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Telephone modem is the most popular device to connect to the internet, in spite of the launch of DSL or the cable modems. Home computers and portable computers use telephone modem to connect to the internet which sometime fails to connect to the internet. Here are few easy steps to troubleshoot the modem which are common for Mac and Windows OS; except last two steps which are only for Windows OS.

Some steps to troubleshoot telephone modem issues:

Step 1: Check cable connections
Check the phone cord connection for the internal or the external modem, remove it from the socket and then insert it again as the connection might not be proper. In case of external modem, check the serial cable between modem and the computer.

Step 2: Check the Power
Check the modem if it is receiving power. Unplug the modem, wait for few seconds and then connect it again. In case of internal modem, remove it and put it back again.

Step 3: Dial tone
Check the dial tone for the phone connection and simultaneously check if it was left off the hook. For the modems which use dedicated phone line, try connecting the phone device again and then check the dial tone.

Step 4: Check modem dialing
Double check the phone number the modem is dialing through the software provided by ISP, and also identify if that number is actually dialed by the modem and if it is being dialed, then check if it is failing to connect to the internet only.

Step 5: Check for the area code
In case of a laptop or a notebook which could be used in different network environments, sometimes we use that area’s phone number or that area’s region code for dialing. Verify the region code and the phone number.

Step 6: Check data transmission
Listen and check the data signal at the other end of the fax number or the access number which you are trying to connect; by connecting the telephone to the line.

Step 7: Check the password
Delete the existing password and enter it again, as the password can be changed unknowingly.

Step 8: Check ISP service
Contact ISP’s support number to check if the service is running properly, as sometimes there might be internet failure in the area.

Step 9: Diagnose modem
Perform diagnostic tests on modem through Windows Control Panel. Go to Start, click on control panel, and then click on modems. New window will appear which will contain diagnostics tab for modem, select that tab and then select serial (COM) port, and click on More Info. Modem test will start which will show the commands sent to the modem and the results of those tests.

Step 10: Windows update
After Windows update, sometimes the modem stops working and sends some error messages, which could be checked on Microsoft Support Website (support.microsoft.com). In this case as the internet is not working, so you can write the error message and check with a different computer where internet is working.