Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows XP Professional (3rd Edition)

No matter what kind of Internet connection you'll be using, you'll need a modem, a network adapter, or some other sort of connection hardware. If you're lucky, your computer came with this preinstalled and you can just skip ahead to "Configuring your Internet Connection."

Otherwise, you'll be adding some hardware. For most types of high-speed service your ISP will either come install everything for you, or they'll give you detailed instructions. For the basic service types, I'll give you some generic installation instructions in the next few sections. Your connection hardware may come with detailed instructions. If it does, by all means follow those.

Installing a Modem in Windows XP

Installing a modem is a pretty painless process these days. If you had to undergo the experience in the mid '90s, you might remember worrying about interrupt conflicts, having to set jumpers, and needing to navigate the computer's setup screen. Plug and Play has pretty much eliminated this mess. Your modem should come with straightforward installation instructions. Follow those and you'll be online in no time.

For an internal modem, they'll have you pop open your PC's case and insert the modem card into a free expansion slot inside the computer. For an external modem it's a more simple matter of cabling it to a USB or serial port on your PC. (Don't forget to connect the power supply and turn it on.) A PC card modem simply plugs into your portable.

For more information about installing new hardware, From that point, here's what you'll need to do. These procedures apply to analog modems as well as external ISDN modems.

If your modem is Plug and Play (PnP) compatible, Windows XP should automatically detect it when you turn on your computer and log in using a Computer Administrator account, or the Administrator account itself.

For more details on Administrator privileges, p. 1065.

If Windows XP cannot find a set of drivers that match your brand and model of modem, you might be asked to insert a CD or floppy disk that the modem manufacturer should have provided with your modem.

If you're using an older modem, you might need to add it to the configuration manually by following these steps:

1.

Choose Start, Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections, Phone and Modem Options.

2.

Select the Modems tab, as shown in Figure 8.1.

Figure 8.1. The Modems tab on the Phone and Modem Options control panel identifies the modems currently installed in your system.

3.

If Windows has already detected your modem, its name will appear in the Modems tab. If the correct modem type is listed, skip to step 8. If the wrong modem type is listed, skip down to the next section, "Changing the Modem Type."

If no modem is listed, click the Add button to run the Install New Hardware Wizard.

4.

Click Next, and Windows will locate the COM port and determine the type of modem you have. If this is successful, Windows will tell you. In this case, continue with step 7.

5.

If Windows detects your modem incorrectly and doesn't offer you the chance to correct the mistake, skip down to step 7, and then correct the problem using the instructions in the next section. If you are given the opportunity, though, click Change and locate the manufacturer and model of your modem in the dialog box. If you find the correct make and model, select them and click OK. If your modem came with a driver diskette for Windows XP or 2000, click Have Disk, and locate the installation file for the modem.

If your modem isn't listed, try to download the proper driver from Windows Update or from the modem manufacturer (using another computer, of course!). Or, you might try selecting a similar model by the same manufacturer.

6.

After you select the modem type, click OK and then Next.

7.

Click Finish to complete the installation. The modem then appears in the list of installed modems in the Phone and Modem Options dialog box.

8.

Select the Dialing Rules tab.

9.

Select New Location, and click Edit.

10.

Enter the General tab information for your current location, as shown in Figure 8.2.

Figure 8.2. In the Edit Location dialog box, you can record the dialing instructions for your current location. The important settings are Country, Area Code Access for an outside line, and Disable Call Waiting.

11.

Enter a name for your locationfor example, home, the name of your city, or another name that will distinguish the current telephone dialing properties. Set the country, area code, and dialing rules information.

If your telephone system, for example, requires you to dial a 9 to make an outside local call, enter 9 in the box labeled To Access an Outside Line for Local Calls, Dial. Make a corresponding entry for long-distance access.

If your telephone line has call waiting, check To Disable Call Waiting, and choose the appropriate disable code.

I'm going to assume that your ISP access number will be a local call in the same area code. If this is not the case, you might want to fill in the Area Code Rules table for the ISP access number. (If you don't know the number yet, don't worry; you can come back and fix it later.)

12.

Click OK.

Now your modem is installed, and you can continue with "Configuring Your Internet Connection," later in this chapter.

Changing the Modem Type

If Windows incorrectly determines your modem type, you can change it by selecting the appropriate line in the Modem list (see Figure 8.1) and clicking Properties. Then

1.

Select the Driver tab and click Update Driver.

2.

Check Install from a List and click Next.

3.

Check Don't Search, and click Next.

4.

Uncheck Show Compatible Hardware, and either select your modem make and model, or click Have Disk and locate the proper .INF setup file. Click Next, and then Finish.

