Any ideas where to go next? I think this is a software problem, but I'm not sophisticated enough to fool with the BIOS settings or Peripheral Device section without some guidance. Thanks in advance.

Hope the following answers help. Thanks so much for your prompt reply.

What model modem do you have? [Aopen FM56-PM] It was detected when I first booted up the computer after reinstalling Win98 SE. I rebooted with the CD-ROM for the modem in the slot, and it installed the proper driver from there.

Error 680 is the no dial tone error. Do you have voice mail on this line? [No]

Try putting X1 in extra settings to blind dial. [I don’t understand this. What/where is ‘extra settings’? Do you mean type X and 1 or do you mean do something ‘times’ one?]

Make sure your country selection is correct. [USA]

Make sure you are not using area code if not needed in control panel,telephony. [Done. No change.]

Take the check mark out wait for dial tone. [Cleared the checked box, set up new connection in Dial-up Networking, still got Error 680]

Try calling the isp with a phone on the same line to see if is being connected. [done. Phone line and number work using another instrument.]

Might also add some , in front of the phone number like this ,,,,,XXX-XXXX. [Tried that; no help]

Make sure if the modem has two jacks that you are not using the wrong jack,one is phone and the other is for the modem line. [I’m certain I’m using the right jack. I even put a phone on the phone jack to listen for a dialtone. It’s there.]

Try another phone cord. [Done. No change.]

Do you show any com ports in device manager? [Yes – COM1, COM2. Now this may be the problem! My modem is identified in the following way: Hoping you can understand this -- in System Manager when I click on Modem, then right click on my modem, then click on Properties, then click on the Modem tab, it says the modem is located at COM3. I don’t know how to move it to COM2; COM1 has the serial mouse. ]

Make sure your modem is in the connect using window. [I don’t understand this sentence.]

If still having a problem with all done above I would disable the com ports in the bios and reinstall the modem. [I don’t know how to do this.]

Free resources by disabling external serial ports in CMOS setup. If you are not using external serial devices attached to COM ports, these resources can be freed for the internal modem to use. To access these settings enter setup after rebooting computer. [I’d like to reserve trying this until after I hear from you about the potential COM2/COM3 conflict.]

More information on entering CMOS setup can be obtained from your computer's manufacturer. [This computer was a custom made device, created about 10 years ago. I have upgraded the processor and the mother board and RAM over the years.]

Restart PC after inserting the PCI modem into the PCI slot of PC. When
Windows detects the modem, the message "This wizard searches for new
drivers for: PCI Communication Device" is displayed. Click Next.

2. To search for the best drivers for your device, click Next.

3. Insert the driver CD and specify the location: F:\Drivers\FM56-PM\Win9x
(F is your CD-ROM drive.) and then click Next.

4. Windows will show the message ”Windows driver file search for the device
“AOpen PCI Modem Enumerator” and show the location of driver. Click
Next

I would start this over again,remove the drivers from the add remove program,check the device manager make sure there is no modem listed. Disable com1 and com2 ,remove the dial up connectoid in the dial up folder.reboot with out the cd in the drive. when windows finds new hardware point it to the drivers.