Should have bought a simpler laptop ??

basmic

The Thomson router was setup, presumably when you get the AOL CD - the setup was performed at the desktop, and it asked you for your AOL username and password.

So, if I'm reading all this right, you think the desktop holds the username and password? If so, that's mostly incorrect - the setup software sent these details to the router, and it is the router that uses those details to connect you to the internet.

In a nutshell, you could have your desktop turned off, router turned on and your laptop turned on - and you would be able to access the internet. The router is pretty much just a small computer inside a plastic box, and it's job is to provide wireless or wired computers with internet access, and quite possibly file and printer sharing.

Now, to connect your laptop to your router, you need to find out the wireless key/password. It might be printed under the router, so take a look. If you can't find it, there are ways and means.

Download and install WirelessKeyView (link) onto your desktop computer. This should show you the wireless key for any networks the computer is/was connected to.

Jake'sGran

Thank you again JEM and Basmic. I can't believe how kind people are on here - prepared to give so much time to others.

Right, tonight I will take the router downstairs to attach to the laptop and turn off this PC leaving it as it was with the modem. BUT, won't I need to have a telephone link convenient for the laptop downstairs? The bottom line is that I bought the laptop to use in my downstairs bedroom as I have a bad heart problem (got good doctors though), and I also want to use it to watch CDs. At least tonight when I crept into the forum hoping that no one would notice it was great to see even more advice although, as has been said on another thread, Espresso is ace with all this.

jem16

Jake'sGran wrote: »

Thank you again JEM and Basmic. I can't believe how kind people are on here - prepared to give so much time to others.

Right, tonight I will take the router downstairs to attach to the laptop and turn off this PC leaving it as it was with the modem. BUT, won't I need to have a telephone link convenient for the laptop downstairs?

The router will have to be connected to the telephone line so it needs to be near one. If you connect the laptop wired to the router then yes they have to be close enough to connect. If you use the wireless option the router does not need to be anywhere near the laptop. You can leave the router where it is.

The bottom line is that I bought the laptop to use in my downstairs bedroom as I have a bad heart problem (got good doctors though), and I also want to use it to watch CDs.

Is there a phone line there?

penrhyn

What modem? You cannot have a modem and a modem/router connected to a single telephone line.

Jake'sGran

jem16 wrote: »

The router will have to be connected to the telephone line so it needs to be near one. If you connect the laptop wired to the router then yes they have to be close enough to connect. If you use the wireless option the router does not need to be anywhere near the laptop. You can leave the router where it is.

Is there a phone line there?

Hello Jem, yes, there is a telephone line in the hall outside the downstairs bedroom. There was one inside the room too until my son cut throug it when he fitted wood flooring in the hall. I didn't do what I said last night but now I feel I am on the right track and will put the router with the wire for the phone line in the hall and then try the laptop in the bedroom. I have a feeling this is going to come right now.:T

Jake'sGran

penrhyn wrote: »

What modem? You cannot have a modem and a modem/router connected to a single telephone line.

There is a BT modem on my desk with my PC and until a a hour ago there was also a router - not needed of course. The modem on my desk was supplied by AOL when I first started with broadband.

The black wire from the router was plugged into a multi-socket which contains a connection to the phone line under the desk. Hope this makes sense.

jem16

Jake'sGran wrote: »

Hello Jem, yes, there is a telephone line in the hall outside the downstairs bedroom. There was one inside the room too until my son cut throug it when he fitted wood flooring in the hall. I didn't do what I said last night but now I feel I am on the right track and will put the router with the wire for the phone line in the hall and then try the laptop in the bedroom. I have a feeling this is going to come right now.:T

OK.

You will need to use the wireless setup that Espresso has given you instructions for. However you will need to take the laptop to the router and connect it with the yellow wire so that you can enable to wireless settings and set up a wireless password.

After you have done this you can then unplug the wire from the laptop and attempt to connect the laptop to the router wirelessly.

There is a BT modem on my desk with my PC

Is this a dial up modem or is it also a broadband modem? Are you paying both BT and AOL?

In other words who are you connecting to when you come onto this forum?

Jake'sGran

Thank you Jem. No, I am only paying AOL - I am not getting everything they should
have given me in the package but that is a different story. It is a broadband modem.
I am only paying £6.99 per month.