Whirlpool

Howdy All
I searched on google and found this amazing site. Thing is I had 2 x XP machines connected uneventfully via a siemens modem on Optus for 12 months, then recently upgraded my PC to Vista and Vista cannot see (nee recognise) the siemens modem. I searched via google and someone had mentioned something similar on this site, however their solution didnt work for me. I have since spent 4 hours speaking with techs in India, and no one can help me. The say it has to be the ethernet card on my Vista machine, or the cable as everything else is fine. The issue with that is the Vista machine was connected earlier today to both a Billion 4 port Modem/Router and a D-Link 4 port router. IMHO, the issue has to be with the Optus Siemens 4200 not being recognised by my Vista.

I would appreciate any help with this matter, as I have spent hours trying to fix it.
Cheers
Stephen

Big Steve writes...

Vista cannot see (nee recognise) the siemens modem.

...

The say it has to be the ethernet card on my Vista machine

Errr... hang on a second. If you're using Ethernet, your operating system is never going to recognise (nor care about) what you connect to it. It just sends data out the Ethernet adapter and hopes for a response in the appropriate format.

the Vista machine was connected earlier today to both a Billion 4 port Modem/Router and a D-Link 4 port router

If this is via Ethernet, then at least this does confirm the Ethernet is okay, yes. This is only relevant if you are also using Ethernet to connect to the 4200, which you should be doing if it is an option as it appears to be.

Have you tried factory resetting the modem (especially in case it's been left in bridge mode for some reason)?

Hi
I was actually the chap who rebuilt steves computer, and updated it with Vista. Yes I did a factory reset, but it still seemed to go back to default Optus settings.

I dont understand why the modem can be connected to a XP machine, and it just works. Then you change the ethernet cable across to the vista amachine, and it doesnt see the 4200 at all. Rebooted 10 + times, reset to factory settings three times (the two Optus techs insisted we go through all the motions). This problem had the Optus techs and myself bamboozled.

Just to reiterate, the new vista machine was earlier today plugged into my Billion 4 port ADSL/Router. It worked flawlessly. This same machine when plugged into the Siemens 4200 sees nothing (windows network manager reports no network).

KNOWNS
1. The 4200 works with the XP machine (confirming Siemens 4200 and Ethernet cable are fine)
2. The Siemens is connected to the ISP (Everything is fine)
3. The 4200 is not seen (recognised)by the Vista machine, almost as if the NIC or Ethernet cable were unservicable.
4. The Vista machine had full network/internet connectivity when plugged into the Billion 4 Port/Router ADSL 2+ Modem earlier today suggesting the PC/NIC (Hardware) and Ethernet cable are fine.
5. The Vista machine had full network/internet connectivity when plugged into the Belkin F1PIP41 4 Port/Router/ADSL 2+ VOIP modem.

This is clearly an issue with the Vista machine recognising the existance of the Siemenes 4200 modem. This is a point that the Indian Techs cannot grasp.

Please can anyone recommend what could be the issue
Cheers
Mick

Mick writes...

Yes I did a factory reset, but it still seemed to go back to default Optus settings.

That's what it is supposed to do and that's fine.

Then you change the ethernet cable across to the vista amachine, and it doesnt see the 4200 at all.

I know this is quibbling, but as per my previous post, neither XP nor Vista can "see" the modem via Ethernet. When using Ethernet, neither operating system knows what's out there, nor cares about it either. That's the beauty of Ethernet.

the two Optus techs insisted we go through all the motions

Exactly as they should have done.

The 4200 is not seen (recognised)by the Vista machine, almost as if the NIC or Ethernet cable were unservicable.

See this is just giving an incomplete picture. Obviously you have no connectivity, I get that... but what you've just said isn't the entire story.

This is a point that the Indian Techs cannot grasp.

I seriously doubt that... but you probably do have an issue that's bordering their support boundaries.

Please can anyone recommend what could be the issue

Google is your friend.

www.google.com.au/search...sta+siemens+4200

or

www.google.com.au/search...3Aoptusnet+vista

That should direct you to a collection of previous threads, including all of the below. Of these, I'd perhaps suggesting starting with what I suggested here.

/forum-replies.cfm?t=708461
/forum-replies.cfm?t=703160
/forum-replies.cfm?t=702890
/forum-replies.cfm?t=699219
/forum-replies.cfm?t=690197
/forum-replies.cfm?t=678278
/forum-replies.cfm?t=676557
/forum-replies.cfm?t=653892

I have a 4200 modem too and have both xp and vista on my system (yep going through a router) - but it DOES work on vista in standalone mode.

If you have used it in XP previously and (if u ran through the cd that is).. it will switch the MODE settings to OPTUS BRIDGE, you need to make sure the MODE settings are on NAPT.

THAT will work with either on XP or VISTA. Easiest way to fix that is to either do one of the two things

1. Connect it up to XP again and go into the modem settings 10.1.1.1 and click on SETTINGS (third one down on the left) then MODE click on the circle next to NAPT - click APPLY then REBOOT. After Reboot switch to VISTA and thats it

OR

2. Factory reset modem (hold in the reset button till the power light flashes RED (roughly 3 seconds NO MORE), go into the modem settings again (as shown above). But instead of clicking on MODE click on PPP. Making sure u have the ENTIRE optus email address (primary one) as the username CANNOT HAVE just the username in there (it wont work), the password as usual. Save settings, click on DISCONNECT then after it switches to CONNECT - count to 3 and click on CONNECT.

Wait till all lights are as per usual on the modem and test connection. Should be ok after that.

Thanks all, especially those that responded. In the end, nothing above worked, so I donwloaded a Vista USB driver for the siemens 4200, and it installed a treat. I also have the firmware update for the 4200m that supposedly gets it working with Vista, but seeing its now working, I think it best to let sleeping dogs lye
Cheers
Stephen

Big Steve writes...

I would appreciate any help with this matter, as I have spent hours trying to fix it.

When I signed up with Optus, it worked first time without any problems.

All I did was plug in modem via ethernet, and loaded Vista, and it connected to the internet all by itself.

Have you tested your ethernet port and ethernet cable? Maybe they are faulty?

Big Steve writes...

Vista USB driver for the siemens 4200

Then it's plugged in via USB not Ethernet then?