Setting up a laptop

[Tinkerpuss]

My 78 year aunt's old pc went kaput and she has decided to get a laptop. She has a wireless router which was always attached to her computer as she did not have a wireless receiver.
Although I am pretty well up on pc's I have never set up a laptop. Is it just a case of opening the network connections and putting in the password I set her up with when she first got the router or will or will I have to connect it with the ethernet cable to start with?
Any advice appreciated.

[welshlibranr]

not sure, but think you need to set up a wireless network as the router is already up and running!...........but sure you'll get lots of advice from more experienced Abers.....they are just great!.............

[MarkRae]

Assuming that the laptop has a wireless NIC (network interface card), then it should automatically scan for nearby broadcasting wireless networks, and should find your aunt's. As you say, you should then be able to connect by supplying the necessary credentials.

HOWEVER - if you have set up the wireless network security for MAC address filtering, you will need to add the MAC address of the laptop's NIC into the list of permitted MAC addresses...

[craft1948]

Far as I know you just need to enter the original password.

[craft1948]

But ^^ he knows more than me..............

[Tinkerpuss]

Thanks, I am sure there will be many experts out there. The laptop is due to arrive tomorrow and my aunt thinks I am an expert...she is missing her e-mails and Google for her crosswords.
I am a middle aged niece with only desktop experience but we have the router installation disk so hopefully it will be straight forward,,,fingers crossed!

[Tinkerpuss]

It is not a mac system so hopefully I can just put in the password and it will be up and running. Thanks folks!

[RAV1D]

On many laptops Iv used with wireless conection built in, Theres usaly an icon at the bottom right side of the desktop to do with the wireless signal, If so double click on it and There will be options to fill in your wireless password and search for your router signal. sometimes there may be a switch on the side of your laptop to turn the wireless signal on and off, make sure if so it's on.

[Hopkirk]

Was the wireless router ever set up, with a security password?