I keep getting a message that AOL doesn't recognize my port with my modem. I've never had this problem before... WTF??

I also occasionally get a message that AOL can not initialize my modem.

I'm typing this from work, please help! I can't get online otherwise.

Do I need to buy a new modem?

Check the connections, including the phone line.

done that.

Try getting your modem to phone your mobile phone. That way you will be able to tell if your modem is dialling out (although that should be fairly obvious anyway.)

Click start, accessories, hyper terminal, then type in your mobile number and dial, shortly afterwards you should hear your phone ringing.

Also, have you changed your modems com port lately?

Check to see if you've added anything else that might conflict with that com port. On my other machine, I had to turn off the Palm HotSync tool before I could download pictures from my digital camera. A conflict like that could lead to what you're seeing (and it doesn't tell you much about it, either).

I also had a problem with that on a pc I was fiddling with. It was the ATI drivers which were causing the conflict.