Installing
Modems and Modem Device Drivers
In order to enjoy internet access, a device known as a modem
must be connected to your computer. These devices come in
various forms, but the most common types are cable, dial-up
and DSL modems. The type of modem you will require all depends
on your internet connection.
The key to finding out what type of modem you need is learning
about the internet services offered in your area. The easiest
type of service to obtain is dial-up access over traditional
phone lines. Unfortunately, dial-up just happens to be the
slowest internet connection available. Cable and DSL are considered
as broadband services and tend to be much faster. Short for
Digital Subscriber Line, DSL is a type of service that you
may or may not be able to obtain from your local phone company.
Although DSL is fast, cable connections offer more speed.
This type of connection can be obtained from a cable company
that provides internet access. Because these connections use
a different means for connecting to the internet, each requires
a compatible modem.
Dial-up Modems
Dial-up modems are typically pre-installed into a computer,
while cable and DSL modems come in external variations. If
there is no modem in your computer, you will need to physically
install one. To begin, shut down the machine, unplug it from
the power source, and disconnect all peripherals. After removing
the case and metal plate for the expansion slot, insert the
modem into vacant slot in a gentle, but firm motion. Put the
machine back together and connect an available phone cord
into the line jack for the modem.
Whether you install an internal or external dial-up modem,
device drivers will need to be installed as well. Drivers
will enable your modem and operating system to communicate
with each other. To install the device drivers, enter the
installation disc that came with your hardware and follow
the prompts for adding new hardware. After the installation,
you should reboot your computer and have no problems making
a dial-up connection.
Cable and DSL Modems
If you want to install a cable or DSL modem, it is important
to know that an NIC (Network Interface Card) is required.
Most new computers today come with these devices pre-installed.
Both a cable and DSL modem will also come included with a
CAT5 cable that allows you to connect the hardware to your
computer. Aside from being connected to the computer, your
modem will need a direct connection to the internet. To achieve
this, you will need your phone company or cable provider to
install a special jack in your home. Simply use the provided
cable to connect the modem to the jack.
Just as with dial-up modems, cable and DSL modems require
device drivers in order to function properly. The hardware
should come included with an installation disc that allows
you to install the appropriate drivers. Keep in mind that
you may be required to follow additional tasks after the installation
as specified by your service provider.
Installing Device Drivers from
Hardware Manufacturers
Although we often install additional external devices, such
as printers and scanners, a computer comes with a variety
of built-in hardware components. This ranges from system BIOS
and motherboards to network cards and pointing devices. Whether
it is built-in hardware or something you install, each device
requires a driver in order to function as intended.
There are many types of drivers, but not all are created
equal. For example, there are universal drivers that work
with any operating system, as well as generic device drivers
created by third-party developers. While both will do, neither
is recommended. The best way to get the most reliability is
to retrieve the drivers directly from their manufacturer.
This way, you get the exact driver specifically designed for
the device you have. If your hardware is acting up, retrieving
the appropriate updates from manufacturer can usually solve
the problem.
Below we have provided details on the some of the most common
manufacturers and their device drivers.
Logitech Drivers -
Logitech manufactures various types of hardware, including
keyboards, mice and pointing devices, soundcards, USB microphones,
and webcams. On the website, you can get all the device driver
and software updates for your Logitech hardware. Finding the
updates are as simple as entering the product type and model
and performing the search. Before the download, you will be
prompted to enter your operating system. Unless it is a universal
variation, installing a device driver for the wrong system
will not work, and therefore, you definitely want to be precise.
Toshiba Drivers -
Many Toshiba computers offer built-in tools that allow you
to update the necessary device drivers. If yours doesn’t,
visit the Toshiba support site to download the drivers you
need. You will be prompted to select from a category, such
as “Desktops or PDAs,” choose the product family,
and then enter the model number. Next, click “Show Results”
and you will see a list of device drivers available for download
in a new window.
Intel Drivers - If
you need device drivers for your Intel products, the updates
can be obtained from the Intel Download Center. Simply enter
the product name, filename or keywords into the search engine
and wait for the results.
Samsung Drivers -
From the Samsung Download Center, you can search for Samsung
device drivers by entering the model number or product type.
Here you will find updates on everything from monitors and
hard disk drives to mobile phones and MP3 players.
Realtek Drivers -
If you have computer peripherals or networking hardware manufactured
by Realtek, head to the Realtek Download Center and perform
a search for the product updates you need.
After finding and downloading the device drivers from these
manufacturers, you will need to install them onto your computer.
If the drivers download as .exe files, you should be able
to click the icon and initiate an automatic launch and setup.
If not, you will need to manually install them. From the “Start”
menu, select the “Control Panel” and then click
“Device Manager.” Double-click the device in question
and choose the “Driver” tab. Select “Update
Driver” and the option that automatically browses your
computer for device drivers. Simply follow the instructions
and install the appropriate drivers, remembering to reboot
your computer once the installation is complete.
Installing HP Device Drivers
Although Windows Vista offers numerous advantages over XP,
it can also present a few road blocks. One of the biggest
issues is trying to get the system to work in harmony with
your existing hardware devices. For instance, if your HP printer
functioned without flaw on XP, you may find that it doesn’t
work at all on Vista. This could be a very frustrating situation,
but there are ways to troubleshoot the problem.
Troubleshooting Your HP Printer
The first thing you want to do is unplug your printer. From
there, insert the printer’s installation disc into your
CD drive. Keep in mind that the disc should state whether
or not the hardware is a certified-Vista device. If so, follow
the installation prompts that appear on the display.
After progressing through the setup wizard, turn on your
printer and use the USB cable to connect it to the computer
when instructed. If all goes well, there will be a successful
installation and your printer should work fine. If you do
not have a certified-Vista printer or issues of compatibility
exist, there will probably be a failed installation.
Using Device Drivers to Create
Compatibility
When your hardware and Vista aren’t naturally compatible,
fixing the problem could be as simple as installing new device
drivers. You can find the appropriate drivers by going online
and visiting the Hewlett Packard website. When searching for
device drivers, make sure they are specific to your operating
system and HP printer. If not, the installation will fail
and possibly make your system unstable. After locating the
drivers you need, download them to your computer, click the
file and follow the instructions for installation.
Performing a Manual Installation
If the device drivers do not download as .exe (executable)
files, you must perform the installation manually. This can
be done by launching the “Control Panel” and clicking
the “Printer” icon. Select your HP printer from
the list and right-click it. Choose “Properties”
from the sub-menu and click the “Advanced” tab.
In this window, you should notice an area that displays device
drivers that may work with the printer. You have option of
using the drop-down box to choose from a selection of device
drivers, or you can click “New Driver.” When you
click this button, the “Add New Printer Driver”
wizard will launch. Under the “Manufacturer” pane,
click “HP.” Scroll through the list of available
HP printers and select the model you have. From there, simply
follow the instructions to allow the system to locate the
device drivers you downloaded and install them on your computer.
After installing the device drivers, you will want to test
the printer and make sure it works. From the Control Panel,
click on “Printers,” right-click your HP printer,
select “Properties,” and click “Print Test
Page.” If the correct drivers are installed on your
computer, the printer should respond accordingly and print
out a test page.
Whether it is an HP printer or another device, compatibly
issues with Vista usually boil down to the lack of device
drivers. In most cases, you simply need to obtain the appropriate
drivers from the HP website, install them and receive the
same functionality you enjoyed on your XP system.
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