Tips & Tricks

Modem Problems - Part 1

This simple test will help you determine where exactly your modem problem lies. You may want to try this before you take your computer in for repair.

Go to the Start menu, Settings, Control Panel, and click on Modems. Then in the Modems Properties window, click on the Diagnostics tab at the top of the window.

Select your modem’s port.

Click on More Info... and a window similar to the one below will pop up.

This automatically tests your modem and gives you an indication as to whether it is working properly.

(For XP Users, it's the same idea, just different window names... Go to Start, Control Panel, Printers and Other Hardware. Select Phone and Modem Options. Select the Modems tab at the top of this window. Then click on the Properties button. Select the Diagnostics tab and click the Query Modem button. After a few seconds, you should see “success” in the response field. )

All Users: If you do not see anything in the window or if the “Couldn’t Open Port” window pops-up, you may have a modem driver problem. Troubleshooting these problems will be discussed in tomorrow’s tip.

-- Greg Barnett

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