Thought I had solved all my computer problems with a new system running Windows 7!!!

Should have known better.

My Broadband connection is with TalkTalk. Today is stopped working - no power. They will replace it but that can take from 5 to 10 working days and I can't be without it for that long. Solution was to go and buy another one as a temporary measure. Should be simple enough you would think.

Needless to say it has been far from simple as new modem will not work.

I bought a Micronet ADSL USB Modem SP3302A. Followed instructions only to find installation CD does not work for Windows 7. Not sure how I arrived at it but I ended up installing Driver Detective and I think it downloaded a Windows 7 driver for the modem as the modem now has a light showing on it.

I have tried setting up a connection to TalkTalk but without any success. I also get a message saying Error 651 but am not sure this the true problem.

When I look at my Control Panel > devices & Drivers it lists the modem as Conexant USB ADSL WAN Modem which is nothing I recognise. It also says the driver is dated 2007 which would mean it wasn't a Windows 7 driver.

Now totally lost and confused . . . and wishing I had never got up this morning.

You should not need any drivers for your computer to access the modem. The computer should already be network ready and just ask for and get an IP address from the modem. You do, however, have to contact your ISP and register the MAC Address of the new modem with them. Did you do that?

Even if I don't need drivers surely the modem should show up as being there? If I go via Control Panel it does not list the modem. The modem does have a light showing on it fater I got Driver Detective to update the driver. (I assume that is what it did.)

The ISP will not helkp with third party modems but of everything I have read there has been no suggestion of needing the MAC number - I thought this was only something the ISP needed to control your account.

When I bought my new sytem in September the TalkTalk installation CD would not work on Windows 7 but all I neeed to do was connect the modem they had previously supplied and type this address into browser 192.168.1.254

The modem that has packed up was also more sophisticated than the one I have just bought as I think it woiuld handle wireless and act as a router (don't know if that makes a difference).

Even if I don't need drivers surely the modem should show up as being there? If I go via Control Panel it does not list the modem.

Isn't this modem an external device you connect via an Ethernet cable? If so, then no, it will not show up in Control Panel (or Device Manager, which is where I assume you meant). You should, however, be able to see the modem with your browser, if you know it's IP address.

The ISP will not helkp with third party modems

Why not? I am not sure of the laws in the UK, but I don't think they can force you to use theirs, unless they provide a modem for free.

but of everything I have read there has been no suggestion of needing the MAC number - I thought this was only something the ISP needed to control your account.

It is. And they control the account by authorizing your device, and only your device, by registering its MAC address on their system.

I may have your network all wrong, but I don't think so.

Call TalkTalk again. Tell them you bought a Modem to use until the replacement they are sending arrives. Surely they can check connectivity and register it if needed until then? If you get no result ask to speak to a supervisor. Be polite but firm, make them help you.