| Permission is granted for the below article to | | | | Wizard". Click on the Cancel button. |
| forward,reprint, distribute, use for ezine, | | | | The "Add New Hardware Wizard" is rarely able to |
| newsletter, website,offer as free bonus or part | | | | find theproper driver for a modem, and when the |
| of a product for sale as longas no changes are | | | | Wizard appears asthe computer starts, it blocks |
| made and the byline, copyright, and theresource | | | | your access to Explorer, soyou can't use Explorer |
| box below is included. | | | | to locate a driver. Just click onthe Cancel button |
| How to Really Install a Modem | | | | to close the Wizard. |
| By Stephen Bucaro | | | | After Windows starts you can open the "Add |
| Most motherboards now come with sound, video, | | | | New Hardware |
| and evennetworking built-in. But a modem is not | | | | Wizard". The Wizard will attempt to detect any |
| usually built-into a motherboard. This is because | | | | newhardware. Then it will give you the option to |
| modem technology hasbeen changing very rapidly. | | | | "select thehardware from a list." Choose the |
| It is preferable to have themodem on an | | | | option to select from alist, then click the Next |
| expansion card. | | | | button. In the list select |
| Most modem manuals assume that Plug and Play | | | | "modem" and click on the Next button. Then it will |
| willautomatically install the modem correctly, but | | | | giveyou the option to let windows "try to detect |
| this israrely the case. Use the four steps | | | | your modem"or "select the modem from a list." |
| described below toproperly install a modem. | | | | PnP will not be able to detect your modem if it's a |
| Step 1. Download the latest driver from the | | | | modeldeveloped after your Windows installation |
| manufacturer's | | | | disc wasmastered. Nor will it appear on the list. |
| Web site. | | | | Just select theclosest match from the list, then |
| Most modems come with an Installation CD. The | | | | update the driverafterwards. |
| problem withthis is that the CD contains drivers | | | | If Plug and Play installs old drivers, open the |
| for eight differentoperating systems and it usually | | | | Control |
| tries to install thewrong one. Even if it does install | | | | Panel "System" utility. Click on the Device Manager |
| the correct driver, itsusually not the latest version. | | | | taband in the device type list, open the branch for |
| Also, the CD usually comeswith several | | | | "Modem". |
| non-essential programs (AOL etc.) that themodem | | | | Select the name of the modem and click on the |
| company earns commission on when you install | | | | "properties"button. The modems "Properties" |
| them. | | | | dialog box will open. |
| I admit, its difficult to download a driver before | | | | Select the "Driver" tab and click on the "Update |
| youinstall the modem. You may be replacing an | | | | Driver..."button. The "Update Driver Wizard" |
| old modem, oryou may have another computer, | | | | appears. Use the Wizardto install the new modem |
| or a friend with a computerwith access to the | | | | driver. |
| Web. | | | | Don't be surprised if the "Update Driver Wizard" |
| Preferably, do this before you purchase the new | | | | updatesthe driver by removing the modem and |
| modem. | | | | adding it again (withthe new driver). |
| That way you can see what kind of driver and | | | | The modem "driver" will most likely not be a |
| technicalsupport is available for the modem before | | | | single file. |
| you shell outthe cash. | | | | It might be a group of files with extensions like |
| Step 2. If you are replacing a modem, remove | | | | .vxd, |
| the old modem. | | | | .exe, .ini, .dll, etc. The list of files is contained in |
| First physically open the case and remove the old | | | | atext file with the extension .inf. So when you |
| modem. | | | | install the |
| Then start the computer and remove the | | | | "driver" you are actually reading the files and |
| modem in Control | | | | otherconfiguration from the .inf file. |
| Panel. If the system is Windows 2000 you will | | | | Step 4. Don't forget to reconfigure your dial-up |
| have tologin as Administrator. Open the Modems | | | | connectionwith the new modem. If you are a |
| utility, selectthe name of the modem on the | | | | system administrator,don't forget to see that |
| General tab. Then click onthe Remove button. | | | | everyone else's dial-upconnection gets updated as |
| Step 3. Install the new modem. | | | | well. |
| First physically install the new modem. If the | | | | Using the four steps described above, you can |
| system is | | | | work around |
| Windows 2000 you will have to login as | | | | Plug and Play to properly install a modem with the |
| Administrator. Plugand Play may install the new | | | | latestdrivers. |
| modem for you, that means itfound an old driver | | | | Resource Box: |
| on your system and used that toinstall the | | | | Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. |
| modem. Or it may start the "Add New Hardware | | | | |