Modem problems

I bought a used Thinkpad T42 a few months ago. I have been using it limited amount of time. It works real good but I finally wanted to use dial-up on it and can not get online.

Everything says the modem is engaged and active but I cannot get a dial tone. I have a new phone cord on it and still nothing. I hooked up a telephone to the cord and the phone works, but I still cannot get the modem to work. I put the same dial-up info in that is on my desktop but I need to get the dial tone first, but there is nothing. I went through all the troubleshooting questions with no luck.

Would anyone have any idea of any thing I might be able to do?

I use a thumb drive to switch the files I want to transfer right now. Am thinking of connecting with my desktop with a USB cord in the future so to use my printer and transfer files when need be for now. I would like to get to use the T42 more since it is a lot newer than my desktop and slowly replace my desktop. The T42 has Wifi and Bluetooth built in. I have not used either yet. My ISP is dial-up and don't have access to broadband at this time and I only have the one desktop at present other than the T42 now.

I'm not all that techie, with terminology, but can figure out some stuff when need be. I'm better working on hardware than with software stuff.

Any help you can give me would be appreciated greatly. It is probity something really simple that I'm overlooking. The harddrive was wiped out when I bought it except for the basic original software.

It's a very nice note book but it is madding that I cannot get it connected.

 

Did you install the modem drivers? Go to the control panel and check the hardware - look for questions marks and exclamation marks.

What do you mean by "I need to get the dial tone first"? My laptop modem works, but I never hear the dial tone. The only indication I get that dial-up is working is when the connection is finally made and I'm on the 'net.

 

I see no question or exclamation marks in the control panel. It does say the modem is enabled. It does ID the modem. I'm not sure about the drivers but when I hit up the on drivers tabs it shows the files. There was no CD with the machine and if they (the drivers) were wrong I would need to connect online some how to download them. I'm not sure how except maybe through a USB connection of the 2 computers.

The thing is I know I have good connection through the wire. So that means it should be from the plug on the machine inward that the trouble is.