing it with Windows 7. Although the machine is 6 years old :eek:, I think the spec (2GHz processor, 2GB RAM, 80 GB hard disc) meets requirements - but any thoughts on the advisability of this are welcomed.

(Great username by the way - "I see what you did there":pac:)

Wouldn't upgrade if I were you,
1. cost
2. My be Driver probs
3 Machine will run much better than previously with new clean install of XP

Username= Dyslexia :rolleyes:

yoyo

Firblog wrote: »

Wouldn't upgrade if I were you,
1. cost
2. My be Driver probs
3 Machine will run much better than previously with new clean install of XP

Username= Dyslexia :rolleyes:

I have a Dell 9400 and suprisingly Windows 7 32bit runs a good bit better than XP did on it (and I was obviously using XP for a good while before 7)... I wouldn't go out of my way to buy a license for Windows 7, but as an upgrade it is worthwhile is possible for cheap/free (some colleges issue Windows 7 for free) I'd do it.
Thats not that old a machine, dual core so Windows 7 tends to work better with those systems than XP (didn't have dualcore chip 11 years back :pac:)

Nick

nomdeboardie

Thanks for the W7 comments.

(@ Firblog - you mean you're not a blogging Fir Bolg :P)