There are many different software modems out there, but the two most common are US Robotics' Winmodems and the Rockwell-based K56Flex modems. The Rockwell KFlex modems are particularly problematic, as they support a proprietary protocol, K56Flex. By default, these modems try to connect first using the non-standard KFlex protocol and then try to connect in the standard V.90. This causes our modems to become confused and give up on the call, resulting in inconsistent and/or intermittent connections.
If updating the driver doesn't resolve the issue, you probably need to disable your modem's K56Flex mode. To do this in Windows 95/98, double click on my computer, double click on control panel, then double click on modem.
Your screen should now look like this:
Now click on your modem and then on the "properties" button.
Click on the "Connection" tab up at the top of the screen...
...and then click on "Advanced."
Now, you'll type in your init string on the line labeled "Extra Settings." Find your modem in the list below to find out what your init string should probably be. If you're unsure which one is yours, feel free to try different ones - using the wrong one isn't going to damage anything.
After you type in your init string, you'll have to restart your computer before you try to dial in.