connecting a laptop to the internet

[SkwerI]

I just bought a new laptop for my upcoming vacation. I'm completely lost as far as understanding how laptops connect to the internet, especially wireless connections. I currently have a cable connection for my desktop. I tried using the internet connection from my desktop on my laptop and there's no connection. I'm running Vista premium on both computers.

I also have a broadband router I bought a couple years ago that I tried plugging in, but the laptop didn't recognize/support it.

Hopefully I can figure out how to get this thing online, otherwise I'll just return it.

 

[No_Bivy]

it should bring up an avaialable networks for the wireless.......maybe poach a neighbors signal

 

[Koa Man]

Make sure your laptop as a wireless card. I would think all would have them, but a friend bought a Dell desktop that did not have one and he had to order the card. The computer should have a search for wireless connections. Go to a Starbucks and one should pop up. You can try it out there.

 

[SkwerI]

I'll come back to this later. Too many unfamiliar programs all popping up at once demanding my attention every time I try to do anything. I HATE setting up a new computer! And it's even worse when nothing works because I can't get it online. I had it online for a few minutes and was downloading AVG antivirus but that got screwed up on the install.

I'll come back to this later.

And the stoopit battery keeps falling out every time I move the computer. Finally got it wedged in there and now the release lever won't work. :roll:

 

[No_Bivy]

lemon?

 

[stehansen]

I think RRR has Wi-Fi. I'm not familiar with Vista but usually you go into the control panel and then either network connection or network connection wizard. My daughter poaches signals from her neighbors all the time in SF. I just called her and she said that she has a wireless connection in the tray that she double clicks to activate that stuff.

 

[SkwerI]

I finally got the laptop online using my existing connection. Deleted about a dozen programs and removed another half dozen from the start menu. I miss having a mouse. I updated AVG and Windows Defender so I'm relatively secure. I may take it over to a buddy's house to see if he can help me with the wifi thing.

 

[lumberjack]

So why not plug in a mouse?

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Small WiFi card that plugs into the port works well. We have a couple for when we have company with lap tops. I don't remember them being very expensive either and they are small enough to pocket when you are on the move.

 

[SkwerI]

I am sitting in my truck in a shopping center parking lot right now, surfing on a wifi connection on my laptop.

And it's a faster connection than my house!

 

[Dave Shepard]

Signal poacher! I've got a little keychain gadget that detects wifi signals.

 

[Jonseredbred]

"Skwerl on the loose"

 

[NeTree]

There ya go... Skwerl gone mobile!

 

[Dave Shepard]

Hide your nutz!

 

[SkwerI]

I tried again and now I have a signal at the house. I have both computers running right now, my desktop on my connection and the laptop pulling a wireless connection from a neighbor. And the laptop is faster!

I just set up my email accounts as well. Once I get all my important bookmarks loaded in I'll be good to go.

Two items I'm going to need are an auto power cord adapter and a decent mouse. I'm used to having the 'back' button on the side of the mouse, makes it very fast for catching up on unread posts.

 

[rangerdanger]

Awesome Skwerl, glad you figured it out!!

But if you have any problems with it, why not send it my way. Being the tech guy in our house, I'm sure I could fix it

 

[MasterBlaster]

I'm used to having the 'back' button on the side of the mouse, makes it very fast for catching up on unread posts.

Heck yea, I GOTTA have that. It's kinda hard doing it left handed, though. I don't know how people get along w/o it. My buddy Doc says he doesn't see the need for it, and he's gotta PHD. I think that's NUTS.

 

[SkwerI]

Just figuring out what I have, it's an HP G60-247CL notebook PC 16" screen with an AMD Turion dual-core RM-72 processor, 2.10 GHz
3.0 GB of RAM
320GB hard drive
Sells for $599 at Sam's

 

[stehansen]

Should take a while to fill that hard drive up. That's a lot of RAM too. I just looked on my computer and I'm using 12 gigs now.

 

[stehansen]

Hide your nutz!

Done.

 

[rangerdanger]

Should take a while to fill that hard drive up. That's a lot of RAM too. I just looked on my computer and I'm using 12 gigs now.

WOW, 12GB of RAM. You must be running a custom or high end computer to be using that much.

 

[stehansen]

Sorry, I'm using up 12 GB of my hard drive space. The rest is empty. I have 1 gig of RAM.

 

[rangerdanger]

Ok, that sounds better!

 

[C. Kirk]

I don't use a mouse on my laptop in-less in doing work (CAD stuff).On web surfing I tab browse its a most. And setting in the living room wireless, watching tv on the big screen is grate .

 

[sotc]

Brian's liable to take that thing up a tree next month!