How to install and configure an external modem
From ArticleWorld
Nowadays, external modems are an excellent choice in most cases. They are cheap enough and easy to install, since they do not require you to open the computer's case and inserting them in a slot on the motherboard. Only in very few special cases will you need to purchase an internal modem.
Here is how to install and configure an external modem.
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Procedure
- Unpack the modem and get all the accessories at hand. You will need the modem itself, a phone cord, a connector cable, a CD or a floppy disk with drivers, and, in some cases, an instruction manual and a power adapter.
- Turn off your computer and attach the modem cable to the port where it is plugged. Modern ones can be connected to USB ports which are rectangular. Older ones use parallel or serial ports, which are wider and have pins. On Macs, they are marked with telephone signs. Identifying the right port is easy, and you should not fear too much: the plug is designed so that it can only be plugged into one kind of port. However, more than a gentle push should not be required. If the connector does not go in, start by thinking that the problem is on your end and do not push unless you are sure you are pushing into the correct port and in the correct position.
- Take the phone cord. Connect one end to the modem (the connector is usually labeled line or wall), and the other one to your the phone line. Plug the telephone's cord to the modem if they will be sharing the same line.
- Connect the modem to the power supply, using an adaptor if required.
- Turn on the computer (and the modem, if it has a power switch) and get the CD or the floppy disks at hand. The computer should detect the modem at first and ask for the drivers disks. If it does not, use the installation program on the disks.
- After installation is complete, refer to your ISP's documentation for details on how to set it up to use your Internet connection.
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Notes
The most important thing to check is probably the phone line required by the modem. Most homes have older, analog phone lines, while most offices have a digital phone line.