i have a laptop and i bought a liksys wireless router but my computer wont connect to the internet.?

Question

i have a laptop and i bought a liksys wireless router but my computer wont connect to the internet. It doesnt even list a wireless network option to attempt to connect to. Also, my computer is like 4 years old so do i need something else like a wireless card or something?

Answer 1

If your computer does not have a built-in wireless network card, then YES you will need to buy a PCMCIA wireless network card. These cards slide in to the slots on the side of the laptop. You could buy a USB wireless network card, but you are probably have only one or two USB ports and those are most likely in use. TigerDirect has several PCMCIA wireless cards for under $30.

Answer 2

If you do not have a built-in wireless, you will need a wireless card. If the laptop is 4 yrs old, then there is a good possibility that you dont have a built-in wireless.
Even if you have a wireless card, some laptops (e.g. Lenovo) allow wireless to be turned off using an external switch. Look for a button or a switch on the outside of the laptop.

Answer 3

First the laptop may be connecting to some other network at a neighbor's house. Make sure you see your router's name and that you have correctly input the router's SSID and security key. If you have not done that, click on the wifi icon, click Show all Networks, then Setup Wireless Network, then follow that to enter the SSID and security key. That should do it. Still no go? Are you really close enough to the router to get a good connection? Walk over to the router and try to connect.

Answer 4

Before I get into it, I have to dish on the concept of wireless. Is there really such a thing as wireless?

The problem with the highly-touted wireless system is that you have to have so many pricey components. I went to the store the other day to set up my house for wireless. I needed a receiver for each of my PCs. Then, I needed a router. It was soooooo expensive. And, I would have had this thing connected to my PC that looked like my son's baby monitor. I would lose one wire and be down to, what, only nine wires. I guess that's almost virtually wireless. (10% wireless).

Then, you have to know how to secure your baby monitor/router/transmitter/receiver etc. A friend of mine set one up, and immediately, a neighborly guy sent a friendly email saying: "You're not secure. I was driving by and was able to get into your computer." Apparently, the message popped up from their hard disk drive or something. It shows up on someone's else's PC as another drive letter. The Nazi sympathizer, or the crack pipe down the street might think of it as an opportunity...

Wireless routers--are they worth it? If a laptop battery lasts 45.5 minutes (feels like seconds), and you have to plug in with a cord-------doesn't that defeat the whole idea of going cordless?

T'ain't worth it to me.

You should be able to connect your wireless receiver to your computer's NIC (network interface card) (looks like a fat telephone connector with (8 tiny pins). If it isn't connected, then that's your problem.

Answer 5

Yes you need a wireless card in any computer you wish to connect wirelessly. Also verify that wireless is turned on via the router control panel, http://192.168.1.1

Answer 6

Yes, you must have a wireless card to connect.
The newer computer comes with wireless network connection.
After you got the wireless card....

The easier way you can do is download a free software to scan the signal and press connect.

Go to www.boingo.com and download the free software.

make sure to check that you have enable wireless network, so go to Start click my network place and view network connection.

provided free by www.TheDoctorpc.com

Answer 7

Go buy an 802.11 wireless card. There like 20 bucks nowadays.

Answer 8

Contact your ISP,(Internet Service Provider)! My ISP gives you a cd disk to install. It'll configure your system, but you may have to contact your ISP tech's to help lead you through it step, by step.