Should have bought a simpler laptop ??

espresso

Jake'sGran wrote: »

It's a Thomson ST585v6.

Is it possible to use the laptop without making use of the wireless capability?
Is that what your first sentence refers to?

If you simply want to use the laptop to access the net, you can connect the Ethernet cable between the router and the laptop.

If you want the laptop to connect using wireless, you will need to set-up the wireless encryption if you have not used wireless before. This is where the passphrase comes in. Normally you would set-up the wireless encryption with a PC e.g. your new laptop connected via the Ethernet cable to the router and then enter the default IP address of the router 192.168.1.254 into your browser.

You then log into the router (the default user is ‘Administrator’ and the default password is blank) and navigate to the wireless settings page and select WPA-PSK encryption, enter your passphrase and save the changes.

Then in order for the laptop to connect using wireless, this same passphrase needs to be entered into the laptop during the wireless set-up. Once configured correctly, it will then automatically connect to your router.

Jake'sGran wrote: »

Your last sentence confuses me. I just want my wireless enabled laptop to link to the desktop so that both access the Internet.

You new laptop connects to the router not your desktop.

amcluesent

>SinL is going to come here sometime this w/end<

Busy time for him...:)

penrhyn

I now understand the confusion.
Follow expresso's advice and you/SIL won't go far wrong.
The user guide for the modem is here ( under end user documentation) if you haven't found your copy.
http://www.thomsonbroadbandpartner.com/dsl-modems-gateways/products/product-detail.php?id=104

Jake'sGran

penrhyn wrote: »

I now understand the confusion.
Follow expresso's advice and you/SIL won't go far wrong.
The user guide for the modem is here ( under end user documentation) if you haven't found your copy.
http://www.thomsonbroadbandpartner.com/dsl-modems-gateways/products/product-detail.php?id=104

I have had a quick look at the user guide for the router. I have printed off Espresso's instructions and will follow them.

Jake'sGran

jem16 wrote: »

That's the wireless security they are wanting you to set up.

Can you confirm how your desktop pc accesses the internet at present? Is it connected to the Thompson router that you mention? If so how does it connect to it?

My SinL connected it to the router but according to Espresso this is not necessary and I can connect the router directly to the laptop. Before the router arrived I was connected to the Internet with AOL broadband - is that what you mean?

penrhyn

You wireless modem/router does a couple of things.
The modem part connects to the internet (your ISP is AOL), at some point SIL will have entered your username and password to access AOL.
The router splits the internet connection into 5, one wireless port and 4 wired ports.
Your desktop is connected to one of the wired ports. The laptop will connect to the router via the wireless port, it is this port that will need security setting up on.
Hope this makes things clearer.

jem16

Jake'sGran wrote: »

My SinL connected it to the router but according to Espresso this is not necessary and I can connect the router directly to the laptop. Before the router arrived I was connected to the Internet with AOL broadband - is that what you mean?

Leave the desktop pc connected as it is. Follow espresso's directions about setting up the wireless but do this from the desktop pc as it is already connected to the router.

As penrhyn says the router does two jobs. If you leave the desktop pc connected and then connect the laptop wirelessly you will be able to use the internet from both machines at the same time or independently.

AOL have also provided instructions on how to set up your wireless network.

http://help.aol.co.uk/broadband/set-up-your-wireless-network/article/20070313092809990004

Jake'sGran

jem16 wrote: »

Leave the desktop pc connected as it is. Follow espresso's directions about setting up the wireless but do this from the desktop pc as it is already connected to the router.

As penrhyn says the router does two jobs. If you leave the desktop pc connected and then connect the laptop wirelessly you will be able to use the internet from both machines at the same time or independently.

AOL have also provided instructions on how to set up your wireless network.

http://help.aol.co.uk/broadband/set-up-your-wireless-network/article/20070313092809990004

Thank you Jem. It was all getting me down yesterday so I left it and SinL has not come to see me yet. I hope this does not muddy the waters when I tell you that:

The router is in front of me on my desk upstairs. It has a lead going in to the telephone socket behind my desk. There is another yellow lead plugged into the back of the router in the first of the four ports marked Ethernet. BUT, the other end is not plugged into anything and I believe this is because there is no ethernet port on the back of my desktop computer. SIL said when he left last week "we can get round it". That's how things stand. I have been reading an awful lot and have printed espresso's instructions but have not yet linked the router directly to the laptop. I will go to the page you have given above. On way or another it will be sorted this week. I am a bit embarrassed that people might think I am a bit thick but I will never be as computer savvy as you all are but I will get there.

libra10

Jakesgran - hope you get sorted. I bought this Sony Vaio in March and changed ISPs to O2. They provided a Thomson router and O2 sent a disc which we installed in the computer and followed the instructions. Neither my OH nor I are techy but it was really easy to connect the Vaio to the ISP. When you set up security the number you need is on the router.

I'm sure these guys will sort you out.

Good luck

jem16

Jake'sGran wrote: »

Thank you Jem. It was all getting me down yesterday so I left it and SinL has not come to see me yet. I hope this does not muddy the waters when I tell you that:

The router is in front of me on my desk upstairs. It has a lead going in to the telephone socket behind my desk. There is another yellow lead plugged into the back of the router in the first of the four ports marked Ethernet. BUT, the other end is not plugged into anything and I believe this is because there is no ethernet port on the back of my desktop computer.

Must be a pretty old desktop not to have an ethernet port. Most now have an ethernet port built into the motherboard.

So if your desktop pc is not attached to the router how exactly do you connect to the internet with this pc?

SIL said when he left last week "we can get round it". That's how things stand. I have been reading an awful lot and have printed espresso's instructions but have not yet linked the router directly to the laptop.

You can of course link the laptop directly to the router with the yellow cable that goes nowhere at the moment. I have done this with my parents' laptop. It just means that you cannot take it easily to another room. They are not bothered with this and just keep it in the same place all the time. It doesn't have wireless anyway as it's an older laptop.

I will go to the page you have given above. On way or another it will be sorted this week. I am a bit embarrassed that people might think I am a bit thick but I will never be as computer savvy as you all are but I will get there.

No I don't think you are thick at all. Different people have different skills. I'm useless with anything artistic!