Modem Problems

Installing a modem is very easy. Nowadays, almost all modems support plug and play installation. Hence any one can install modems. But modem related PC problems are hard to diagnose and solve.

Modems come in different categories. There are broadband modems, dialup modems, ISDN modems and Cable modems. Irrespective of their type, they does the same work i.e. data communication.

Modems may have problems of different types. For example, your internet may start to crawl i.e. slow speed, modem may not be detected, modem may not detect the telephone line ring tone, modem may not accept its default drivers, etc.

The modem problems listed here are primarily for dialup modems because I dont have any other forms of internet in my place yet.

Modems Troubleshooting

Applicable to : Windows 95/98/98SE/ME. (May work with other versions as well.)

• Check the telephone line. Some times the telephone line may be faulty or your telephone may be out of order. See if you can hear the dial tone thru telephone.
• Check the connection jacks. Try removing and re-inserting the jack. Also make sure that the telephone line connection jack is connected to "line" port of the modem not "phone" port.
• Drivers may not be installed properly or some driver files may be corrupt. Try re-installing modem drivers. If possible try downloading updated drivers for modem & use them.
• If it is an internal modem, try using another PCI slot for the modem. Some times this solves the problem ( especially in case of IRQ conflicts. )
• Try diagnosing the modem. Go to Start => Settings => Control Panel => Modems. Click Diagnostics tab. select the modem port and click "More Info.." button. The system tries to communicate with modem, and displays the result as given in bellow picture. Check the blue color indicated info on your system. It should be as shown bellow. Else there is a modem/driver/ IRQ problem.