I recently purchased a new 56k AOpen Winmodem, and the specifications on the box state that it requires a 266Mhz MMX processor or greater. Since my system is a P1 166Mhz Classic, how will this run on my system. I know that Winmodems are not very good because they rob cycles from the processor due to having no controller, but other than that, would I be able to use it to connect at a better speed than I currently do with my 33.6k modem? Also, I would like to know if it is possible to force my 33.6k modem to act as a redundant backup. As in, if my 56k modem was unable to connect (or dial) due to some failure), would it be possible to automatically have the 33.6k modem dial? What I am trying to do is provide a method of always being able to tell Windows somthing like this: start init com2=dial xxx-xxxx if init com2=no_dial_tone goto backup if init com2=connected goto end backup init com3=dial xxx-xxxx if init com3=no_dial_tone goto start if init com3=connected goto end end I would like this process to be exicuted every time I attempt to connect to the internet. Is this possible, and how would it be done? If it is not possible, why? I was also wondering if there was a way I could setup the modems to work in sync with each other, so I could boost my bandwith. How could I do this?

What a lot of questions! Firstly, the new modem will work on your P1 166, but the computer may slow down a bit while on the internet, due to the modem using the CPU. You will definitely access the internet quicker though. About using the old modem as backup, well that would work, but I don't know of a way of automating it like you say. You may be able to write a batch file for the job, or it may need someone to write a special program, which may already be out there somewhere on the web. See if anyone else answers on here about it, and also search the web. About using both modems together, well you would need two phonelines, with one modem connected to each, and the ISP you are dialling must support Multilink. Not many do, so it doesn't work very often. Hope I've answered all your questions. Just one last one, I see you are running XP. On a P1 166? How slow is that? I ran it on a P1 233 and I couldn't stand it!

I agree XPfreak. I wonder how he was able to install it.. Must have been really creative.

Thank you for your input. I will begin looking for a program that will automate the backup process that I would like to have set up, and install the modem. I can wait when it comes to using the internet, as it currently takes 5 hours to download 35 MB to my machine. OpenOffice.org 1.0.2 took about 7 hours to completley download, and it is only 50 MB in size. I do not have 2 phone lines entering my home, so it looks like I will be unable to have the modems work in tandem to speed my download process. Living in a rural area certianly has its disadvantages. About Windows XP, It actually does not run to bad on my machine. Granted, to install it, it took 3 hours, but after the installation was complete, it is not that bad. I have only disabled 3 new features of XP that decrease system performance. I have disabled the new start menu (because I do not like the apperance of it), the animated help (I do not need a dog that was left over from MS BOB to help me do my searches when I know how to do so, and this creatures sole purpose is for theft of CPU cycles). I have also disabled all the new "task oriented" items such as the new control panel, picture preview mode, and the stupid page that warns me not to tamper with the contents of my hard drive, (I know enough about my system to not be locked out of it, and hand-held through a directory structure). Other than these above items that I have disabled, I have enabled the rest of the UI improvements. I feel that ClearType is a much better improvement over the old font smoothing, and by adding drop shadows to the desktop icons, the system appears much cleaner, and more professional. I am currently using the silver theme, as I feel that the default blue luna theme does not look professional. I think the reason that my machine performs so well with XP is due to the customizations I have made to it. Below are my system specifications: Pentium 1 166 Mhz Classic 512MB Micron SDRAM 40GB Maxtor HDD 7200RPM 6.34GB Western Digital HDD 5400RPM 1.5GB Western Digital HDD 5400 RPM SB16PCI Win XP SP1a 33.6Kbps Rockwell ISA modem 56Kbps AOpen PCI Winmodem Lite-On LTR 12x10x32x CDRW 3.5" Hiatachi FDD DFI 586ITOX Rev G MoBo S3 Trio64 V2 KFC 14" moniter PS2 Keyboard PS2 Mouse USB 1.1 3Com 10/100 ISA NIC 16 bit color @ 800 X 600 @90Hz 300W Power Supply Three NMB 80mm Diameter fans