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This article was excerpted from: PC Upgrading and Troubleshooting QuickSteps

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Updating your modem driver is a very effective way to avoid connection problems and ensure your modem is operating at optimal speeds.

1. First, find the version number of the currently installed Windows XP modem driver. Go to Start | Control Panel | Printers And Other Hardware | Phone And Modem Options, select the Modem tab, and double-click your modem.

2. Click the Driver tab, and record your modem's make, model number, and the version number of the currently installed driver (see Figure 1).

   

   Figure 1: Record the modem's make, model number, and driver version number.

3. Go to the support section of your computer manufacturer's or modem manufacturer's website and download the latest driver for Windows.

4. To install an update, go back to the Driver tab and click the Update Driver button to launch Windows Hardware Update Wizard. The wizard will walk you through the driver installation process.

   

   If your modem driver comes with its own installation programs, use it instead of manually installing the driver. Just download the file, unzip the file if necessary, and run the installation program.

5. On the wizard's Welcome screen, select Install From A List Or Specific Location (Advanced).

6. Windows will ask you for a specific location to look for the driver files. Select Search For The Best Driver In These Locations and check the appropriate boxes below this option. If you downloaded the driver files, check the Include This Location In The Search box and use the Browse button to point Windows to the proper folder (see Figure 2). If the driver files are on a CD-ROM or floppy disk, check the Search Removable Media box and insert the media holding the files.

   

   Figure 2: Click the Browse button and point to the folder where you stored the downloaded driver file.

7. Click Next, and the wizard will walk you through the installation process.

   

   If the new modem driver doesn't work, it's easily uninstalled: just click the Roll Back Driver button on the Driver tab and follow the prompts.

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