How Do I Make My Laptop Wireless?
I have AT&T DSL (wired through a DSL modem) on my desktop. My daughter just got a new Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop. I’m clueless about laptops/WIFI/hot spots, etc. I know that the DSL that I have on my desktop includes home networking. We would like to connect the laptop to the DSL that we already have in the home.
So far, what I have learned is that I need a “card” of some sort and a wireless router. These are my main questions;
1) Under >Control Panel>Hardware and sound>Device Manager>Network adapters it lists-
Dell Wireless 1395 WLAN Mini-Card
and
Marvell Yukon 88E8040 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller
Is one of those the ‘card’ that I need? If not, what kind of card is it? Where do I get it? Through AT&T? Dell?
2) Will any wireless router work? Does it need to be compatible with AT&T DSL or are they all compatible? What is the best type/brand etc to get?
Thanks a million! My daughter is anxious to get online with her new laptop and I don’t want her to know that her ‘oldie’ mom has no clue what to do! LOL
5 Responses to “How Do I Make My Laptop Wireless?”
Comment from Anthony C
Time February 8, 2010 at 6:33 am
Dell Wireless 1395 WLAN Mini-Card
This is the wireless card that you need to connect to a wireless router, so you’re good there.
The router? A wireless Linksys router is usually easy to set up. Instead of having your desktop plugged into your DSL modem, plug the router into the DSL modem. Now you can connect more than one computer to the internet. You’ll have to run through a setup which should be detailed with the manual with the router that you buy.
You can also consider calling up your DSL provider, I’m sure they are able to assist people with hooking up routers to their modems as well as providing you with a compatible wireless router of their own.
Comment from Chillaxe
Time February 8, 2010 at 6:33 am
all you need is a wireless router, and no it doesn’t have to be from AT&T. You can get it online, best buy or even target stores. I recommend anything from linksys, they’re great. The high speed boost that comes with some packages isn’t necessary, but its a great plus. Great laptop by the way lol i have the same one 
Comment from nikki
Time February 8, 2010 at 6:33 am
you have every piece of necessary hardware that u would require for home networking. what u need is just configuring these. just get a wireless router and get…set…and gooo……..
Comment from davidkne
Time February 8, 2010 at 6:33 am
well, first of all, you don’t need to buy a card… that laptop, as you said has a Dell Wireless 1395 WLAN Mini-Card. That means that it has wifi built into it. AT&T is your internet provider, which means that that is the company which you pay to provide you with internet. Now, At&t may also be the router that you have. The router sends out the wireless signals. The router is a little box, about 5 in. by 4 in. and 1 in. high. Since you have at&t, you probably have a 2WIRE835, or something like that. On the laptop, view the available wireless networks. If the 2WIRE comes up, then select it, and if it asks you for a password, then look on the router, and there should be a sticker on the back of it with the password. If you can tell me some more information, then i can further more help you.
If you are wondering, i am 13 years old, but that doesn’t mean that i can’t give you the same professional help as other people might be able to.
Comment from shelbygu
Time February 8, 2010 at 6:33 am
The laptop already has wifi ‘builtin’ as indicated by the WLAN minicard; You would need to buy a wifi router(any brand) from a retailer, connect it to your modem, then set it up using the automated cd setup program that comes with most all routers. Reconnect your desktop to the router(when indicated by the cd setup program), with their included network cable, THEN, enable the Dell wifi on the laptop, have it discover your new wifi network and you’re all set, After initial configuration of the wifi on the laptop, it will connect to your new network automatically from then on.
If you follow the install cd that comes with the router step by step, then the setup is simple. Activating wifi on the laptop is usually just finding and turning on the WIFI switch on the bottom front or side of the most all wifi capable laptops.
Home networking/ICS(Internet Connection Sharing) does not have to be enabled on your desktop pc UNLESS you want to share files wirelessly between your pc and the laptop.
good luck.