im now back home typing using the same 'troublesome' modem on my parents box, not a problem at all, this PC even comes complete with a dodgy keyboard port

tr3kker - i did try that COM port BIOS setting, but it didnt make any difference at all, still the same problem, it cant be the cable coz it works well on 2 other PC's that ive used it on so far, unless my newer computer can cope with line noise better than this older one, thats a long shot i know

if the other modem doesnt help i'll mess around with the COM port settings a bit more, then i'll give up and buy a USB modem i think, or borrow one to see what happens