Installing Multiple Modems

Windows XP supports modem aggregation (also called Multilink or Multilink PPP), making several simultaneous connections to your ISP to increase the total speed of your transfers. This process is tricky; it requires multiple modems and an ISP that supports synchronization of multiple modems, or a compatible setup on your corporate LAN.

You'll see this possibility mentioned in many Windows books, but to be honest, it's an obnoxious technology and one you can ignore if you can wait for DSL or cable service. It requires two telephone lines, two modems, and manual management on your part. It's a little bit like riding two skateboards at once: It might work, but why not just buy a bike?

ISDN modems, on the other hand, are designed to make two concurrent connections and do not require the addition of a second line or modem. The two channels are built into one modem, and you can take advantage of this to get extra speed, as long as you're willing to pay the extra charges imposed by your ISP and telephone company. ISDN channel aggregation is discussed later in this chapter, under "Using Multiple Modems or ISDN Channels Simultaneously."

Installing Internal ISDN Adapters

Internal ISDN modems or adapters are treated by Windows as network adapters, not modems. Plug and Play adapters should be set up automatically the first time you log in after installing the adapter. Log in as a Computer Administrator to be sure that you have sufficient privileges to install hardware drivers.

For older nonPlug and Play adapters, you must get up-to-date Windows XP drivers from the manufacturer's Web site, along with installation instructions (but, if your ISDN adapter is that old, don't count on finding any).

Modern ISDN driver software may be able to get the ISDN line's telephone number and other necessary information right over the line from the phone company, but you may be prompted for setup information. In this case you'll need the SPID (Service Profile Identification, a number assigned by the telephone company), directory number, and switch-type information provided by your telephone company.

Installing a Network Adapter

Some DSL and cable modems use a USB connection and can just be plugged into your computer this way.

However, most DSL and cable service providers require an Ethernet network adapter for use by their modems. If you're lucky, they'll supply and install this for you. You won't have to lift a finger, in fact, as long as the installer is familiar with Windows XP. You will just need to log in using a Computer Administrator account, and supervise while the installer does his or her stuff.

TIP

If a professional installer configures your computer or adds software to it, be sure to take thorough notes of what he or she does. Don't hesitate to ask questionsyou have a right to know exactly what they're doing. And, be sure to test the setup before the installer leaves.

If you want to purchase or install the network adapter yourself, install it according to the manufacturer's instructions. This process should involve no more than inserting the card into your computer, powering up, and logging on as a Computer Administrator. The Plug and Play system should take care of the rest for you.

After installation, confirm that the network adapter is installed and functioning by following these steps:

1.

Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then select Manage.

2.

Select the Device Manager in the left pane. The list in the right pane should show only "first-level" items. Under Network Adapters, you should see no items listed with an exclamation mark icon superimposed.

If the network adapter appears and is marked with a yellow exclamation point, follow the network card troubleshooting instructions in Chapter 22, "Troubleshooting Your Network."

For DSL service with self-installation, you will be provided with filters, devices that plug into your telephone jacks and block the DSL signal from reaching your telephones and answering machines. You'll need to identify every phone jack that is connected to the line your DSL service uses, and install a filter on every one but the one that plugs into your DSL modem. If you need to plug a phone into the same jack that the DSL modem uses, you'll use a dual jack adapter, with a filter on the side that connects to the phone.

Alternately, the service installer might connect your telephone line to a device called a splitter outside the house, and will install a separate cable to bring the DSL signal to your computer. These devices separate the high-frequency DSL carrier signal from the normal telephone signal. The phone line will be connected to a DSL modem, which will then plug into a USB port or a LAN adapter on your computer.

CAUTION

After a LAN adapter or USB connection is made, you must be sure that the Windows Firewall is enabled to protect your computer against hackers. I'll mention this again later in the chapter. You can read more about firewalls and network security in Chapter 21, "Network Security."

Installing a Satellite or Wireless Connection

Installing satellite or wireless modems is not terribly tricky, but the procedure is very specific to the type of hardware you're using. Unfortunately, I have to leave you at the mercy of the manufacturer's instruction manual.

One bit of advice I can give: Installing a satellite dish is difficult, and it's best to hire a professional dish installer for this task. (Our executive editor, Rick Kughen, didn't have the benefit of this sage advice when he installed his, and his conclusion is "About halfway through the ordeal, I decided that I really wished I had paid the $199 installation fee.")

CAUTION

After your satellite connection is set up, you must be sure that the Windows Firewall is enabled to protect your computer against hackers. I'll mention this again later in the chapter. You can read more about firewalls and network security in Chapter 21.

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