Toshiba A45 Series manual 171, Setting up for communications, Determining the COM port

Exploring Your Options	171
Using your computer at the office

You can connect an external USB-compatible keyboard and a USB-compatible mouse to one of the USB ports. For more information about connecting a mouse, see “Connecting a mouse” on page 75.

Setting up for communications

To connect to the Internet, use an online service, or communicate across the telephone lines with another computer, you need:

❖A modem (one comes with your computer)

❖A telephone line

❖A browser or communications program

❖An Internet Service Provider (ISP) or online service if you plan to use the Internet

Determining the COM port

Your modem is connected to one of the computer’s COM (communications) ports. The default setting for the modem is COM3.

The following procedure is intended to support you if you need to either upgrade your modem or reset the port to the default settings.

If you’re having trouble connecting through the modem, you may need to determine the current COM port name and possibly change it.

To find out which port your modem is connected to in the operating system:

1Click Start, Control Panel, then Printers and Other Hardware.

2Click Phone and Modem options.

3The Phone and Modem options window appears.