How to Install an AT&T DSL Driver

AT&T offers both USB and Ethernet modems that require driver installation to function properly.

A driver is a small computer program that allows your computer to communicate with peripheral devices, such as a printer or AT&T modem. Although Windows will attempt to automatically install the driver when you connect the modem, your computer may not be able to locate the software. If you have the driver software on a floppy disk, CD or DVD, or have downloaded the driver from the Internet, you can manually install the driver to ensure that your AT&T modem can communicate with your computer.

Instructions

Windows 7

1. Open the "Start" menu. Click the Control Panel.

2. Double-click to open the Device Manager and click the "Modem" heading to expand the section.

3. Right-click on your DSL modem and choose "Update Driver Software."

4. Click "Next" to allow Windows to locate the driver software

5. Click "Close" at the driver update confirmation.

6. Open the Start menu and choose the option to "Restart" your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• Websites frequently offer driver downloads in the form of zipped archives. These compressed files require extracting because you can use the files inside. Windows allows you to extract files when you open the archive by clicking "Extract All" from the top menu in Windows Explorer.

• Some driver downloads include an executable application file that you can double-click to launch.

• You can search for compatible drivers for your AT&T modem on the Microsoft site (see "Resources").

• Windows will install compatible driver software when you connect the modem. An alert will appear on the taskbar when Windows is performing this action.

References

• Computer Hope: How do I get into Windows Device Manager?
• Microsoft: Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly
• Princeton: Driver

Resources

• Microsoft: Windows 7 Compatibility Center
• AT&T: Drivers and Downloads