Cheapest way to setup a home network?

Ok so here's the deal. My VAIO FW-292 got here a few days ago. Unfortunately I hadn't really prepped much networking wise. My parents have a desktop with Internet access, we also have a Belkin router we got awhile back but unfortunately it's not wireless. How can I setup a WLAN at home and get my laptop online? Is a wireless router pretty much my only option, or is there a cheaper way to do it?

I'm looking for the least expensive way possible because I'll be moving out in a few months so this is only a temporary thing til I get my own internet service.

Thanks.

 

Plug your laptop into the router - that's the cheapest way to get online. If you want to loosely network your computers together, then just put them into the same workgroup. There are tons of guides on how to set up a workgroup with Vista, XP, and any other operating system.

 

Ohh yeah one thing I forgot to mention...my laptop is Vista but my desktop is XP...is that gonna complicate things?

Would plug into the router but I do want a bit of portability.

 

just get a 30 dollar dlink router and replace the wired one you have now. all wireless routers that I know of have atleast 4 wired ports as well.

you could plug directly in, but that is likely a pain.

 

Easiest thing to do is have your parents contact thier ISP and ask for wireless internet. They'll replace your modem with a modem router that'll have easy setup instructions.

You'll get wireless internet and they'll get an update for that old router.

Otherwise you can just buy a cheap wirless router and set it up yourself. You're looking at $20 or so for a cheap router. XP/Vista isn't an issue.

 

Ok thanks for the help everyone. I'll have my parents call their ISP, hopefully that works if not plan B will be a wireless router.