Economic Satellite TV Service Provision

WrittenBy:General

WrittenBy:Chris Cornell
Dial-up modemsare the core component to a dial-up connection. It is the device responsible for creatingand maintaining a connection with your ISP and totranslate analog information foryour computer to display. If you have determined that yourmodem is causing disconnects or inability to connect, you will need to reinstall, repair, or replace it.

Three basic reasons that your modem would cause problems connecting are:

1. It is not installed correctly on the computer.
2. It needs updated driversoftware.
3. It is out of date, physically broken, or has corrupted software.

The solutions to these problems below should solve the problemand get you backonline.

Reinstall your modem. Beforeyou remove your modem, make sure you have the installation CD that came with your computer. Ifyou don't, you might be able to reinstall without it.If your computer's operating system is XP or Vista, the plug and playfeature should installthe modem for you or guide you through each step. On older versions, you may need to consult a computer technician. Then follow these steps:

1. Open Control Panel, then (in classic view)Phone and Modem Options.
2. Click on the Modems tab, and click on the modem you wish to reinstall.
3. Click Remove. Click Yes or Ok to confirm the remove, then closeall the windows.
4. Restart your computer.Windows should detect your modem and either install it on its own, or present a Found New Hardware wizard that guides you through installing the modem again.

Thereare a few problems that might occur when youreinstall the modem. You computermay not detect the modem again when yourestart. This could mean the modem cannot be repaired by reinstalling or was never physically on the computer in the first place. Another problem could be that your computertries to reinstall, but won't complete because it requires an installationCD. If this happens and you don't have the CD,you can sometimesfind installation software online on the manufacturer's website. A computer technician can help you with this step, or may haveother solutions.

Reinstalling does not guarantee to resolve yourproblem, even if it is successful. However, sometimes it works and it'sa worth a try, especially if youcouldn't connect to the Internet inthe first place.

Updateyour modem drivers. If you have an older computer, you may need to update your modem software if you still can't connect to the Internet.

To update your modem software, you need to know your modem type and manufacturer. Look for your modem name is listed in Phone and Modem Options,under the Modems tab. If you are using the modem that came with the computer, you could also check your computer's manual, or your modem's manual ifyou bought it separately.

You can browse online to find your modem manufacturer's website. Often there is a downloads heading, but you canalso run a search on your modem's name. The download will have your modem's name and driver in the title. See a computer technician if you are unfamiliar with computer device downloads as this could be too complicated for beginner users to try alone.

Buy a new modem. Your modem may not be repairable if it can't be reinstalled, or if the driver software will not improve your situation. This is especially true for old computers. Buying a new modem may be the best option available. For one, new modems are more reliable, relatively inexpensive (often between$20-50), and have the latest, fastest compressiontechnology.

If youneedare not familiar withmodems orcomputer repair,buying a newmodem may be the most inexpensive option for you. Installing a new external modem is fairly easy, and paying a computer technician to fix your old modem could cost more than installing a new one yourself.