Internet on my laptop - what do I need to do and buy?

Hi

My first post...

Let me explain the situation:

I have broadband cable internet on my desktop PC. I have a laptop and I want to get internet on that too.
The model is HP Pavilion ze5600, I am not sure if it is Wi-Fi enabled. It is over 4 years old. I read some advice from some websites on how to check it, was a bit confusing but I don't think I got Wi-Fi.

What would you suggest I do to install internet on the laptop? What do I need to buy?

Unfortunately, I am not very good at this new technology and searching / reading all these online info only make me get confused.

 

Okay, you've already got broadband Internet so that's a plus. Therefore you should already have a modem. All you need now is a wireless router and to verify whether or not your laptop has a WiFi adapter. Go to Start--> Run and type ncpa.cpl and hit enter. Do you see a Network Adapter? You could also go to Device Manager and check. Control Panel--> System--> Hardware--> Device Manager. Under the Network section check to see what adapters the computer has.

 

Hi, and welcome

Chances are good that you'll have to buy what's known as a wireless router. It hooks up to your cable modem to provide wireless internet access. The routers have very easy set up "quick start" sheets that walk you through the process of hooking it up and securing it.

Once it's hooked up to your cable modem, you'll usually use your desktop machine that's physically connected to the router to complete the configuration process. Your router's manual should walk you through it.

As for your laptop, you can check by looking for a "Wi-FI" button on the laptop, on HP's it's usually near the top center of the keyboard with the media control keys, and has an antenna like icon. If you don't see one there, you can use the Network Connections control panel in Windows XP. (Start-Connect To...-Show All Connections) If you see a network adaptor that has the title "Wireless Network Connection" then you have a wireless card.

 

Thank you for your advices, now I know that I definitely don't have wi-fi. I found out that I have : National semi conductor DP83815-Based PC1 Fast Ethernet Adapter.

I wonder if I can just buy a cable to connect the laptop to the broadband modem which is for my desktop pc. However I checked the modem and there is an extra port named USB, and the size is different to the size of the port for the Ethernet cable.
Is it possible to connect to the internet this way and if yes, what do I need to buy?

I start getting a bit concerned about getting wireless after I heard comments from friends that they get disconnected quite often when they have this sort of connection. Also concerned about the safety of data, due to some info I read online.

Can anybody advise on this please? What is the best thing to do?

 

hmm there are 2 options for you mate

Get a WiFi Router or Get a Hub / Switch to share the Internet

 

You will need a router. You can not use both ports on the modem at the same time. ISP (cable & some DSL) use MAC filtering to control access. Normally this is tied to the pc used to setup the account. A router will allow you to share your connection. You can use cable to connect to the router, most have 3-4 ethernet ports. If your NB has wireless it can use that and give you a little more freedom as to where you want to work.

 

The cheapest route would be to set up ICS on the desktop computer to share the Internet w/ the laptop. But the desktop i'm sure only has one ethernet port and that ethernet cable is going to the modem; and I highly doubt it has a WiFi adapter too. So your best bet IMO is to get a USB Wireless Adapter for the laptop and a Wireless Router. It's a high price to pay but it would be worth it IMO (the wireless convenience and all).

I am not sure a switch would work in this case seeing that switches don't perform routing functionalities. So it won't be able to perform NAT functionalities to create another network for the laptop like a router would. The only way a switch would work is if the modem that you have from the ISP is actually a modem/router.

 

I have this particular model of laptp and it does have WiFi. The button is NOT above the keyboard, it is on the right side on the front. It has ethernet next to the usb port opposite the power plug.

 

Oh, in that case of the modem only having 1 ethernet port, you need a switch. I wouldnt recommend connecting through USB because it requires drivers and is SLOOOOOOOOOWWW.

 

Thanks Kasm279, but it is too late, I bought the one with USB and yes, found out it is too SLOOOOWWWW at times.

 

Does the laptop have the button on the front like mine?

 

No, I don't see any Wifi button there. oh well...

 

The quickest way to tell if you have a wireless adapter card onboard (it would be a so-called "Mini PCI Card") is to disconnect the A/C adapter, remove the battery, press and hold the power ON button for a 10-second count (to discharge the system fully), ground yourself against static discharge by touching a large metal object, then turn the computer over, open up the wireless NIC access panel, and look to see if there's a card installed in there. For reference, I've attached a screenshot from the relevant _HP user manual, which can itself be downloaded from here.

Manual Screenshot:



I've also attached a screenshot of the user manual schematic for the ze5x00 series that shows where the various features are located (if the system has them):