Does your connections seem slow?

While its possible that the telephone line you are using is the cause of a slow connection (age catches up with everything! - so does a poor installation!), there are some other things that can cause a Slow Connection.

Step 1:  Check your modem drivers.
Step 2:  Make sure you have the most recent modem drivers.
Step 3:  Try different modem strings.
Step 4:  Check for a problem on your ISP's end.

STEP 1:  Check your modem drivers. All modems require a certain type of software, called a "driver," to connect to the Internet. There are two types of drivers:

1. generic driver that comes with Microsoft® Windows, called the standard modem driver.
2. manufacturer- and model-specific drivers that allow you to connect at higher speeds.

Here's how to check to see which kind you're using:

1. Click on the Start button in the bottom left corner of your screen, then point to Settings, then click on Control Panel.
2. Double-click on Modems.
3. Click on the General Tab.
4. The box below The following modems are set up on this computer: will list your modem driver. If it says anything other than Standard Modem you have modem-specific drivers.

If you have a "Standard" modem and it's internal, you should check with your computer's manufacturer to see if there are drivers made specifically for your modem. If you have an external modem, check with the modem manufacturer for a modem-specific driver.

STEP 2:  Make sure you have the most recent modem drivers "V.90" is the name used for the international standard, or protocol, for all 56 Kbps modems. Because the V.90 code is always changing and improving, new modem drivers are released as often as every few weeks.

Because of these constant changes, and because of the huge number of modems currently available, the best place to get driver information is directly from your modem or PC manufacturer. If you have an internal modem that came with your PC, your PC manufacturer can provide you with the most recent drivers. If you have an external modem, the modem manufacturer can provide you with the most recent drivers.

Once you know where to find a driver for your modem and know the complete make and model information of your modem, upgrading is a fast process. Some manufacturers (like US Robotics/3Com®) even provide a wizard that will determine this information for you and download the correct upgrade. Check our list of modem manufacturers to find the correct set of drivers for your modem.

Here are some other helpful sites:

• The "56k=v.Unreliable" site contains links to modem manufacturers and frequently updated information on popular modem drivers.
• WinDrivers.com bills itself as the "#1 resource for Windows Support/Drivers." It contains links to most major PC equipment manufacturer sites, not just modems.
• The Lucent™ "Win Modem" V.90 Software Upgrade Page contains Lucent modem driver code. These are generic drivers, and are updated very frequently. Because these drivers are generic, you may lose some of the additional features of your modem, such and voice or fax features. You should always check with your PC manufacturer to ensure they do not have drivers for your modem before using these drivers, unless you are not concerned about losing these features.

STEP 3:  Try different Modem Strings. If you have the correct and most recent drivers, and can't connect or just want to try to connect a little faster, new modem strings might help. Modem strings force your modem to connect in certain ways.

Your Internet service now runs on a V.90 network, the new industry standard. If you are running X2 or k56flex, you must first disable them, then enable V.90. For more information on modem strings for your particular modem, please visit www.56k.com and/or www.v90.com.

Please follow these steps to change your modem settings:

1. Double-click the My Computer icon.
2. Double-click the Dial-Up Networking folder.
3. Right-click your ISP dialer.
4. Choose Properties.
5. Select the Configure button underneath the Connect Using section.
6. Select the Connection tab.
7. Select the Advanced button to the lower right.
8. Navigate to the Extra Settings area. If there is a string already there, be sure to write it down so you can restore that setting if the settings below are unsuccessful.
9. Input the modem string into the Extra settings field.
10. Click OK.
11. Click OK.
12. Click OK.
13. Close all applications (including your Browser, Microsoft® Word, Excel, etc.) and restart your computer.

If the new modem settings fail, repeat the steps above, removing the modem string and using another string intended for your modem.

If after adding the setting and rebooting the machine, you receive a RAS error 630: Hardware Failure error, then remove the setting and re-start the machine. A "Hardware Failure" error is derived from using settings for a different chipset.

Lucent Chipset Modems:

These settings are for LtWin and Lucent Win Modems.

Rockwell Chipset Modems:

Note: x2 modems that are not upgradable to V.90 use different strings then the ones listed below.

US Robotics/3Com Sportster Chipset:

Note: x2 modems that are not upgradable to V.90 use different strings then the ones listed below.

US Robotics/3Com Courier Chipset:

Note: x2 modems that are not upgradable to V.90 use different strings then the ones listed below.