Got a laptop... Need HELP with Wireless Set-Up...

Hi all,

I FINALLY bought my first lappy yesterday from Best Buy. It is a HP DV2225nr. NICE! I also, bought a Netgear Super G wireless Router to set up my home to be wireless (at least my laptop).

Anyway, my question is: I can make my laptop run wirelessly without having my desktop wireless too, correct? I mean, I have a 6 year old DELL desktop that does NOT have a wireless card in it. I read somewhere that in order to set up a wireless connection, I'll need a Router, a Wireless Card for my laptop (already installed) AND for my desktop along with High Speed Internet (I have DSL). Well, while at Best Buy yesterday, the sales rep told me that I don't need a wireless card for my desktop if I don't want it to be wireless.
So now I am all confused! I want my desktop to stay the same as it is now- sitting on my desk in my room, plugged in to the wall and to the DSL modem. BUT I want my laptop to be wireless so I can use it anywhere in the house. Also, we are getting the Nintendo Wii and have a PSP already and will be using those wirelessly too.

Sooooo, could someone out there please help a gal out and tell me what I DO or DON'T need?...

Thanks so much!
Tasha

 

Plug your DSL modem into the router, then you should be able to connect wirelessly with your notebook and with a cable to your desktop.

 

To clarify just a little bit: The DSL modem plugs into whatever port on the router is marked as "WAN", or is sitting by itself relative to the other ports.

The desktop plugs into the router as well. Any of the remaining ports are fine.

 

Ok, great! So I DON'T need a desktop card then. Sweet! It sounds easy enough too. I will go home tonight and set it up. *Fingers Crossed*

Thanks,
Tasha

 

Ok, here's the deal. We have the same set up you're describing. I'll try my best. Your ISP probably gave you or had you buy their modem, which is connected to your wall and is connected to your desk top. You're good with that connection...don't do anything to it. The wireless router will connect to the modem as well, so now there should be a hard line from the modem to your desktop and to your wireless router. Your new laptop has a build in wi-fi card, so you should be able to click on the tiny icon at the lower right of your computer that has 2 computer screens with a red x on it and look for available connections. You should be able to set up your connection from there and you're good to go.

I hope that helps some.

 

Hi guys. I'm in the same boat as well so let me see if I've got this straight in my head. I connect the phone line to my DSL modem, which then goes out as an ethernet cable to the wireless router. From there, I'll connect another ethernet cable from the wireless router to my desktop and since the signal from the wall is already going through the wireless router, all I have to do is enable the wireless card in my laptop. Sound about right or am I totally missing the point?

 

Sounds like you've got it.
It's realy as easy as pie.

 

Okay, cool. Now, is there a difference in wireless routers? I've been seeing n routers but as far as I know, my laptop is only a/b/g compliant. So, where's the n coming in?

 

N is a newer wireless standard. It's a lot faster, but I don't think there's a finalized version out yet.

Most current hardware is only G, and all the N ("pre-n" or "draft-n") routers will support G wireless adapters, so it's not something you need to worry about.

 

I got it working! It took a few times as after I had it working the first time, I realized that I had it 'open' to everyone else out there- i.e., no security feature turned on the router. So I went back and changed it, but when I did that, my laptop nor desktop would not go online. I was freakin'! But after resetting everything (powering it all off and on again), it worked and it says that my connection is now secure. So *I guess* all is well. Now I just wish there was a way for me to click on IE on the desktop of my lappy and just automatically be online just as I do with my PC. But instead I have to click on the little tv like screens in the bottom corner, choose a wireless connection, wait for it to establish, close that screen and then click on IE. Oh well! Who said life was meant to be 100% easy? LOL!

Thanks for all of your help.

Tasha

 

I have an additional question - once this is completed can you run the internet on both the Desktop and Laptop and the same time, or would you only be able to run one at a time?

Allison