Installing an internal modem can be real easy or your biggest nightmare. Either way, being an internal card, it is harder to install than an external modem.

1. Turn the power off, unplug it, and take the case cover off.


2. Now choose a motherboard slot for your modem. Many newer modems use PCI slots, although ISA modems are still available.


3. Remove the corresponding metal slot insert from the back of the computer. Save the screw, if one is present, to use for your modem.


4. Remove the modem from it’s packaging. Handle it by its edge to avoid static electricity. Don’t mess with its connector pins or the chips on the board. Push the modem into the slot. You might need to roll the card into the slot because it is a snug fit.


5. The back plate of the modem should line up with the open hole in the back of the case. Tighten the modem into place using your saved screw.


6. Now attach the phone lines to the modem. The line from the wall jack goes to “Line” on the modem. Then, if you want to, you can connect your phone to the other jack on the modem, labeled “phone”.


7. Now reconnect all the cables and turn the computer back on. Its probably best to leave the case off until you have tested the modem, just in case you need to remove it again.


8. The computer should boot normally. If you are using Windows 9x or a version higher, and your modem is plug-n-play, your computer should detect the new modem upon startup and ask for drivers. If the modem is not automatically detected, try setting the modem manually to a free COM port and IRQ. This is done by adjusting the jumpers on the modem itself. Once it is sensed by Windows, just follow the instructions to install the software and drivers. Under Win3.x, you can first test your modem in Terminal, under Accessories. Type a command, like AT, in the box. If it responds with OK, the modem is probably working. If you can’t type, or you get an error, your modem is not set correctly. You need to choose a different COM Port or IRQ. If it is working, install the software.

Configuration

Making an internal modem work can be a real nightmare because of IRQ and COM Port conflicts. Your modem cannot share an IRQ or a COM port with any another device. Luckily, with the advent of Windows 2000 and XP, this should no longer be an issue. For systems running older OS’s, it may be. To change your modem settings, you’ll need your manual. Most modems come configured for a certain setting. If this doesn’t work and causes conflicts, you’ll need to change it. Most modems have jumpers, and you simply move the bridge(s) to cover whatever pins are required for your desired setting. Again, consult the manual for the jumper configurations. Other modems have DIP switches. Newer modems are plug-n-play and will configure itself, but a good plug-n-play will have the jumpers available just in case it can’t configure itself.

During installation of the modem, you will be asked to select what type of modem you have from a list. Try to pick the exact modem. If it isn’t there, try picking one as close as possible, such as the internal version of the same modem for an external modem. If you can’t find any of these, usually picking a standard Hayes compatible setting will work. This will usually get you online so that you can look for better configurations at the manufacturer’s web site or BBS.

Most modems do not require a driver. If yours does, it is called a “host-controlled” modem. This means that the error-checking is done by the software, not the hardware. These modems can be problematic and are best avoided. If the modem box says “requires Windows”, it has a high chance of being a host controlled modem.

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