Take the phone cord out of the back of the PC and plug it into a phone to make certain that dial tone is available through the wire.
Make certain you have plugged the phone cord into the line plug and not the phone plug on the modem.
Use the wizard to create a new dial-up connection and configure it to dial your cell phone or other phone line to determine it you can make it ring.
Windows says there is a problem with the modem
If newly installed, try uninstalling and reinstalling the device.
Once installed correctly, this error is unusual and may mean the device is faulty and needs to be replaced.
Some modems must be installed in a very precise order as dictated by the manufacturer. Be certain to closely follow the installation instructions. Consult the manufacturer's web site for a copy of the instructions or for an updated driver.
The modem won't hang up
Check if you have other programs running that are trying to use the modem at the same time.
The modem makes a lot of weird noises and hisses
Sometimes called the "Modem mating call",modems make a whistling sound as they attempt to connectto another device. Once it connects, it makes a hissingsound. The sounds are normal, however, they can be turnedoff. Go to the Control Panel and select Modems, Properties,Connections and look for a check box to turn off the sound.