Hey I have a dell laptop but can't connect to a wireless network?

Question

Hey guys I just bought the laptop yesterday.
I asked the guy at the store if all I needed was the internal wireless because I am a college student that travels a lot. He said I can just use the internal, that I dont need to use a router.
So I get home and Whenever I connect to a network it will say little or no conectivity..
wat should I do guys please help me?

ok where is the on button??

ok where is the button to turn on the wireless?

man I really dont know when I would use my sister's laptop it would work perfectly fine.

Answer 1

Windows uses a service called Wireless Zero Configuration to find Wireless networks that are out there. Each wireless network has a name called an SSID. Default is a pretty common name or linksys if that is the brand. Normally these wireless devices are wide open right out of the box and if the person setting them up does not change it, you will see the network as unsecured in the list of wireless networks. You can probably connect to that device... your neighbors, but the signal could be weak and in some states it is considered trespassing (debatable). Now, besides a wireless signal you will need to obtain an IP address and if you do not, you will see the message about limited or no connectivity. My guess is you are connecting to a system that is not handing out the IP, hence the message.

Now the guy at the store was half right. When you travel, you can connect to public WiFi hotspots like McDonald's or airports etc. All you need is the Wireless NIC you have inside the laptop. Some places might make you pay to connect, but when that little bubble at the bottom left of the screen pops up and says wireless networks detected, you can double click it and connect to the public networks (or again your neighbor's if you so chose :D ). A dorm may have the Wireless Access Point, but I cannot say for sure.

In a home environment not only do you need a wireless router, but a Internet connection the router is attached to in order to get out to the internet. If you do not then you have to piggyback on someone else’s to get to the Net as a wireless access point of some sort is always required. Hope that helps.

Answer 2

Be sure to check that your Wireless adapter is enabled. To check this go to: 'Start', Right-Click on 'My Computer', click 'Properties', then click on the tab 'Hardware', then 'Device Manager', then 'Network Adapters' and make sure there are no Red crosses next to any of the Icons. If that doesnt work, install any software that came (if any) with the router AND the Wireless Card and try it that way, (you may have already, but it hasnt been stated)

Answer 3

First off you didn't say what kind of wireless....wifi (a.k.a. 802.11G) is what is usually integrated into a laptop.

For that to work you need to have a wifi network that you can access.

Wifi works over a relatively short range (200 feet maximum, typically much less) from the computer to the "access point".

When you say you went home, I assume your parents? Do your parents have a wifi network in their house? If not, you need to go someplace that has a wifi network. Try a coffee shop (starbucks) or a motel (Marriott) lobby or - just be prepared that many commercial places charge for wifi Internet access.

If you have access to wifi and you can't get connected, then reask your question.

Answer 4

It really seems like you're talking apples and oranges. To access the internet wirelessly you must have all these things:

A wireless adapter in your laptop (which it seems you have)
Be in range of a wireless network
Have that network be unsecured or you have the key.

It sounds like you may not be in range of an unsecured network.

A router is useful if it is YOUR broadband connection. Then you hook it to your modem and broadcast your own wireless network. And for that one you should be in range.

Answer 5

You must on your wireless first. There is a button in your notebook to activate the wireless.

Answer 6

the button is on the side of your notrbook