Huawei E220 - Problems, solutions...

[Etopia]

I have a Huawei E220 and it has driven me crazy for months on end with one problem after another. I thought I might share how I got my modem sorted.

1. Upgrading to the latest firmware solved a lot of my problems with poor connection.
This worked for me on XP and Vista:
http://www.business.vodafone.com/si.../general/microsoft/vista/30_modem/p_modem.jsp
2. The usage meter is completely inaccurate. Unless you click "Disconnect" the previous session is not recorded and added to the total usage. Smsing the word "Balance" to 100 via the dashboard is your best option to keep track of usage. Either that or install DU Meter.
3. The Modem hangs my boot every time and I have to unplug it and then wait to plug it back in once Windows is running. Once I plug it in it takes ages for the VMClite software to run. This is normal and you just have to be patient.
4. MediaMonkey conflicts with the dashboard software and modem and kills the connection. I listen to a lot of music while I'm online so I had to switch media players.
5. AnyDVD conflicts with the Modem. Don't install it.
6. When you install any edition of the Adobe Creative Suite 3 family, Creative Suite 3 component or iTunes 7.6 on Windows, Bonjour is installed as a service on the machine. Bonjour is Apple's open source implementation of zero-configuration networking software. It is used by Adobe Version Cue CS3 client applications to dynamically discover Version Cue Servers on the local network.

This had me rebooting my pc 10 times a day just to get back online. Problem solved. Get rid of Bonjour now! It's installed without your permission and it conflicts with your connection and hangs it, then requiring a reboot:
http://www.x64bit.net/site/board/index.php?showtopic=4214&mode=threaded&pid=47407

Anyway, I hope these suggestions help someone to get over some of the problems I have had.

Please add to the list...

Us Huawei E220 peeps need all the help we can get

 

[ginggs]

3. The Modem hangs my boot every time and I have to unplug it and then wait to plug it back in once Windows is running.

I have seen this problem before, updating the BIOS on the motherboard solved the problem. This problem isn't unique to the E220, I have never been able to boot my PC with my Canon scanner attached, and my board is fairly old now so I don't think there'll ever be a BIOS update to fix this.

4. MediaMonkey conflicts with the dashboard software and modem and kills the connection. I listen to a lot of music while I'm online so I had to switch media players.
5. AnyDVD conflicts with the Modem. Don't install it.
6. When you install any edition of the Adobe Creative Suite 3 family, Creative Suite 3 component or iTunes 7.6 on Windows, Bonjour is installed as a service on the machine. Bonjour is Apple's open source implementation of zero-configuration networking software. It is used by Adobe Version Cue CS3 client applications to dynamically discover Version Cue Servers on the local network.

I think all these problems are all caused by incomplete emulation of the CD-ROM device in the E220. You can try disabling the drive letter to resolve this.

PS Welcome to MyBroadband!

 

[kenironside]

I have just been given an E220 and it is installed OK on my Vista laptop - firmware upgraded etc. But, as noted above, the VMC Lite software is really inadequate if you want to track usage, speed etc. I was using Mobile Partner software with a E620 card before and it has reasonable speed and usage tracking. Can I use this software (or something similar) with the E220?

If so, how?

Thanks, Ken

 

[ginggs]

I was using Mobile Partner software with a E620 card before and it has reasonable speed and usage tracking. Can I use this software (or something similar) with the E220?

Yes, if you still have the Mobile Partner software installed on your PC, disable the drive letter as above to stop VMC running, then just run Mobile Partner when you need it.

Otherwise, head over to Huawei's site and download the latest version for your device, be sure to choose the UTPS version as it contains Mobile Partner.

 

[Park@82]

I have seen this problem before, updating the BIOS on the motherboard solved the problem. This problem isn't unique to the E220...

And I thought I was alone, My pc also hangs on "detecting IDE drives" when my E220 is plugged in, as soon as I remove it from the USB it boots. Was unable to find BIOS updates for my not so old epox board...