how do i ...........?

[ivegotahousefull]

Hi, my hubby has bought me a laptop for my birthday, i am a computerphobe. My pc runs off a ntl modem.

Can i connect my laptop to my existing modem or do i need another modem?

Also how, and what do i need to make it wireless?

thank you in advance

Your laptop should have a wireless transceiver built in, but you will need to purchase a wireless router to plug the modem into.

If you get the wireless router, you will not need another modem. If you don't, I have no idea how to do it, because that's how I did it!

HTH!

Get a wireless router. It will provide for all your PCs.

What kind of modem do you have? it may already be a wireless modem/router, who is your ISP?

this is mine.
Average-ish price.

ntl, think its virgin now. its approx four yr old my modem, and it says cable modem on box.

so if i buy a router from pc world, i just plug my modem into that? is it that easy (please say yes)?

If yours is anything like Goobs' then you wont need to buy one, you just need to search for avaliable wireless networks (there will probably be a little wireless icon in the right hand corner, double click it) on your lappy then connect to yours, the network key should be on the bottom of the modem

Yes, but you will have to install the software cd before it will work. (Just a CD, follow the prompts on the disk and it will do the work itself.)
Just check in the shop that the router you choose is suitable with whatever software you have, eg.Vista, Mac........

No, buy an ADSL modem router (like Goobers) and get rid of your old modem

right so if i go and buy the same as goobers, then i can use it too replace existing modem and that will be it.

Yes, you can get rid of existing modem.
Just ask in store, there may be offers on a similar router.

Yep, then just put in the cd and follow the instructions

Good luck

thank you ladies ever so much for your help. Shall drop by tomorrowish to see if i have managed to do it. Unfortunately now, i have to go and see if my poor car is gonna crawl through its mot. Please pray for me, very hard.

Providing my car does pass its test means i can go out and buy a router thing.

NO. Don't buy an ADSL modem!

You said "it says cable modem on box". You can't replace a cable modem with an ADSL modem. It just won't work.

You almost certainly need to buy a separate wireless router. Virgin do their own wireless kit for £40, if you're happiest dealing with Virgin support.

I think you might be better off buying your own, e.g www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-WRT54GR-Wireless-G-Broadband-RangeBooster/dp/B000MPJXO2/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8 &s=electronics&qid=1232145308&sr=8-14.

hello you nice kind people, i have bought a cable router from asda, only place i could get one from without paying over the odds. It cost fifty pound. Its called trendnet. Pc world, maplins and currys were out of stock.

I have installed the router, but my laptop wont accept it. Keeps saying unable to connect. What am i doing wrong?

Mine said that too for ages, its dead frustrating!

Can you "install manually"? That's what I had to do. It was on of the options on the software disc and was the only way I could do it.

It's hard to say what you're doing wrong, when we don't know what you have done.

In the wireless settings on the router you should have set up a network name (SSID), chosen an encrption method (not WEP, use WPA)and set a network key or pass phrase.

To connect you need to choose the network name you have set up and enter the correct network key or pass phrase.

If you have selected the correct network and it's unable to connect, then check the network key or pass phrase you are using matches the one on the router exactly.

Is "unable to connect" the exact error message? The more detail we have the more chance there is of diagnosing the problem?

woo hoooooooo i have done it, not sure how but i have ha ha.

However, within 3 hours macafee who is giving me 90 days free trial, is saying i have viruses which only can be repaired if i buy an upgrade.

Do i need to do that, or is there a free one i can get.

Sorry to be a pain, but thank you

ps, my car passed its mot.

Sorry.
Wasn't ignoring you. Threads I'm on list gets very full!
I bought McAfee software disc from Ebay for £10. I think any more than that is too much. I guess you have sorted it out though now.
They all say you are at risk if you don't subscribe to them.
Glad you got the router working, I guess you installed manually?

didnt do it manually, tried to do "adhoc" think thats what it said, pc to pc, next thing it was working.

As for the mcfee security, i have joined for the 90 days free, then hopefully, i will have some money to buy a security software.

I have norton 2009 on desktop pc, but to add another computer to that, was going to cost me £39.99.

Thank you all for your help x

Is the Norton just for 1 desktop then?
I had it before McAfee and it was for 3 PCs.

norton is for up to three users, but, because when i installed norton on family pc three days before christmas!!!!!! i only installed it for one pc. Had i of known i was getting a laptop i would of waited lol.

So do add additional pcs to norton it will cost me £39.99.

Have seen norton available for £19.99 on a web site, but am scared to buy it just in case its not an original.

Hmm.
What a pain in the arse.
It may be original but last years, they sell them cheaper though they are fine.