HI, I just bought a laptop and have no idea how wireless internet works, i guess i was too excited to ask the salesman. Can someone please explain this too me? Do i have to get a wireless internet provider or can i use the one i have now? Thanks!
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HI, I just bought a laptop and have no idea how wireless internet works, i guess i was too excited to ask the salesman. Can someone please explain this too me? Do i have to get a wireless internet provider or can i use the one i have now? Thanks!
Go back to wear you got the computer and talk to the salesman. You need a wireless internet card.
The cards are pretty cheap. Mine was 25-30 bucks.
If you just got a laptop, more than likely it has wireless built in. If you have a cable modem right now, all you need is a wireless router to hook to it. The routers come with pretty straight forward instructions, so it shouldnt be too difficult to set up.
Except, you need to turn on the WEP security so everyone in the world isn't looking at your network, hacking into your computer and reviewing your favorite Porn.
Wireless works like this.
You buy High Speed internet through Cable/DSL whatever,
your Highspeed connects from the wall to your Highspeed modem. This device connects to either your computer or a router. Note: some installs, the modem is also a router.
Wireless comes into play at the router lever. If you own a Linksys or Netgear or Dlink...etc, you will know if it supports wireless via an antennae on the back, or the model actually having wireless in it's name: 'Netgear Wireless Router' etc...
If your router supports this, then you can have wireless clients setup. For sake of simplicity we will not discuss encryption or security here, pm me if you need more info.
Upon making sure your router is also wireless capable, turn on your laptop's wireless <normally a switch on the side or button on the top, or it may always be on> then you need to tell the software (I don't know which software you have) to look for a wireless connection in your area. Look for one that carries the same name as your router's brand. Then tell your laptop's wireless software to connect to it, wait a few moments and you're on.
This is just the gist of it, if you need more info, please let me know.
Mast.
to repeat.
laptop may have wireless already built in. check specifications.
go to best buy, circuit city, or other computer store.
cheapest wireless routers around $40. they work fine. they will plug into lan cable if you have speed internet access.
follow instructions.
if your laptop doesnt have built in wireless support $30-$50 for usb wireless stick or card shaped wireless access. go to best buy or circuit city.
easier to set up with no security. laptop will find network and show up on bottom wight icons.
Wow thanks for all the info. I think my computer is wireless internet ready cause when i went to a friends house and i was using my laptop a little pop up came up saying "it detected some wirless service nearby do you want to connect?", or something like that.
Yeah, then you definitely have it built in. :)
What Mast said.
Mine came with it built in and it's over a year old. I got it to where it was working at the office I work in and then my brother worked on my computer and didn't get to finish and now I have no clue why it doesn't work anymore. I'm such a computer tard.
Does it see the network at the office and fail to connect? Does it not do anything? Are you getting a msg? Let me know.Quote:
Originally Posted by FrustratedBunny
It just doesn't even connect. It used to have this little icon at the task bar at the bottom and now it doesn't show when I'm there. And I never could send emails from there, only receive it, but I think that is partly because I receive my email from bellsouth and use roadrunner as a server. I used to have problems with the wireless there sometimes and would unplug and replug the router but now it's like it doesn't even know to try. Plus I'm having these error messages every time I shut the computer down about can't find "sample" whatever the hell that is. I think my brother got upset cuz he saw a nekkid pic of me on the computer and that's why he stopped working on it in the middle of what he was doing but I didn't ask. And he lives 600 miles away so it's not like I can bring it by again with the pics deleted and get him to look at it again any time soon.
hahaha
well if you want some help let me know.
I have some things for you to try
First, pm me the model of your laptop and any numbers on the bottom except the windows number.
Then find out what operating system you use. If it is XP go to start
right click on my computer
left click on manage.
When the computer management screen comes up click on Device Manage
Look for anything in there with a yellow exclamation point or a red X,
If you have anything let me know I can help if ya want me too, I don't charge for SW members :D