I can't get my modem to work with linux, i think it is a software modem but i don't know how to tell. All i know is it's a PCI 56k HSP Modem but i know nothing else. If there is some utility for windows or on the internet that could help by say looking at what i have and telling me if it should work or not with linux then i need to know otherwise i have to go buy a modem. or if someone can name or show a link to some non-software modems with brand names and model numbers or whatever that would help.

http://linmodems.org

chances are it's a winmodem really. check that site, find out if it's supported and go from there.

I had a similar modem in my old machine and I was unable to get it to work with Mandrake 7.2 - I searched extensively on the web and unfortunately found that at the time ( approx 12 months ago) it wasn't supported.As external modems are relatively cheap (£30 or $45 depending where you are ) I decided to get a new external modem as this is almost guaranteed to work under linux.
Try and find info and help at the site mentioned but in the end it may be easier to just save up for a new modem.Sorry if this is not what you want to hear but it may be the best solution in the long run.

I had a PCI modem and there was no way I could get it to work. It was a generic PCI, so chances are it was a winmodem. Anyway, I bought an external US Robotics serial model and it's worked perfect under Linux (a bit expensive, though). I've heard that some of the USB externals can still be winmodems, so you may want to be careful if you go that route.

I'm pretty sure that site bluecadet mentioned says that as long as it's external and connects via a serial port, the modem has to be hardware and should work (something about a serial port connection not being fast enough for a software controller).

Hope you get it sorted out.