wireless internet question?

Question

okay i just got a new laptop: here is what it says about the wireless interent:

MODEM: v.90 56K fax modem
Dial up right out of the box.
ETHERNET CARD: YES
If you have High Speed DSL or CABLE modem, with the built in 10/100 Ethernet port you'll be surfing the net right out of the box.

heres the deal, im using my old laptop to type this. i have a wireless card in here, however, i want to take that card and put it in my new laptop, but i cant get it to work. i dont have the disc for the wireless card. my firs question is this: do i need a wireless card for this laptop since it has a built in ethernet port? i cant find out how to connect to the internet. second, if i want to use my wireless card, how can i get the drivers. i downloaded them from online to a usb stick and then tried opening them in my new laptop, but i cant get a program to open them with. basically how do u suggest i go about gettin connected online. all help is appreciated. thanks.

Answer 1

i cant tell what ur doing .. if its a usb wireless adapter and u have the driver ... install the driver from device manager ... direct it to the folder the driver is in ...

Answer 2

From the specifications that you posted from the laptop box, you do not have wireless built in and will need a wireless internet card. Ethernet 10/100 refers to the port that and ethernet cord (an 8 -pin cord) goes into for networking and accessing high-speed internet. The type of cable most used is a CAT 5 or 6 Cable which you can research using the link below.; it's a very standard internet cord and nothing fancy, that's just it's proper name.

An ethernet card is the part in the computer that has the ethernet port that in which you use the internet cord to connect to. From the specifications of its' "out-of-the-box" surfing is restricted to via a CAT 5 or 6 cable.

If you can find a port, on your laptop, for you wireless internet card to go into then you've finished step one. After that finding the drivers are necessary. Your best bet is to go to the manufactorers' website of the wireless card and download the required drivers. Sometimes when you plug any plug-and-play devices (wireless mouse, webcam, wireless card, etc.) Windows will find the required drivers, but not always.

Sometimes when you download the drives from a website you get a compress file (*.zip, *.rar) rather than an executable (*.exe). Winzip is loaded on most computers so if you had a *.zip file you should be able to uncompress it and run, but if you have a *.rar file you have to download WinRAR. http://www.rarlab.com/ Make sure to go to the manufactorer's website of the intenet card and not something likes downloads.com.

Good luck, hope this helps.

Answer 3

You probably need the programs that were on the original disk for the wireless card as well. Navigate to the manufacture's website & see if you can download them from the support section to the usb stick.

They may also have a .pdf file with installation instructions.

Transfer the drivers and programs to a file in the new computer.

Then - When you first put the wireless card in the slot of the newer computer, the computer should say "new hardware found". Tell the computer where the drivers are found. (it should be asking you this.)

If it's not asking - then it's likely already got the drivers. Either follow the installation instructions, or open the program, and see if wireless setup options are easily understandable.

It's somewhat possible that you could transfer the programs from the old computer to the usb stick, if you can't get them from the manufacture's site. -- Good Luck

Oh - and yes, a brand new computer might have wireless built in.

Answer 4

If wireless isn't important to you, get an Ethernet cable with a RJ45 connector. They're usually blue- the cords- but can be black. And that scary sounding connector looks like a phone connection but just oversized. You can buy them for $5-20 depending on length and quality.... Plug it into the matching port and into your DSL modem or cable box or wherever it is you get your internet from :)

As for wireless.... Try downloading the drivers again from the internet like you did the first time. It should work. If its a zip file you may need to download winzip or winrar (www.rarlabs.com) to open it. :) Get back to us!

All the best,

--John

Answer 5

wow! I went through that same ordeal today. I actually had an old Network wireless access card and discovered that I had to just buck down and buy a new one. The new technology I had in my new laptop found that old technology obsolete. If you downloaded the software to get the drivers you need and they still don't work, you may just have to buy a new card that has the software. I got one today and every thing's working great! The new software typically has tech support and comes with the new "g" technology.

In summary, get a new card that comes with software and tech support. Most are as cheap as $25, and if you have a Fry's in your city, they have new cards starting at $15 and free tech support and warranty!

Answer 6

There should be a CD that came with your new laptop, keep that in a safe place, because if your computer crashes...say... by downloading too much porn...LOL you will need that to reinstall Windows, the Wireless connection and the sound. All new laptops should have wireless built in them? look for 802.11 Wireless Lan in the Device Manger of Windows Vista, you should find it.

Answer 7

Just use the built in ethernet port, wired is always the best way to connect and faster too, well not so much when it comes to the internet but still, just connect directly to your modem or router, forget the card.

Answer 8

Okay first off you have to set up the wireless connection on your laptop, or check to see if you have one set up.
Go to Start then to Network Connections.
Look and see if it has Local Area Connection and if its enabled.
Also make sure the wireless switch on the laptop is turned on.
My new laptop has a switch that you can turn off and on.
With more information I could give you a better answer.

Answer 9

You shouldn't need a wireless card on your new laptop if it has been manufactured within the last few years.

Answer 10

plug in the Ethernet cable to your new laptop, and download the drivers. plug in the card and if it says error, such for the file u just downloaded. this should work.