Identifying modem and other cards

[Rodnolinux]

I scavenged some old modems and other cards; unfortunately, most of these don't have any brand or model info written on them, and Win98SE can't identify them. I think all of these are actually a couple of years newer than Win98, so I expect that's why it doesn't recognize them.

I tried something called Bellarc Advisor, which is pretty nice, but it didn't do this job of ID'ing unknown hardware.

Is there a good way to figure out what I have so I can put it back into use? Some software solution? Googling some of FCC codes or manufacturing numbers?

Thanks.

[GretaP]

Hi Rodnolinux,

Try Everest Home Edition (http://www.cybertechhelp.com/download/file/everest-home-edition) or Unknown Device Identifier (http://www.zhangduo.com/udi.html)

[Rodnolinux]

I will give it a try and let you know.

Thanks for your help.

[GretaP]

You're welcome for the help :D

Please do post back and let us know whether either/both applications worked out for you.

[Rodnolinux]

Greta:

Thanks again for the info.

The Unknown Device Identifier did not launch for me.

It installed without a hitch, even putting up icons on the desktop, and the proprietor's website does not mention any minimum system req'ts., but it simply would not run on my Pentium Pro computer with 64 Megs of ram despite numerous attempts.

I am always skeptical that freeware and shareware haven't been sufficiently beta tested, and that they don't have enough disclaimers to go with it so prospective users aren't disappointed, and my experience with UDI would seem to bear me out.

I was going to try Everest, but that second effort got delayed. I will let you know.

[GretaP]

Well, hopefully Everest will work out for you. If not, there is a "manual" method......

Must be a PCI or AGP device

Open the registry editor (Start>Run key in regedit then click on OK or hit ENTER) and navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Enum\PCI
When you expand PCI, you should see quite a few registry keys, with names in the general form such as this:
VEN_10B7&DEV_9004&SUBSYS_900410B7&REV_04

Each one corresponds to a PCI or AGP device on your system, and represents a VENDOR ID string and a DEVICE ID string. In my example,the Vendor ID is 10B7 and the "Device ID" is 9004

If you expand each one in turn, they should each have a sub-key labelled
with a long hex number, for example:
3&61aaa01&0&58

Click on this sub-key, and look in the right pane for Class....for the Unknown Device, the Class Data will be "Unknown"
Also look at DeviceDesc, it will probably say something like "PCI Multimedia Audio Device", for example
For display adapter, the Class Data will be and the DeviceDesc will be "Standard Display Adapter (VGA)"
Look thru each of these subkeys for the one that has the Class Data value of "Unknown" or "Display" ” and make a note of the Vendor ID and Device ID under which this was found.

Now, go here:
PCI Database (http://www.pcidatabase.com/vendors.php?sort=id)

Look up the Vendor ID (you might have to scroll quite a ways to find it, or use Find). For mine, I looked up 0x10B7, which was related to 3COM Corporation. Now, click on the link for the Vendor. Then look up the Device ID. Mine was 0x9004, which returned this information:
Chip Number: 3C900-COMBO
Description: Fast Etherlink XL PCI Combo NIC
Notes: Same as 9000 with TP and BNC connector with TP and BNC connecto

Following the above, you should be able to find out who made the device and what it is, then that should give you a good idea of where to go to look for drivers for it.

[Rodnolinux]

Well, hopefully Everest will work out for you.

It did, and it is a good little program, a real keeper.

I appreciate the help with the manual method; hopefully I never have to fool around with the registry.

[GretaP]

It did, and it is a good little program, a real keeper.
Good, glad it worked out for you :D

I appreciate the help with the manual method
I just thought I'd toss that in just in case Everest didn't work out either.