Topic: Wireless - What do I need ?

[Moley]

What do I need to buy to make my Laptop wireless?

The laptop has two little plastic drawers that pop out. The larger one has no holes and the little one has four different shaped holes. I already have a "Dongle" thing. (Not the one you buy of a company selling broadband but a little box with a little wire aerial on it that fits into an USB port.)
The laptop also has sockets for digital media and usb digital drive.

Please help
Thanks

[JimmyTheHoover]

Moley - how old is the LAptop ? - most reasonably modern laptops - say past three years at least - have wireless built in ?

Do the device manager check you did on the other thread for the non-laptop PC and see what network interfaces show up and post back

Jim

[Moley]

Nope..unlike the P.C. it has no Wireless driver in the system settings.

[JimmyTheHoover]

Very unusual - how old is the lappie ?

If it really doesn't have built-in wireless then a USB Wireless Dongle - which it sounds like you already have - is the cheapest option for you.

Jim

[Moley]

Very unusual - how old is the lappie ?

If it really doesn't have built-in wireless then a USB Wireless Dongle - which it sounds like you already have - is the cheapest option for you.

Jim

O.K. but when I plug it in it says it needs software

[JimmyTheHoover]

Yes - it will - it should have come with a CD with the specific drivers on.

If you don't have the drivers CD don't worry - they will be available on the web fairly easily - does the USB Dongle have any model info. on it ?

If not then just plug it in and go through the driver installation process by following the prompts and allow it to search your hard drive for compatible drivers - don't worry if it doesn't find anything just get iut to complete.

Then go into the device manager again and see what new device has appeared and that will identify the hardware/chipset used by the dongle.

Get that and post back.

JIm

[Moley]

Hi Jimmy,

Laptop is a H.P. Pavilion zd8000

Wireless dongle has  USB RF Remote receiver
P/N 20017629
Keine zu wartenden Beauteile

written on it

Wizard says can't install no software.
2 Big yellow questionmarks appears in Device manager. Other devices then USB receiver
General = This device is not configured correctly Code 1

driver = Unknown
Driver details - No driver required ot have been loded for this device
details = USB/VID_OBC7&PID_0006\5&81658A986&0&2

[JimmyTheHoover]

Hi Moley - that doesn't sound like w wifi dongle to me   - did you buy it ?

MIght be simpler to just buy a cheap new USB Wifi dongle such as this :-

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/9159248/Edimax-EW-7711UTN-WiFi-nLite-Mini-Size-Wireless-N-USB-Adaptor/Product.html

Should work fine on XP/Vista/W7 etc...

Or perhaps Huw or Azzy etc. have a spare they could donate to get you up and running in the menatime ?

Jim

[Moley]

You are right Jimmy.
Mine doesn't look anything lke it. Its a USB lead about 4 inches long with a plastic box on the end and a little wire coming out the other end.

So

If I bought this dongle thing... Woukd I need any cards or drivers fitted in the Laptop? Would I need software or does it come with it?

Moley

[JimmyTheHoover]

It will come with drivers Moley on a little CD or they can be downloaded from here :-

http://www.edimax.co.uk/en/support_detail.php?pd_id=280&pl1_id=1&pl2_id=44#01

Jim

[Moley]

That's the way forward then.
Thanks Jimmy
Will do.

Moley

[JimmyTheHoover]

Glad to help Moley - let me know mif you have any problems getting it working with your shiny new wireless router

JIm