[Rapidrob]

I'm new to the world of Mac computers. I was given an old Performa 636CD that has never been hooked to the WWW. I have a Zoom external modem connected to the serial port.I have found a menu that list the modem and have selected same. The computer will not see the serial port as active. I have tried the settings in EWORLD page but at no time will the computer try to connect to the modem. I'm so new to Mac computers I have no idea just what I'm doing. All of the settings seem right but I get either an error saying the serial port canot be found or I get a spinning globe that never goes away or times out. I have upgraded the OS from 7.5.1 to 7.5.3 with a factory disk. The computer loaded the upgrade as needed with no errors or faults. Any tips? Sorry for being so basic. I just dont know anything about Mac's. Thank you.

[Naphtali]

What OS or System version is installed? When nothing is open on your computer, Click-and-hold on APPLE ICON at top left of screen. Select the top item that should read something like ABOUT THIS MACINTOSH or ABOUT APPLE or ABOUT SYSTEM XXX. A Window will occur. Tell me what information is there.
Do you have the Installer disks? These might be floppies or a CD.
Does it include set-up "Assistants" -- Internet/network/other? Having your Installed helper utilities do the job for you is the easiest way for a novice to get up and running. If System software is too old to have these helpers, it's still easy -- just a little more time.
Assuming you have modem scripts (and I mean the exact modem script), driver for modem if needed, and there is nothing amiss with any hardware, you will need to adjust Preferences for the following CONTROL PANELS: AppleTalk, Internet, Chooser (maybe), TCP/IP, Modem, Remote Access.

[Rapidrob]

The computer came with a Mac PerformaCD disk that is 7.5.1 OS. I purchased the Mac factory disk 7.5.3 and installed same. Under "special" there is a heading that guides me to EWORLD and I can select the modem ( Zoom V.34 32 bit ) from the list. The modem works on another computer. I have the Modem hooked to the Mac via a serial port 24/5 pin cable. The modem is on and waiting for the computer to comm with it. The computer errors out instantly and says it cant open/find the serial port. My only other option is to use the printer port. I don't have the cable to do this. I'm so green I don't know how to varify that the serial port is even active. When I try to find any menu that even looks close to "my computer" all I ever get is hard drive space open or used, or a list of loaded programs. This computer was made in 1995. While I'm very good with PC's running XP I know nothing about Mac's. I have seen no listing of a name of this units OS, just a version number. I would like to get this unit up and on the net to download upgrades and learn more about Mac's. Thank you for your reply.

[Naphtali]

Okay, let's see how good my memory is.
1. Go to AppleTalk (Control Panel) and select (single-click) on the port to which the modem is connected. Then close window.
2. Go to TCP/IP or Free PPP (Control Panel). I might have the name wrong. Just look through your Control Panels and select what looks like it might be where you set Internet Service Provider (ISP) parameters. Enter/select "connect by" the modem you have. This might be a drop-down menu. Enter the IP Address, Subnet mask, Router address, the name of the server, and Additional Search domains. If you do not know these data, ask your ISP for it. Then close window.
3. Go to Remote Access (Control Panel). Enter your name to access your dial-up ISP, your access password, and the telephone number. If tele # is local, do not enter area code.
Options. I keep redial off. I enable error correction and compression.
4. Go to Modem (Control Panel). Adjust radio buttons to your preference.
Restart.

What you have done/are doing is setting preferences. If something doesn't work, if you don't like how things are working, change your settings and try the change.

IF YOU MAKE CHANGES, DO THEM ONE SETTING AT A TIME.

The Control Panel INTERNET is the place where you can adjust your Internet experience to have your E-mail application automatically access your E-mail. You can configure here to have a specific browser be your default.

If the modem is not recognized when plugged into Modem Port, try plugging it into your Printer Port. You'll need to change the AppleTalk setting.

Serial port connections you can plug and unplug while the computer is running.

SHUT DOWN COMPUTER before moving any other connector or port, and before plugging anything new or different into the computer. There is strong likelihood you will fry the machine if you treat it like it has USB and FireWire ports.

Hope I remembered correctly.