Mobile Broadband

[chasd]

My father's computer uses a Vodafone mobile broadband usb modem as its broadband connection. It is used regularly but for low data volumes. The usb modem is the Huawei K3565. It has been working perfectly for several years until a couple of days ago.

A couple of days ago when he tried to activate the Vodafone Mobile Connect Lite software (in order to connect) a message appeared that "VMC had encountered a problem and had to close" and the VMC Lite application would not open. Searching the web I managed to find that this was caused by a problem with Microsoft .NET framework sotware on the pc. I got a fix for this. However now when I double click on the VMC Lite aplication the window opens but shows "No device".

I have tried system restores, un-installing the VMC software and re-installing it. I saw some references to similar problems on the eforum and I have tried un-installing the mass storage devices within device manager to prevent the usb modem being treated as a memory device by the application. None of these have worked.

Because I have re-installed the software from the USB dongle I am now usng Version 9.3.5.11690 which was the version originally installed on the dongle. The pc is using Windows XP SP3.

Can you advise me what else I can try to fix this?

[TudorC]

hi chasd.

I would recommend you to install the Vodafone Mobile Broadband 10.2.302.

Install this app after you did this in the following order:

1. Make sure the device is removed and have that kit in your PC.

2. Right click on My computer, then the fourth one Manage, then click on Device Manager from System tools.

• check if you have any Modems case in the right side, and uninstall the ones that is being said like Mobile broadband modem or so and uninstall them; it is possible that Modems would not exist so don't worry.
• check if you have USB Composite Device or USB Mass storage device and uninstall them in the Universal serial bus controllers box.
  

3. Open Control Panel and select Phone and Modem options and uninstall any Not connected modem.

4. Install Vodafone Mobile Broadband 10.2.302.

5. Insert the modem back into another USB controller and wait for all drivers to be correctly installed.

6. Connect.

Tudor.

Meanwhile: in any other PC it is working ok? If not get in store for it to be checked. Do you have warranty anymore? If not and you would want to, buy a new one.

[chasd]

Thank you, Tudor.

That was very helpful and I was able to get the drivers installed and the USB device recognised.

Then I ran into another problem. i clicked on Connect and after the appication tried to connect for a short while, the following message appeared.

Mobile connection not possible.

- Set your current mobile device as the default

  device under the 'Devices' tab in the Advanced window

- Ensure that no other applications are using your

  mobile device and try again in a short while

- Delete the device under the 'Devices' tab in the Advanced

  window, add it back again, and then try connecting

- If you see the 'Account Type' option in the Options window,

  check that the right account is selected for your SIM.

If this error persists, please contact Support

at your mobile network operator.

Support information:

RAS error code 619

I know that there is a mobile signal in this area. And I have tried the usb modem in another computer (and it works).

I have tried to delete the device and add it back as suggested in the error message.  But it does not allow me to delete it because it is in use (even though it is not connected and I have used the Windows "safely remove hardware" button.

I am not sure what to try next. Can anyone give me suggestions?

Thanks

Chasd

[Lee]

Hi there chasd,

Thanks for the update.

Could you take a look at this post and try the suggestions for me?

Let me know how you get on.

Cheers,

Lee

[chasd]

Hi Lee

Thanks for that link. I tried the instructions on the error 619 section. The account type is correct and I tried separately changing the bearer type to 3G only and GPRS.

Unfortunately it did not change the problem. At one point the error code changed to 720 but on rebooting, the error changed back to 619. I read the instructions on the link for dealing with error 720 but since the error had changed back to 619 I was reluctant to risk uninstalling the modem again.

Is there anything else I can try?

Thanks

Chasd

[Lee]

Hi there chasd,

Thanks for coming back to me.

I'm afraid this is where my expertise ends so I'll have to do a bit of digging for you and will come back to you when I have more information to share.

In the meantime, would you be able to try the device on another machine?

Cheers,

Lee

[chasd]

Hi Lee

Yes, the device does work on another pc so the problem does not appear to be with the usb device.

I look forward to hearing from you when you have done some digging.

Thanks

Chasd

[James]

Hi chasd,

Thanks for the update here.

As the device is working on another machine it would indicate that the problem is either with a compatibility of the OS on your machine or the setup of the dongle on it.

Can you confirm what OS the machine was running where the dongle worked?

What Version of VMC did you use on that machine?

Also do you know if your machine is running Windows XP 32bit or Windows XP 64bit?

It may also be worth looking at crating a manual dial up command on your machine to rule out any software conflictions by using the following guide;

Go to Start, Settings/Control Panel then click on Network Connections and create a new connection from the top of the menu by clicking on File then New connection.

