Adding a dial-up modem to a new computer

[Retail Associate]

Santa has delivered a new computer to my doorstep via the Fed Ex man. It is an emachines ET1831-01. That was extremely nice of Santa and I am very grateful. However, I use dial-up (DSL not available/Cable internet beyond my means) and this new computer does not have a modem.

So, I was wondering if it's possible to add a dial-up modem, hopefully the modem from one of my old PCs, to this new computer? I have an old (2000ish) Hewlet Packard with a Lucent Win Modem and a 2001 Compaq Presario 7110US with a 56K ITU V.90 Modem.

I've done some searching online but so far have had no luck in finding an answer. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions what my options are? Santa's gift came from Oklahoma ( a tad bit closer than the North Pole to be sure) but shipping it back seems, well, mean and ungrateful!

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA

[Broomjockey]

In order to answer this, you'd need to tell us what expansion slots you have available on the motherboard in the new computer, and what slot types the modems you have use. I think you can also get USB dial-up modems, so in a worst-case scenario, you could pick up one of those.

[Der Cute]

You'd have to open the case of the emachine to see if it can handle old PCI cards.

A lot of dial up modems are on PCI cards, otherwise you'd have to get an external dial up modem.

But, you didn't say if those old pc's have card modems or the modems are built into the motherboard - that happens too.

Might be time to get your fingers dirty!

Cutenoob

[Retail Associate]

The Compaq has a card modem. I had to reset it one time so I remember that. I'm not sure about the HP. I've never opened that PC up. It's a hand-me-down and slower than molasses.

I'd hate to open the emachine if it has to be sent back. Maybe I can find something online that shows the set-up inside the tower in detail. There's no manual at all with the emachine. Just basic set-up instructions.

[Pedersen]

You have options.

Chances are that the WinModem will not work. WinModems have software that has to be written and compatible with the version of Windows you've got. If it's not there, and it hasn't been written, it won't work (we can get into the why if you really want, but you probably don't want). With a WinModem built around 2000, I'd be very very surprised if your WinModem has a driver that will work with the new machine.

Going by this page:, it seems you do have two PCI slots available in your new machine.

Without more information on the "56K ITU V.90 Modem", I can't tell you if it's a PCI modem or not. It likely is. It's also likely a WinModem, unless you bought it separately from the unit and were paying attention to make sure you did not get a WinModem.

Now, with all of the bad stuff out of the way, here's the spot of good news: Modems are cheap. Most can be had for less than $30. Many can be had for less than $20. So, even if the V.90 modem you mentioned is not an option, getting the new machine working on dialup will not cost you very much at all.

[Retail Associate]

Now, with all of the bad stuff out of the way, here's the spot of good news: Modems are cheap. Most can be had for less than $30. Many can be had for less than $20. So, even if the V.90 modem you mentioned is not an option, getting the new machine working on dialup will not cost you very much at all.

Thanks Pedersen, that is good news.

Would an internal modem work or would I need an external modem? I don't know enough about the workings of a PC to really know what a PCI slot is (I'm assuming that's what the card slides into) or to try to figure out whether or not the V.90 modem would work. I've looked at so many web sites that my mind is swimming right now.

I wonder why there's no user's manual with it? I found one online but it's 40MB. Imagine downloading that on dial-up.

[Der Cute]

Look here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...+modem&x=0&y=0

The first one on that page is a PCI card dial up modem. Assuming you have XP on the new box (please?) .....you'd be able to open Emachine, insert card into white PCI slot with phone port facing the back (see from outside) and ...start up machine, install drivers and go.
PCI slots are usually white. And plus, you look at the "teeth" of the card, and see how big of a slot it needs to be put into! Good thing about puters nowadays, there aren't many slots on motherboards open (Unless you buy one purposefully).

If you have VISTA....may want to look at the third one.

Remember: You don't have box plugged into wall when you open it!
Open box. Lay box on floor. See motherboard and funny wires. Look towards bottom right side of motherboard....below where you would plug in your mouse?...towards bottom of case.
Should be white or light colored open slot there.
Pull modem card from it's box.
Gently look at teeth of modem and look again at slots on board. ......Pretty close, eh?
Gently insert modem into slot, with metal backplate being IN THE BACK where you'd plug in the phone cord.
Make sure the card is fully inserted into slot. You should hear a click snap when gently putting it in. And if card is crooked, it doesn't fit the backplate, so it's not all the way in.
When card is fully seated, you can plug in power, keyboard, monitor and mouse and boot up (with case open! - KEEP FINGERS OUT)...
When you get to desktop screen, it will have "Found New Hardware".
Insert modem driver disk into cd rom slot.
Tell the PC to use the disk.
Let it install.
Reboot machine after installation.
Hook phone cord to machine now. (While off)
Get back to machine on desktop (BOX IS STILL OPEN HEY)
Try doing a dialup modem setup to surf.
If you can, and can go out to Internet, you're done.
Turn box off, close chassis/case, and go have a soda.

You did it.


Manuals - they cost money to print. And with most of the world being on broadband (they forgot you or it's a conspiracy ) it's easier to post PDF online and have user pull it.

Cutenoob

[It's me]

Gently look at teeth of modem and look again at slots on board. ......Pretty close, eh?
Gently insert modem into slot, with metal backplate being IN THE BACK where you'd plug in the phone cord.

Good write up . You did miss one thing (and hopefully it's obvious!): the slot cover over the opening in the computer case needs to be removed before the modem can go in.

[Broomjockey]

If you have VISTA....may want to look at the third one.

There's only 1 modem on that page, and it's the first one. The others are all serial cards. No RJ11 hookups.

[Retail Associate]

Thanks for the instructions Cutenoob, Broomjockey and It's me. I have to get to work soon so I'll look closer at all the info later. This is such a busy time of year and the next week is gonna be crazy. I may wait til all the madness is over before I tackle this.

Merry Christmas!


Edited to add: The new PC has Windows 7 Home Premium.

[protege]

Once you figure out what you need, it shouldn't be too difficult to install it. Pop off the case, put the card in, turn computer on. Windoze should find it straight away, and should begin looking for drivers. Also, dial-up modems are inexpensive right now. Nobody seems to want them, since everyone is getting DSL or other broadband service.

[lordlundar]

Well, at the simplest, if it can accommodate the card (has a spare slot of the right type) and there are compatible drivers for it, it's as simple of matter as plugging it into the right slot, loading the drivers when asked, and configuring it (putting in the phone number, login and password into the program)

Now whether you are capable of it, that's a different story.

[Ironclad Alibi]

A USB dial-up modem would be a simple way to go. Here is a list of some I found via Google starting at $8.99

[It's me]

A USB dial-up modem would be a simple way to go. Here is a list of some I found via Google starting at $8.99

I paid close to three hundred dollars for my 14.4 modem

Okay, it was, what, 1990. But still.....


Gak! That was _20_ years ago! I think I will go quietly sit in the corner and feel old now......

[Der Cute]

Good write up . You did miss one thing (and hopefully it's obvious!): the slot cover over the opening in the computer case needs to be removed before the modem can go in.

D'OH! Yeah...if the metal L shaped backplate (L shaped, blank, no stampy no shapes on it) is still there the card won't fit . heheh.

Cutenoob