Exploring Your Computer’s Features

139

Setting up for communications

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 are 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:

1Click Start, Control Panel.

2Click Printers and Other Hardware.

3Click Phone and Modem Options.The Phone and Modem Options Properties dialog box displays.

4Fill in the Local Information text boxes and click OK.

5Click the Modems tab.

Your modem should be listed next to one of the computer’s COM ports.

6Make a note of the COM port number.

7To verify that the modem is set up properly, select the modem you wish to check, and then click Properties to bring up the dialog box with information specific to that modem.

The Windows operating system communicates with the modem and displays identifying information reported by the modem. If the Windows operating system cannot communicate with the modem, it displays an error message. Consult the troubleshooting sections of your modem and Windows operating system documentation.