Worst Windows hardware/drivers out there today!
Pros:
NONE!
Cons:
Drivers don't install, machine doesn't boot after driver installation, manufacturer doesn't support problem.
The Bottom Line:
DO NOT BUY! Spend your money on something that has a better chance of working.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I was in a rush and needed to purchase a voice modem for a business project, so I figured $35 at Best Buy would get a functional modem into my computer before the afternoon was out. The price was ok, I didn't really care so much that it was a no-name brand, as long as it worked. Was I WRONG! I'm running Windows 2000 SP4 with up to date Windows patches.
Installing this device should have been a piece of cake. Instead, after agreeing to let Windows install the drivers off the CD (as per the modem instruction sheet), the installation failed. Looking at the properties of the modem (or any other device in Device Manager) created an exception error and would not display the properties. No problem. The experienced Windows guy says give it a reboot. Device Manager still had the same problem, so I selected Uninstall, shutdown, removed the hardware and booted up again. Now it gets even better: The machine provides an error message and shuts itself down just before you can log onto it. Again, no problem, let's get into safe mode. Same thing, you can't log on, you can't do anything. Last known good, reinserting the modem, etc. are useless.
Now I was less than happy. I checked epinions.com (I know, should have done this FIRST) and noticed a WinXP user had the same problem.
Contacting Tech Support got me the answer of, "There is no way the modem could have caused this. Let me give you the number of Best Buy's Geek Squad." I explained to the woman that this machine has been fine for two years, gets its daily reboot, and has been booting perfect for two years. Again, she insists that their modem or drivers couldn't have done this. I told her she had better check epinions.com since I wasn't the first to be burned by their garbage product.
Since Windows repair didn't do anything useful but waste another hour of my time, I ended up reloading the machine from scratch.
I haven't had such a bad experience with hardware and drivers since the NT4 days which were 5 years ago! By the way, I do this type of work every day. I WILL NOT EVER buy another Dynex product again.
If you feel like you need a modem and this is your only option, you had better rethink your goals since you won't even have a working computer by the time you are done "installing" this poor excuse for a product.
