Install a "modem driver" first. To do this, run Control Panel/Modems
   and have it look for your modem. Win95 will then send "AT" to all the
   COM ports and look for an "OK" response. It will then query the
   modem's I registers to try to identify it. Then it picks an
   appropriate driver and asks you to confirm it, and gives you a chance
   to change it, or replace it with one from a disk. When all this
   finishes, a new "Modems" class of devices will appear in Device
   Manager.
   
   I use "driver" in quotes because the modem really doesn't need a piece
   of program code unique to it. I refer to a "modem driver" as the .INF
   file which describes how to communicate to the modem. Most standard
   data and fax modems only require this info file. Non-standard modems
   and voice modems installed via UNIMODEM V, however, will add extra
   software, libraries, and executables. In this case, "driver" really
   refers to extra software.
   
   Finally, if this is the very first time a modem found its way into
   your computer, Win95 will ask you about your location (what country,
   what area code, any special codes needed to get to an outside line,
   etc). One thing: If you live in North America and you DON'T live in
   the United States, PLEASE pick a different country besides "United
   States of America". Pick your appropriate country. Sometimes, when you
   install a PnP modem for the first time it doesn't let you define your
   location, so go to Control Panel / Modems and set your location.
   
   Now that you have the modem available, run any Win95 application that
   uses modems. For a quickie test, run HyperTerminal, which comes with
   Win95. Immediately, this program asks you for a connection name, and
   the modem you wish to connect with (If you have multiple modems, you
   may pick one from the list). For this quickie test, when the "Dial"
   requester comes up, just hit "Cancel". This goes to the terminal
   screen where you can type "AT" yourself and expect an "OK" response.
   If this works, great. You can then try calling your local BBS by
   feeding its number to the connection setup and having it dial.
   
   You probably noticed cool buttons like "Calling from:", "Dial
   Properties", and the like. I get into all this cool stuff in the next
   sections.