Click Next

Select 'Connect to the Internet'   > click Next

'Set up my connection manually'   > click Next

'Connect using a dial up modem'   > click Next

Place a tick in 'Modem – Huawei/Option   > click Next

ISP name can be anything   > click Next

Phone number must be *99#   > click Next

Create this connection for: ‘user preference’ > click Next 

Username: web / Password: web   > click Next

Place a tick in ‘Add a shortcut to your desktop for this connection’

Click Finish

Click Dial

Give this a go and let m know how you get on.

James

[chasd]

Hi James

Thank you for that advice.

When I created the new manual connection I was able to connect to the internet.

I still get an error message when I try to connect via the Vodafone Mobile application - although the error code has now changed from error 619 to error 633. Does this give you a clue as to where the problem is? 

To answer your other questions:

The other computer was running Vista and VMC 9 (not the most up to date version).Although this modem had been working properly with version 10.2 for some time on the original pc before this problem occurred.

When I Iook at system properties I cannot see whether the operating system is XP 32bit or XP 64bit. It just says Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 3

It is definite progress to get a dial up connection. What do you think is the next step?

Thanks

Chasd

[Simon]

Hi chasd

Thanks for your reply. You can find more information on Error 633 and troubleshooting here - Mobile Broadband Help including troubleshooting.

I'd also recommend downloading the latest version of VMC here - Vodafone Mobile Broadband Software as it's now running on version 10.2.

If you still require further help please let us know.

Thanks

Simon

[chasd]

Hi Simon

I have tried continuing to use the device for a week or so now via the manual dialup . It is still functioning in that way. I am still getting the error 619 if I try to connect the "normal" way using hte connect button on the vodafone mobile broadband application. The pc is running the up to date version 10.2 and although error 633 appeared once, that was the exception. The repeated error is error 619.

At least I am getting a connection, so that the pc can be used to connect to the internet.

1. Will the dial up method continue to work or is it a temporary fix?

2. I would feel more confident if I was not getting errors from the application. Is there anything else I can try to fix it to prevent these error problems?

Thanks

Chasd

[James]

Hi chasd,

To be honest the manual dial up is a temporary fix to allow a connection whilst we look at alternatives for you however, can I ask if you can try to download and install V9 of the software from here.

The reason for this is that there is a possibility that the version that you are trying to use is not compatible with parts of your current operating system.

Give this a go and let me know how you get on.

James

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[chasd]

Hi James

I am wary of uninstalling the current version of the software (v10.2) and going back to version 9 because I don't think that caused the probem in the first place and I have done re-installs multiple times recently. Just to clarify, the pc had been using version 10 for more than 6 months (probably over 12 months,but I cannot remember exactly) before this problem arose. In that context, is it really a good bet to go back to version 9? I will try it if you are sure it is worthwhile.

I am out of my depth here but I suspect that the initial problem had something to do with the version of the .NET framework that I had on the pc. To be honest I have no idea what Microsoft .NET does but the first problem that I had was where the mobile broadband software did not function at all and a contributor to the forum helped me with some advice which invoved downloading an MS fix tool for a problem with MS.NET and getting some MS updates. You will see the history in the posts, but this fix got me over the first problem and then there were further difficulties, first with the application not seeing the USB modem and (once that was fixed) then the current problem of the error message. If the original problem did start from .NET (and I am just guessing based on the coincidence) is it possible for this to have caused operating system problems of this type, where previously there were no apparent compatibility problems?

Thanks

Chasd

[Dave]

Hi chasd,

The ".NET framework" is a Microsoft creation which provides language interoperability between applications and on older versions of windows is actually pre-installed in the Operating System. Essentially, this means that it helps communicate between otherwise incompatible programs in different coding languages. This could theoretically cause an issue if something happens such as a fault or incompatible update, but so can many other programs and services.

I would follow James' suggestion as this will help with ruling in or out an issue between the system and the software version. 

Dave

[chasd]

Hi Dave

I have followed James' link and uninstalled version 10 and replaced it with version 9. It worked! It is now connecting successfully using the connect button on the mobile broadband dashboard, without any error messages.

After all the hassle this has caused I am tempted to play it safe and stick with version 9. Or would you recommend that I should try an update to version 10?

Thanks

Chasd

[Andrew]

Hi chasd, 

To be honest, I'd say that as you've now got a successfully working broadband connection with no errors showing, I'd be inclined to continue with version 9. If you do wish to update to version 10, but encounter the errors again, you now at least know the process to revert back to the previous version.

Thanks

Andrew