Wireless laptop?

Question

I just bought a new laptop with the "Wifi capability (if this even matters) I want to go wireless with it, how do I do it? We do have internet connection to our regular computer in our home but the modem/router is not "wireless". What do I need to buy to go wireless? Im lost and computers confuse me so please use little words..lol Thanks

I did buy a SD card that does something to locate Wifi??? I have no clue can you explain that too? Whats an SD card? (I can return it if its not what I need)

Answer 1

Try to make this a simple as possible.

I'm going to assume that what you have at home is a broadband modem (either cable or DSL), not a router.

Buy a Linksys WRT54G, you can get this at Best Buy or get it online from multiple different sources.

Power off all PCs and the modem. Disconnect the cable between the modem and PC.

Connect the "WAN" port of the linksys to the "LAN" side of your modem. In other words move the cable going from the modem to the PC over to the connect modem to WAN port on the linksys.

Connect your PC to one of the 4 LAN ports on the linksys.

In the following order, and wait 30 seconds to minute between each.

Power up the modem.

Power up the router

Power up the PC.

Can your PC connect to the Internet, if yes, power up the laptop and can it connect to the Internet?

If you have an issue with the step above, run the configuration software CD that came on the CD with the linksys router.

You may need to tweak some settings in the PC, on the chance that something like the DHCP or DNS address was manually configured. But let's not cross that bridge unless we have to.

You could do this other ways, this way is just the easiest.

Answer 2

Who do you have service through?

My advise to you if no other on here helps.. is to call your ISP. They can help you set everything up. If you are already able to surf while hardwired then likely all you will need to do is disconnect you're ethernet cord from you're PC and connect it into the WAN or internet port on the wireless router. Once that is done you would need to surf into that router to connect it to you're ISP. You should have instructions for doing so in whatever packaging you get with a router. If you dont have any instructions you can try the following:

After you connect the wireless router to you're modem as instructed above... You would need to pull up you're internet browser and try to access the firmware by typing the following in your address bar: 192.168.1.1 or you can try 192.168.2.1 These are the only ones I know... Sometimes you can simply type: homeportal.com

If you get a "page cannot be displayed" message then these address are likely not right or you don't have the router connected correctly.

After doing this... I know that if you are using a Linksys router it should display a box asking for username and password. You would leave the username blank and enter "admin" as your password... then click "ok"

You should then get a Linksys page and you would want to change the DHCP to PPPOE... then below that it should ask for you're user ID and password... .that is where you would type your email address (or the main email address on you're account... if you have multiple) and you're password (that you use with that email address) I believe that is all you need to do on that screen... So at that point try and connect....or hit save... whatever it may say.

**** You also want to make sure you're modem is bridge before you try and connect to the router... If it is not bridge then connecting to the router will not be a success. Usually you can tell if a modem is bridge by just looking at the internet light. If it is off then it is in bridge mode. You can usually reset your modem and it is likely automatically configured to go into bridge mode. Again ... if the internet light is off then you are probably bridge... I know for fact that if it is an ATT modem that would be the case. If you need help bridging you're modem you would need to call you're ISP.... Because I am done typing :)

Hopefully that works for you.

Answer 3

ok call your internet service provider some times they will give you the router if not buy one that is 802.11 a/b/g once you do that and connect the router your computer should detect the connection automatically if not look for the two little computers in the right hand corner at the bottom of your screen click there and should give you the option to connect to select that option and you should see your router in the list of networks connect and thats all if you have more questions go to microsoft.com there is instructions in how to connect good luck
Adios

Answer 4

You could also just install a wireless access point on your desktop and bridge the connection to your lan connection in your Network connections windows. All you will have to do is create a p2p network between your laptop and your desktop and your laptop will access it's internet through your desktop connection...instead of buying and setting up an end router on your wimax.

Answer 5

you need to buy a wireless router (wifi router) for this and connect your net cable from the normal router to the new wireless router. then switch on wirell on the router and your laptop to use wifi