Got an old windows 2k machine from work.
Can't get it to hook up to the internet.
Says it don't recognize the modem.
Any ideas?????

You're talking about a dial-up modem right?

Make sure that the drivers are installed for it. If you don't know what drivers you need, you can use a program like unknown device identifier. It should tell you what drivers you need.

It's a DSL.

But I believe the unit has an internal modem of some sort.

It was a business machine and hooked up to a server somehow.

DSL you say?

Alright then, what kind of network are you looking to connect to? Are you hooking directly into the modem or is there a router in between?

Run services.msc make sure the proper services are running as they may have been disabled for server operation.

Can't get into the 'Run', well I can but
it won't take 'command' that tell
you anything?

Computer to modem to cable.
Replaced modem and cable.
No joy :-)

(Mo sent me the computer^^)

What do you mean you can't get into run? If you can, try running ipconfig /all at the command prompt. What do you get for output?

It won't take anything from the prompt.
Meaning nothing can be entered.

I would run Parted Magic. It will set up using the computer's RAM then kick the CD out. It will then bring up a desktop running just from the computer's RAM. If it can't get you on the Internet then you definitely have problems.

Yeah, it does not recognize the internet. At all.
Even tried setting up a wireless, still can't get it to take anything.
Like part of its brain is missing.
I have a desktop, but no START.
The techie guy got into it another way.

Makes sense. Last time I went to mess with 2K Microsoft wanted to give me this patch. It isn't abandoned ware as yet. Windows ME is. It would let me go on the Internet with 2K just not update so it must be a hardware issue and not software or so it would seem. But no start? I have encountered that before. It still could be a software and quite possibly a hardware issue at the same time. I have encountered multiple problem computers before. I have a graveyard of computers and parts at my place. Usually if the power supply is browning out you will encounter many problems. A blackout can be preferable. Voltage problems can let some things work but not others. I have had to do the process of elimination with computers before by disconnecting everything on the PCIs or if in your case maybe ISAs depending if you got white connectors for PCI, brown or red for AGP and black for the legacy ISAs. You can get an IRQ problem where two devices are trying to use the same driver. Much like the old DLL software problem. If the F8 and different Windows loads make no difference I would check each connector with ribbons and power connectors. I had success with cleaning each blade on PCIs and ISAs devices with rubbing alcohol. I keep pressurised air for my old computers. Someone might have taken out a part, too.

Since it was a 'business' machine and there is no start button, there must be restrictions on it. I think the app you want to get going is poledit.exe which is a policy editor. You need to be admin on the machine to start it. (if it wasn't done over the original network) Can one mount that disk in another OS and fiddle with that stuff? I'm not a windohs guy, so hopefully someone can chime in with more about that.
Otherwise, that OS install will probably have to be nuked to start over.

I'm surprised Mr. R. Trout hasn't tried to push some linux.

What are the specs on the box? Maybe it'll run xpee if you have one of those disks lying about..?

That is exactly what it feels like.
Logged in as Admin already.
I may have an XP disc, but no key code.

I was trying to contain myself. I am better with physical parts be it repair or networking. I really didn't do that well with the admin part. You would be surprised with all the stuff I am learning with trial and error. With Windose my best advice was Format C:\. Lock and load.

Hey, here's a thought- can you mash ctrl+alt+del and bring up task manager? Wasn't there a way to start a program from there?

If you are logged in as admin and there are still restrictions, that box must be seriously crippled to prevent employees from doing stupid things.

If all else fails, I might have a win2k disk around here, somewhere. If I have it/ can find it, that would at least get you playing until you find an xpee key.

If the Trout ain't gonna, I will;
This might be an excellent time to learn linux! I bet debian would run like a champ on that box.

That is how it feels, restrictions I cannot get at.
So, loading a new W2k would override the old one?
And I would need a key for that too, yes?

Ctrl-alt-del will bring up the task manager. Msconfig is also something good about XP. Okay, but she might not like Zorin. It can be configured to look just like XP or 7. I have overrode things by reloading Windows. I have overrode simply by taking the CMOS battery out and putting it back. It clears the BIOS. If it password protected that can possibly help. Computer techs do it as a short cut. One can see if the BIOS is password protected. Some computer shops use to do that so you would have to come back to them for them to fix it or upgrade. They were afraid of people like me who break the PC so bad they couldn't bring it up back to original configuration.

Have you gotten a chance to try Legacy OS 2. It is a newer version of Legacy OS which used to be called Teen Pup? It qualifies for miniumnalist and would be a safe one for an old PC. Puppy Linux to me comes on strong where DamnSmallLinux left off. What I like about Legacy OS 2 like the first is that it does a full desktop.

http://goinglinux.com/

She can listen to before having to actually try it.

I am so non techie all I see is !@)&%$*&^@.. buy a new Operating system :-)