How can I set up my sister's laptop to work on my wireless internet connection?

Question

I have a netopia wireless network card and when I insert it into her laptop, no wireless network connection icon comes up.
Please help!! If you need any other info, just ask and I will provide it.

Answer 1

It depends a lot, but here's the basic requirements and some information to get you going in the right direction. You'll need:

1) a wireless router that is already set up and functioning
2) physically insert / install the wireless card
3) either a driver will load automatically for it, or (better option) if you have the drives on floppy / CD etc. install those drivers
4) if the wireless router is "open" i.e. does not use encryption and the ssid (wireless network unique identifier for your network) has "broadcast" enabled, you should be able to get onto it immediately, though you might have to select the network if more than one is detected
5) if "broadcast" is disabled, you'll need to manually enter the SSID in your sisters laptop once you have the wireless icon in the system tray in the lower right hand corner. Disabling broadcast "hides" the SSID so you just have to know it and tell the computer what it is the first time. (If you don't know any of this at all, you'll need to call a friend. Full details are out of scope for this response and forum.)
6) if WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol) security is enabled, you'll need to enter the WEP key you generated upon setup of the router, and select the right channel. Follow similar procedure if WPA was used, you'll need to consult your documentation for that since I'm not as familiar with it.

Once the ssid is set up and WEP key entered (if required), you should be able to get onto the wireless network. It might be a good idea to reboot your PC after you set it up the first time.

Be patient and persistent, and don't be afraid to read the documentation. The instructions I have seen for my Linksys wireless router for example were pretty good and clear.

Good luck!

Answer 2

when you hook it in, make sure that the card is active.

Go to Control Panel --> Network Connections. Hopefully there will be a wireless network icon (if you don't see it, try to reboot the computer with the card inside and try again).

Then right click the wireless icon, click properties. Make sure to select the box which allows for the icon to appear on the taskbar. From here you can connect to wireless networks.

Answer 3

You said "now that we got it back", so from that I'm assuming that you sent the computer off to be repaired. My guess at what happened is that they cleaned your computer and in the process deleted the drivers for your wireless card. Do you know what kind of wireless card you have in the laptop? If you do then you can go to that manufacturer's website, look for driver downloads, and then download and install the driver that is required for the card that you have. Once you have the correct drivers installed, then Windows should detect the card.

Answer 4

In addition to the other answers here - you need to do 2 other things first:
1. Make sure that the driver for the network card is enabled.
(do this by going to control panel and selecting "Add new hardware" and follow the on screen directions).
2. Set the " Wireless Zero Configuration" to enabled.
(this can be found in the services settings on the control panel - under administration tools).

Then you can follow the other directions provided.
Good luck!

Answer 5

I think you may need to find the drivers for the wireless card. They may have come on a CD with the wireless card. If not, you're going to want to locate the make and model of the wireless card, and download the appropriate drivers.

If you require some additional assistance, feel free to email us at [e-mail]

Answer 6

go to -control panel,
1. Select Network and Internet Connection
2. Select Network connections
3. Select Right click on your Wireless Network Connection
and select the properties
4. Highlight internet protocol (TCP/IP) then select properties.
5 Select "Obtain an IP address automatically" and "Obtain
DNS server address automatically"

This should fix the issue.
If this doesn't fix email me.

Answer 7

You will have to need a device to accept(recieve) the connection, while having a phone line connected to the reciever.


Ex.: A wireless router of some sort.

Answer 8

get wireless card....