Heys, I don’t know terribly much about computers, and I’m looking into using WiFi on my PC. A guy in a Yahoo thread (not in relation to anything I posted) said to check the Control Panel for something about a wireless network. I see a “Wireless Network Setup Wizard” option, so does that mean my PC can run it? Do I just have to worry about buying a WiFi card/device? My brother’s visited with his laptop and detected a connection, so I know that I should be within range of one. Do I need to sign up for anything once I have the hardware? Thanks.

priscilla edited this message on 05/11/2009 12:11PM

Followed directions, saw nothing about a wireless network. So I do/buy what?

CrinkzPipe Posted:

Do you have a device that can receive WiFi? I imagine it’s just wireless with a fancy name.

That’s one of the things I’m trying to find out Log in to see images! There’s only a “local area connection” icon under “view network connections.” Going back a step, under “my network places,” there’s an option on the left under “network tasks” labeled, “set up a wireless network for a home or small office.” The desktop was purchased 4.5 years ago. My computer case is open, to where I can see one of the three PCI slots used. The card can have phone lines plugged into them. One painted icon looks like a telephone, the other some weird shaped thing in a square.

From the DSL router, but I’m trying to cancel the service and go without that. Nothing from the computer.

Best way to figure out if you have a wireless card or not is to read the box you get your PC in, or, failing that, go into your control panel and look for “Network Connections”, and you should see things like “Local Area Connection”, etc.

If you see something that looks like “wireless network” or “wireless” anything, then chances are you have a wireless card in your computer.

If you see nothing of the sort where you see Local Area Connection, than you most likely do not have a wireless card, and you need to buy one if you wish to have wireless Internet to your PC.

Newegg sells wireless NICs (network Interface Cards) for relatively cheap, I picked one up for my desktop awhile back, pretty useful as it decreases one of the cables I have plugged into the back of my PC. I hope I answered your question Log in to see images!

Control Panel – Administrative Tools – Services

Then look for Windows Zero Management, start that service that will then tell you if A Your computer is Wifi capable and B whether it has it or not Log in to see images!

Right buy any old USB wireless dongle, cheap as chips (dont touch the make Belkin though), then really you should have your own wireless network within your house, E.G a wireless modem, with a network yourve made yourself, once you have these things to in place thats it done, the software provided with these components will show you how to do it and set it all up properly, its a piece of ****, shouldnt have any problems!

I think you’re saying you have one of those modem/router combo dealies that also has wifi capability, right?

If so all you need a dongle for your computer.

a brief guide missing important how-to’s but will give you an idea of what’s involved:

First, connect the computer WIRED to the router/modem. using command prompt, find the router’s IP address

Put that IP into your web browser and log into the router’s set up page using whatever the login credentials are.

Set up a wireless network on the router. Pick an encryption level, a network name, and a pbumword. Save your changes!

Install the wireless adapter on your computer.

click on the taskbar icon that comes up for your wifi adapter that says something like “networks found in range”. it’ll bring up a dialog for connecting to a network. YOu’ll see the one you just set up on the router and connect to it. then you give it the pbumword and you’re done!

it’s not hard, you just need the right tools Log in to see images!

priscilla Posted:

Okay, if it’s pbumword-protected, that’ll block random people from using my network? I also asked about the software issue in regards to people connecting to my network.

pbumwords keep most normal people out of networks. unless you live beside someone with too much spare time you’re ok.

the software won’t be an issue. you said you saw wireless zero config or something in your services list so when a wireless thing gets plugged in it’ll work.

if not, wireless adapters come with their own software to connect.

the software you needed to set up your internet in the first place probably isn’t necessary imo.

Don’t go down the route of sharing internet with your neighbours, it’ll just bite you in the bum one way or the other.

If you get a router, make sure to enable “WPA” security, and NOT “WEP”. And when you enable WPA, make the pbumcode long, using A_Z, a-z, 0-9, and at least one alt. symbol on your keyboard (e.g. !@*&^%$). WPA can only be hacked through either knowing the code (dumpsterdiving/social engineering), or brute force, hence the long code. Mine is around 20 characters long – just make it a sentence.

Also, Wireless Zero Config is, IIRC, installed by default on Windows systems – so checking for it is irrelevant – and through my experience, wireless adapters that are USB are iffy at best. Then again, I used a D-link one that crapped out, and a friend’s Linksys one worked wonders – so I suppose it’s what means more to you, money or opening your computer to do a (very) simple install. Most internal desktop cards have detailed instructions on how to install for the user who doesn’t know how to do it.

ProjectileVomitBunnyRabbit edited this message on 06/14/2009 2:30PM