Wifi not picking up my router

[Trixybelle]

Bought a new router (broadband is provided in my accommodation) and it's works fine on my ipad but when I tried to set password via my laptop it's disappeared.
Tried google but I don't understand half of the instructions and I thought I was quite good at this stuff.
Where do I start?

As a starting point,try restarting both the router and the laptop.Are you sure the wireless is switched on,on the laptop?

Hi
Thanks yes it's picking up my neighbours wifi. I'm a bit wearing of restarting router incase my ipad then loses connection. If I disappear you know why.

Ok wifi back on, still under original with no password, connecting on ipad but still nothing on laptop.

What version of windows is your laptop?
What make and model is your router?
Do you have an ethernet cable you could use to connect the laptop to the router on a temporary basis?

Windows 8 (the horrible new one) on HP laptop
Cisco linksys wireless-n access point n300 dual band
Doesn't have the option for an Ethernet cable unfortunately.

Ok I'm a numpty, I've hit reset on the router and it's now finding it under the original name.
How do I change name and set password without this happening again?