How to Replace a Modem Driver

In this day and age, almost everything is run by computers of various sorts; however, these things can be a hassle when they crash or give you what's known in the computer world as the "blue screen of death." When you reinstall your operating system, you may be frustrated to find you can't access the Internet and your video and sound aren't working properly. This is because an operating system doesn't typically come with its own drivers installed. By following the steps below, you can install your own modem driver, as well other drivers that are absent from your reinstalled operating system.

Step 1 - Change Your Boot Sequence

When your computer first starts up, it usually displays a start-up screen before it goes to the error message. In order to get to the boot sequence menu, take a look at the bottom of the screen. Typically it will say what button to press to change the boot sequence. Change the boot menu to have the disc drive boot up first.

Step 2 - Install Your Operating System

Once you've changed the boot sequence, restart the computer with the operating system disc inside. This is going to let you boot from your disc and hence install the operating system on your computer. Windows XP has step-by-step instructions that tell you exactly what to do in the installation process. Once you've gotten your computer working with its operating system, it's time to move on to the next step.

Step 3 - Download the Modem Driver

On your other computer, go to the Microsoft website. Here you'll find the driver for Internet access; go ahead and download that modem driver. After you've downloaded the modem driver, either plug in your flash drive or put your blank disc in your second computer. Write the modem driver file to whichever storage you're using.

Step 4 - Transfer the Modem Driver File

Now put your disc or flash drive in your first computer. Transfer the modem driver to your first computer. Once you've done that, you can access the Internet and henceforth all of the other drivers available for your computer.

Step 5 - Install All Your Missing Drivers

Go back to the Microsoft site you visited on the other computer. Now download all of the available drivers for your system. Finally open and install them. This is going to give you access to your video card, your sound, your graphics and everything else your computer didn't have access to after you reinstalled your operating system.