Installing a modem

            Modems connect your computer to a network and the internet thru  a ordinary phone line.  To work, you need an ISP ( Internet Service Provider), such as America Online, Compuserve, and countless other local or national companies.  

           The first step in setting up your modem is to determine wether it is internal, or external.  This is pretty easy being that it should say on the box.  If not, then you can tell by simply taking a glance at it.  If it is a card of printed circuit board ,like this, then it is internal.  If it has a plastic case on it, like this, then it is external.

            To install an external modem:

1. Turn off your computer and unplug it.
2. Locate a free serial port   (picture) on the back of you computer.
3. Attach the serial cable (picture) that came with the modem to the serial port on the back of the computer.  Press it in and then tighten the screws.
4. Plug the other end of the cable into the corresponding port in the back of the modem and tighten the screws.
5. Plug the phone line from the jack in the wall into the modem in the jack that says LINE (most modems have two phonejacks, if yours only has one, then only plug it into the wall and disregard the next step.)
6. Plug the jack that says PHONE into the phone.
7. Plug the modem into the power out let and you are done.
8. Now go to installing the modem drivers

          To install an internal modem:

1. Turn your computer off and disconnect it from the power outlet.
2. Remove the case.
3. Look inside and find a free ISA slot (picture).
4. Take special care not to touch the hard drive or the motherboard without grounding yourself or discharging any static build up that you may have by touching an unpainted metal part of the case.  Static electricity can damage or erase computer components and data.
5. Remove the metal strip that is in front of the slot (some unscrew, some have to be popped out).
6. Take the modem and gently, yet firmly push it into the slot until it is firmly seated.
7. Screw the card into the case (picture).
8. Replace the cover on your computer.
9. Plug the phone line from the jack in the wall into the modem in the jack that says LINE (most modems have two phonejacks, if yours only has one, then only plug it into the wall and disregard the next step.)
10. Plug the jack that says PHONE into the phone.
11. All you need to do now is to install the drivers.

Installing the modem drivers:

1. Turn on the computer.

2. Go to the Control Panel and select Add New Hardware.

3. Let windows try to find the new hardware itself.  

4. If windows detects your modem follow the instructions to load the drivers from the diskette or CD that came with your modem.

5. If windows did not detect your new modem, Click to manually install the device.

6. Select Modems from the list of hardware.

7. Let windows try to detect your modem.

8. If this works, follow the instructions to install the drivers from the disk.

9. If this does not work, Click to select your modem from a list .

10. Even if you see your modem on the list, press the Have Disk button and install the modem drivers from the diskette or CD.

11. Windows will now probably need to reboot.

          Your new modem should be up and running now.  You can check this by going into  Control Panel, selecting system, and then double clicking on modems.  If your modem comes up without a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark in it, it is working fine.  If it has the yellow sign refer to Windows Help.  I will soon try to have troubleshooting up for these pages.