MMX needed error

[crazychicken]

trying to install a PCI modem in an old like 233 w/ 32mb ram

i get an error "MMX needed" when trying to install drivers

wtf? how to go around this?

thanks
david

 

[pm]

It's saying that you need a CPU that supports the MMX instruction set. The CPU that you have is too outdated to use the drivers needed by the modem. I'd recommend buyng a different modem. There is no workaround that I can think of.

 

[VBboy]

Your modem is what is called a "software" modem. Some of its functionality (such as error correction, for example) is implemented in the DRIVERS as opposed in the actual hardware of the modem. This is called HostSignal Processing (HSP), where the host (your pc) does most of the work needed to transmit data.

This puts additional load on your machine's CPU, and I guarantee it will be noticeable on your Pentium. It was somewhat noticeable on an older laptop I had.

In any case, MMX was used to speed up the processing implemented in the drivers. Your PC doesn't have MMX, so you probably can't use them. Try "Generic modems" or "Standard modems" drivers, maybe that will work. Now you see why it said "Pentium 2 or better" on the box

 

[mastertech01]

Get a good ISA hardware modem. Most PCI modems are Winmodem and require a great deal of Processor utilization.

 

[VBboy]

Additionally, I would recommend just buying (or borrowing from a friend) an older PCI or even better, ISA, modem. That's guaranteed to work, even with the generic modem drivers of Windows. Saying "try a local junk-yard" would be cruel Well, good luck, my friend!

 

[Tanked]

What CPU do you have? Pentium (Non-MMX) variants only went up to 200 MHz, and the 233 MHz parts all have MMX integrated to them.

 

[jcmkk]

It's probably a Pentium Pro or something. It could also be a Via or AMD.

 

[VBboy]

Originally posted by: jcmkk
It's probably a Pentium Pro or something. It could also be a Via or AMD.

Hehe.. It can't be a Via. Via didn't make CPUs back then. It would have to be Cyrix. And Cyrix made some high-quality sh|t, let me tell you