I've recently reformatted an old laptop of mine and re-installed Windows etc. to give it another lease of life.

After reapplying all the Windows Updates one of the last things I did was to re-install an old Freeola supplied BT Voyager 105 USB modem.

For normal use you can't beat a router but it's been useful to have this modem available for more 'mobile' troubleshooting etc. The modem must be half decent as it's the one BT's own field engineers carry and use to test your line!

My installation failed with "Error loading newdev.dll" - a quick search shows this is a problem lots of people see!

Freeola correctly point out that the modem isn't compatible with Windows SP3 but for those already using this they may find the following useful.

The newdev.dll file is used by Windows when new hardware is installed - I can only guess the latest versions are no longer compatible with this modem. Which is strange as there are still a LOT of them around and in use.

I tried replacing the file with older versions (it's in the Windows system32 folder) - note you must be in Safe Mode or Windows automatically keeps replacing the file with the old version!!!

Windows SP3 uses this version: 5.1.2600.5512
I tried the following two versions from old XP discs but they also failed: 5.1.2600.0 & 5.1.2600.2180.

In the end I downloaded a version from www.dll-files.com this looks like a Windows 2000 one: Version 5.0.2146.1 but this worked!

After successfully installing the modem I put a copy of my original newdev.dll back in place to return things to normal :¬)

I've put all the details here for anyone that finds themselves in my situation: BT Voyager 105 install

If you happen to be re-installing Windows on a PC and you have this modem - try installing it BEFORE applying all the Windows Updates to see if you can avoid these problems!

NB. Freeola still stock this modem in their Shop in case you are looking for one.

Hidden Options!
If you display the status using the modem application and then click CTRL+F1 lots of useful techie options become available!
^Hmmm...