Knowledge Base

How To Programmatically Install Modem Drivers

Article ID: 194941

Article Last Modified on 8/30/2004

Microsoft Win32 Device Driver Kit for Windows NT 4.0

This article was previously published under Q194941

SUMMARY

In Windows NT version 4.0, you can install a modem using one of the following techniques:

Using the Modem Control Panel Applet (Modem.cpl).
Using Windows NT's 4.0 unattended Setup.

All other methods, including manually replicating registry changes, are not recommended. This article describes how you can programmatically issue a modem unattended install to the Modem Control Panel Applet.

MORE INFORMATION

First, create a valid Windows NT 4.0 unattended install file. This file must have a [<Modem_Parameter_Section>] section for the modem you are installing. For example:

   [MyModem]
   COM1 = "Dial-Up Networking Serial Cable between 2 PCs"

To call the Modem Control Panel Applet from the command line, use the following syntax:

rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL modem.cpl,Modems,
noui inf=<INF_FileName> sect=<Modem_Parameter_Section>

Where the above command is one line, with no space between "Modems," and "noui". For example (if the example above was saved as c:\MyModem.inf):

rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL modem.cpl,Modems, noui inf=c:\MyModem.INF sect=MyModem

REFERENCES

For a full description of the [<Modem_Parameter_Section>] Section, please refer to the Windows NT 4.0 unattended install documentation.

Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit: unattended install

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

155197 Unattended Setup Parameters for Unattend.txt File

Keywords: kbhowto kbndis KB194941