How to Install an Internal Modem in Your Desk Top Computer

If you have ever opened up the cabinet on one of your desk top computers, you have realized that most of the inside of the box is open space with cables and wires running around from the motherboard to various boards and drives. Replacing many of the parts in the computer is not hard, it just takes the nerve to open the cabinet and get started. Modems can often fail requiring work to be done to your computer's insides. Repair shops will frequently charge a hefty service fee anytime that they have to go inside your computer to work. Replacing a modem is one of the easier jobs to do yourself. I have installed over 25 modems into my own computers, as well as, having installed them for employers and friends. With this experience, I believe that this guide should keep you on track until your new modem is installed and functioning correctly.

Read over the instructions that come with the new modem just to make sure that it does not have any quirks that may not be covered by this article. You also will want to make sure that you buy the right piece of equipment. If you buy new at a store or computer shop, it is a pretty safe bet that you have the right type of modem if your computer is less than 10 years-old.

The installation usually begins by using the install disk that comes with the modem. You should always install the software before the hardware on your computer. You have to do it this way because the operating system will look for new hardware as part of the start up process. When it finds new hardware, it will search for the proper driver to install the equipment correctly into your operating system. By installing the drivers first, your computer is ready to use your modem as soon as it detects it.