124 Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Setting up for communications
5.375 x 8.375 ver 2.3
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 either to 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, Printers and Other Hardware,
and then Phone and Modem Options.
The Phone and Modem Options Properties dialog box
displays.
2Fill in the Local Information text boxes and click OK.
3Click the Modems tab.
Your modem should be listed next to one of the computer’s
COM ports.
4Make a note of the COM port number.
5To verify that the modem is set up properly, select the
modem you wish to check, then click Properties to bring
up the dialog box with information specific to that
modem.
Windows XP communicates with the modem and
displays identifying information reported by the modem.
If Windows XP cannot communicate with the modem, it
displays an error message. If this occurs, consult the
troubleshooting sections of your modem and
WindowsXP documentation.