Problem installing USB modem

[Odie]

A friend of mine bought a Huawei E220 modem. When one connects it to the computer it is supposed to automatically install the software on the PC. When connecting it to my friends computer, Windows identifies it correctly but the firmware does not install. The modem can be used (using windows drivers) but the mouse pointer continuously shows the hourglass. I have tried all the USB ports to no avail. It is not the firewall or the AV as I have disabled both. The modem installs correctly on another computer so the problem is not with the modem.

Can you guys give me advice please.

[NinjaRicer]

Try reinstalling the firmware, or installing an updated firmware.

[Odie]

@ NinjaRicer, the firmware is fine, as I said it installs perfectly on a second computer.

[brayden]

What Internet Security or Anti-Virus do you have

[Odie]

@ brayden, Panda 2008 but I disabled it.

[Raymond]

USB drives should work in Safe Mode. Try booting in to Safe Model, plug in the USB modem and see if it works.

[Odie]

@ Ray I will see him next week and try it then, thanks man.

[Odie]

I tried it in Safe Mode and nothing. The funny thing is, I use the same modem and on my computer, in Explorer, it is shown as a CD Drive as it is on my friends, but Windows can't open it on my friends PC. It gives the error "Please insert a CD in the drive". I thought it might be a power problem on the USB drives. The modem comes with a secondary USB cable which they call "Assistant Power" especially for instances where a particular USB port does not supply enough power, but even when I plug in the assistant power it still does not work. It can't be a setting in the registry that prevents it from installing as I can install programs from a Flash drive.

Another thing that bothers me, is the fact that one can connect to the internet through "Connect to" on the Start Menu. Although the modem is constantly active Windows will view it as Idle and prompt you if it should disconnect or not.

I'm completely baffled.

[Odie]

Please guys I need you to help me on this one.

[prashanthpai]

Some network operators selling E220, however, replace Huawei's software with their own, which often is software-locked (albeit not SIM-locked) to work only with the operator's own network.

I guess this will be of some use to you :
A number of software compatibility issues are know to exist with the E220 USB modem. This is mainly related to CD Writing software, software that creates virtual CD-ROM drives and with Microsoft ActiveSync.
Source: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=86757

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huawei_E220

Download firmware/software:
http://www.huawei.com/mobileweb/en/d...type=-1&id=736

P.S: And you can always reinstall XP - perhaps this is easy way to fix it as you said that it works fine on other PC :)