I have a friend with a Gateway Solo Pro 9300 laptop.  Its serial # is
0017280189.  She wants to upgrade it from Windows 98 to Windows XP, in
order to be able to run a particular application.

A pointer to a page with detailed information about her computer is:

http://support.gateway.com/support/srt/docs.asp?sn=0017280189

(doesn't have detail about her modem although it's original with the computer)

It will run Windows XP (has been successfully loaded and run), but she
needs a new modem driver for it that will work with Windows XP.  I've
asked Gateway, but they don't have an XP-compatible driver for the
modem card she currently has, and the technician also couldn't find a
different Gateway internal modem compatible with her laptop for which
there was an XP driver.  The modem she currently has is a

    Mini PCI type 3B Data Fax modem by 3Com

It's desirable but not crucial that the fax capability continues to work.

Question: 
1) does a new driver exist that can be loaded so this modem will work
on this computer under Windows XP?
2) failing that, is there a different internal modem for this computer
that will achieve the same goal?
3) failing that, what's a workable external modem option for this computer?

Thanks.

I think an external modem is your best bet installing anything in a
laptop can get expensive.

You have a few options.

1. Check and see if a Windows 2000 driver works ( from
http://www.driverguide.com/  and they want you to register to download
drivers - registration is free).

2. Check with 3Com (it may be a US Robotics model) to see if a new
drive is/when would on be -  available (if I were you, I won't hold my
breath).

3. But an external modem - any of the USB modems should work (internal
modems, as the other comment says, would be expensive for a laptop). 
A few links while searching on Froogle:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=50883-N&sourceid=qIpmQf8izAWoAmWi1-bE
http://store.yahoo.com/pcsurplus/56kvsgsthexu.html
http://www.laptops4me.com/product_info.php/products_id/1447
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6720214834&category=44940

Good luck.

Have you gone to the Windows Update site and checked for updates
there?  It scans for critical (security) updates, reconmmended
updates, AND drivers, based on what hardware is installed on the
computer...

Windows Update
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

~~Cynthia

PS, I wouldn't use driverguide.com.  Too many unchecked files with
viruses have been detected there, or linked from there.

Geez, never mind.  I guess without a modem it'd be hard to get online.
 Maybe there's a nic card installed, take the laptop to a house with
cable internet and let it scan for the dial-up driver there.  Check
for the nic card in the Device Manager...

~~Cyn

Try this driver, you have to register 1st. 

http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=35392