Wireless Internet Connection for a New Laptop???

Question

I just got a new laptop and have just installed Windows XP Professional on the computer. We have wireless internet connected at home, but I am unable to find out how to connect with my laptop. It doesnt just pop up that it detects wireless even though we have it. Can anyone help me on how to get there? THANKS!

Answer 1

have you configured your router to your laptop? if not, you need to do this before you connect wirelessly. And most importantly, secure your wireless connections with WPA.

Answer 2

# In Windows XP, from the Start menu, go to Control Panel. (For some, you may have to go to Start, then Settings, then Control Panel.)

# Double-click the Network Connections icon.

If instead you see Network and Internet Connections, don't click that. Instead, look in the upper left corner for the link labeled Switch to Classic View and click that. Network Connections will then appear.
# Locate the icon for your wireless adapter. Most times, it's labeled Wireless Network Connection. Then, right-click that icon and select View Available Wireless Networks.

# The Wireless Network Connection panel will open. Under "Related Tasks", click the Change advanced settings link.

# The Wireless Network Connection Properties panel will open. Click the Wireless Networks tab.

# Under "Preferred networks", click the Add... button.

# The Wireless Network properties panel will open. In the "Network name (SSID):" field, enter the name/SSID of the network you want to add. If you're adding the IU Wireless Network's SSID, enter IU Wireless. If it's the SSID of a home wireless router, enter that SSID instead.

# On the drop-down menu labeled "Network Authentication:", select the appropriate settings for the network for which you're configuring settings. If it's a network not using any network authentication, like IU Wireless, select Open. If you're uncertain what to select, consult the administrator of that network (if it's a home network, for example, consult the person who lives there and set the wireless router up).

In many cases, the administrator chooses to secure the connection in another way (for example, IU uses VPN), so in many cases, Open is the appropriate setting.
# Underneath that, on the drop-down menu labeled "Data encryption:", select the appropriate encryption setting for the network for which you're configuring settings. For the IU Wireless network, select Disabled. For any other network, as in the step above, consult that network's administrator.

# (If you want your computer to automatically connect to this network you're setting up, follow this step. Otherwise, skip to the next one.) Click the Connection tab, and then check the box labeled Connect when this network is in range.

# Click OK, then OK again

Answer 3

Control Panel>Network Connections>Wireless Network Connection>General Tab> View Wireless Networks button. unless you have a PCMIA adapter card, then you will have to use the software that came with the adapter.