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                    Intelec International E-Mail Network

                            þ UPGRADING BLUES þ
                             by Doris G. Marsh
                        (Reprinted from IN-9008.ZIP)

        Offered for your amusement is a scenario of how a non-
     technical person (I was told in elementary school when I took an
     IQ test that they had never before seen such a low mechanical
     ability score) upgrades from a 1200 bps to a 2400 bps modem
        I left work early eager to get home and install the "easy to
     install 2400 bps modem."  The modem book had stated that I needed
     a flat blade screwdriver to remove the mounting screws on the
     outer case of the computer.  When I reached home and started to
     remove the screws, I found I needed a Phillips screwdriver.  Of
     course, I didn't have one; so out the door to purchase same.
        Returning home again, I attempted to remove the screws.
     Several minutes later, I was still attempting to remove the
     screws.  Finally, out of sheer desperation, I took hammer and ice
     pick in hand to loosen the screws, and remove same.  An hour
     later (from when I first started to remove the screws), the
     screws were off.
        I lifted the 1200 bps internal modem out and replaced it with
     the 2400 bps modem.  That part was easy.  I replaced the computer
     cover and rebooted.  I received the message, "Disk Boot Failure",
     etc.  I shut everything off again, removed the screws and cover
     again, and jiggled everything I could and rebooted.  I repeated
     this procedure several times to no avail.  I switched the modems
     thinking maybe that would help, but it didn't.  I finally
     discovered that I had accidently lifted up a rather long
     whatchamacallit when I put in the modem.  I pushed it down and
     rebooted again for the hundredth time.  Eureka!  I was up and
     running.  Anxious to try out my new modem, I went into my
     communications program and changed everything to 2400 bps.
     Immediately, I had problems.  Strange characters danced on my
     screen.  Ready to shoot my computer, I called a friend (he must
     have thought I was a raving manic at best).  He tried to
     ascertain what the problem was, but couldn't.  He did suggest
     that I look at my dip switches.
        Once again, I shut down my system, unscrewed the screws, and
     removed the internal modem only to discover that I had put the
     1200 bps modem back into the computer!  No wonder it wouldn't
     work configured for 2400 bps!  I screwed the cover back on
     (hopefully, for the last time!) and rebooted.  Called up my
     communications program and my favorite local board, and
     everything worked with no problems!
        Is it me, or does everyone have these problems?