Trying to Install Legacy 56K modem in Windows 7 Desktop PC

I'm trying to go about this the safest way, the least intrusive way. I want to install an old 56K internal modem into a Windows 7 desktop PC.

I have it plugged in securely, the green light is on solid.

I initially got a code 0028 for missing drivers, but later, after restarting and using the Wizard to "install legacy hardware", Windows 7 says the modem is now set up successfully.

But when I query the modem in Device Manager, I get the error message "Modem failed to respond. Make sure modem is connected and turned on. If it is internal modem, verify that the interrupt for the port is properly set".

I bought the pc used. There were no entries in Device Manager for a modem when I bought it, but I think there was already an entry for a Com1 in the Ports category.

The new modem is assigned to Com1.

the drivers listed for the modem, in Device Manager are:
windows\system32\drivers\modem.sys
windows\system32\drivers\RootMdm.sys


hardware id shows up as moto1_gen.

location shows up as "Unknown".

Could it be that I need to uninstall / reinstall something in Ports, so that Ports searches for and links up with the new modem? How would I do that?

What harm would it do to uninstall and reinstall drivers for Com1 in Ports?

I'm afraid to hose something up !!! Too many horror stories out there !!
I hope I can get the modem working without downloading any executable code. Afraid of it.

Happy to provide any info I may have left out.

Thanks

MilesAhead said:

Before making anymore changes I would back up your system. There are free backup imaging programs such as Macrium Reflect that can image your system partition to an external USB drive or USB stick.

Were there any jumpers on the modem? When it says make sure the interrupt is set, there may be a jumper on the modem to set the interrupt number. I believe internal modems had "virtual serial ports" built in. So you should not need to do anything with the hardware.

But this question is likely more relevant to the Hardware subforum. More of the readers there are likely to have installed this type of hardware than read the General forum.

MilesAhead, Thanks for the reply! Regarding jumpers, the modem has several small embedded screwheads that look like they could be turned off and on with small screwdriver. But no actual switches anywhere to be toggled. Thanks for the recommendation of macrium for imaging. I will check it out. I would have used Windows Restore but have read things about it that make me think twice (ie, that some things will be restored and some things won't. Also that the restore point is erased with any reboot!). Thankfully, I don't have very much personal data on the Win 7 machine since I just bought it used. Still, one has to worry about system settings getting altered. Thanks, Byzantine