I have a computer that does not have an attached modem. I used to be able to connect to internet with my cable modem after ins

Bloodworth8 · Dec 9, 2013

I have an Inspiron desktop with Windows 7 that doesn't have a modem. I used to have a cable modem installed on it but have recently switched to Frontier. I am trying to connect to internet. My current modem didn't come with an installation disk. Is there a place I can download software for a Netgear/Frontier modem/router? Model 7550

rgd1101 · Dec 9, 2013

shouldn't need any software, just plug in the network cable.

spdragoo · Dec 9, 2013

You're thinking of the dial-up modems, from back when you had to plug a telephone line into your PC. Or possibly one of the *very* old ISA-bus Ethernet cards, which had a coaxial cable jack on the back instead of an Ethernet port.

Your desktop should have an Ethernet port on the back -- it will look like an oversized telephone jack, BTW -- and there should be an Ethernet line from the Frontier box to the Netgear router (currently plugged into the WAN jack). Hopefully, the install tech plugged an Ethernet cable into 1 of the LAN jacks on the back of the router; connect that one into your desktop, & you should be good to go.

If, however, the install tech didn't run a line out of the router, or if the Netgear router is too far away from the desktop, then you'll either need to hire someone to string Ethernet cable through your walls, or you can buy a wireless adapter for the desktop. Frontier will probably offer to sell you a USB adapter (just like the Verizon ones they based their equipment off of). I would STRONGLY recommend against it; get yourself a PCI or PCIe internal wireless card -- it'll have a more sensitive antenna, so you'll get better signal from the wireless.

Bloodworth8 · Dec 9, 2013

spdragoo :

You're thinking of the dial-up modems, from back when you had to plug a telephone line into your PC. Or possibly one of the *very* old ISA-bus Ethernet cards, which had a coaxial cable jack on the back instead of an Ethernet port.

Your desktop should have an Ethernet port on the back -- it will look like an oversized telephone jack, BTW -- and there should be an Ethernet line from the Frontier box to the Netgear router (currently plugged into the WAN jack). Hopefully, the install tech plugged an Ethernet cable into 1 of the LAN jacks on the back of the router; connect that one into your desktop, & you should be good to go.

If, however, the install tech didn't run a line out of the router, or if the Netgear router is too far away from the desktop, then you'll either need to hire someone to string Ethernet cable through your walls, or you can buy a wireless adapter for the desktop. Frontier will probably offer to sell you a USB adapter (just like the Verizon ones they based their equipment off of). I would STRONGLY recommend against it; get yourself a PCI or PCIe internal wireless card -- it'll have a more sensitive antenna, so you'll get better signal from the wireless.

Bloodworth8 · Dec 9, 2013

I have tried plugging the ethernet cable into port on computer but it wont let me connect to net. It says something about network adapter not installed. I guess I can buy a wireless adapter to solve the issue. Thanks for your help.

rgd1101 · Dec 9, 2013

download network adapter driver on dell.com

Kurdain1 · Dec 9, 2013

My Frontier modem is a standalone external device.
It is a modem/NAT/hub/WiFi all in 1.

Everything connects without any modem software.
WiFi for the phones, printer, Wii, etc...
Standard network cable for the gaming computer.

Nice thing about having the ISP provide the modem is you can call and complain ever 12-18 months and they usually have a newer version that they'll swap out for free.

(oh wow 2 new posts and just saw your issue with your adapter, yeah download the driver as stated).

rgd1101 · Dec 9, 2013

off topic, how much are you paying for the renting the modem every months? I would just buy one.

spdragoo · Dec 9, 2013

If it's saying the network adapter isn't installed, then you need to troubleshoot that first. Check your Devices & Hardware to make sure the Ethernet adapter is a) installed, and b) not "disabled". If you have access to another PC, you should be able to look up on Dell's support page on where to find the latest driver for the Ethernet adapter.

Bloodworth8 · Dec 9, 2013

rgd1101 :

Kurdain1 · Dec 9, 2013

rgd1101 :

$7 a month I think.
True after a while it would be cheaper to just buy one, but if you are renting one, as I said, you can complain and get a new one every year or so.
Also if you are renting it from Frontier they have to provide tech support and replacement for it, where if you buy one somewhere you are on your own.

Bloodworth8 · Dec 9, 2013

I'm not really sure how much rental is. I just started with Frontier a couple weeks ago. Can you recommend one to buy?

Bloodworth8 · Dec 9, 2013

spdragoo :

Bloodworth8 · Dec 9, 2013

I will try that, thanks.

spdragoo · Dec 9, 2013

Kurdain1 :

Always better to stay with the provided equipment. Granted, it can get tricky when 2 companies combine for the service (Earthlink provides my Internet, but Time Warner actually provides the physical cable & the modem), but when the modem went bad earlier this year (after about 8 years of service) they replaced it for free.

Kurdain1 · Dec 9, 2013

Bloodworth8 :

Not sure, I just rent mine.

Frontier is a PAIN IN THE ASS to deal with, especially tech support, they will blame everything but their stuff and it is very hard to convince them otherwise without paying $80 for a tech to visit your house.

It is the major reason I no longer have TV with them, their DVR would BLAST commercials at 2-3x the volume over the movies you were watching, randomly. The lady assurred me my TV speakers were broken.... :/.

All I am saying is if you have connection issues and are not using their modem they probably won't help you.
Depends on how tech savvy you are or how much time you want to spend.

rgd1101 · Dec 9, 2013

$7 dollars a month? comcast? it will be $8 starting next year. You can get a new one around $80.
check the comcast support website to get a list of modems.

spdragoo · Dec 12, 2013

Kurdain1 :

They learned from Verizon on that. Frontier took over a lot of the Western areas for FiOS service from Verizon (used to work for a 3rd-party vendor that did 80% of FiOS tech support). We had set scripts/troubleshooting steps we needed to follow, but they were big on a) shipping new routers, and b) RTVing (Referring To Vendor) on anything that at least 50% could have been "vendor equipment" related. Which would be fine...except 90% of the customers thought that the cable line installers were also trained PC technicians, and were very unwilling to do even basic PC troubleshooting themselves. And yeah, it was pretty much a "If you're not using the Verizon router, you will have to reconnect it before we will troubleshoot for router issues".

I remember that issue with the commercials. It definitely wasn't your speakers. But it wasn't Frontier, either: every cable/satellite provider has that issue, because the channel companies artificially boost the volume on commercials so that you can't just tune them out.

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