Help accessing wireless network

elliebean_2

We have a wireless network set up at home. We have broadband via NTL and a network which was professioanlly set up and encrypted using Netgear components. We have 2 PCs and a laptop connected to this network.

My daughter has just been given a secondhand Samsung V25 laptop for doing coursework etc. for her A levels and needs to access the internet some of the time. I thought getting her onto the network would be fairly simple so I bought a wifi card from eBay. This one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FAST-WIRELESS-WIFI-802-11B-LAPTOP-CARDBUS-PCMCIA-CARD_W0QQitemZ250028791630QQihZ015QQcategoryZ74954QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem I checked with the guy selling it first that it was compatible with the laptop.

I've installed the driver and plugged the card in but can't work out how to connect to the network. I'm just not sure what I'm doing now and don't want to cause any extra problems. Can someone help me please, and in simple terms as I'm not very technically literate!

Thanks in advance

espresso

When you say that it won't connect to the secure network, have you entered the required encryption key?

albertross_2

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2471408&postcount=37

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2471410&postcount=38

elliebean_2

espresso wrote:

When you say that it won't connect to the secure network, have you entered the required encryption key?

I haven't been asked for and can't find anywhere to enter the encryption key. The only symbol I have in the tray in bottom right hand corner of my screen says "a network cable is unplugged"

Do I have to do anything on the other computer that is attached to the router to allow the laptop access? Apologies if these are stupid or basic questions. I'm trying to sort this out myself to avoid paying someone again. Having the network set up in the first place was very expensive!

espresso

You need to open your Network Connections page. Depending on the operating system, Start, Settings Network Connections where you should see your Wireless card.

Have you download the Manual from the link that you provided? That should help you to set it up.

albertross_2

Have you got a screen like this anywhere?

http://www.pbase.com/image/64495875/original.jpg

amongst the software you installed?

elliebean_2

espresso wrote:

You need to open your Network Connections page. Depending on the operating system, Start, Settings Network Connections where you should see your Wireless card.

When I do that the screen says:
At the top is says Broadband in bold,
under that it says talktalk - disconnected. This is presumably what the previous owner used?

Underneath that in bold it says Network Bridge
under that it says 1394 connection, enabled, bridged, 1394 net adapter
under that it says Network bridge 4, enabled
under that it says Local Area Connection, Network cable unplugged, Intel(R)Pro/100 VE Network Connection

espresso

After you have installed the software for the wireless card, insert the wireless card and then re-start the computer. If the software has been installed correctly, you should have an extra Wireless icon in your system tray near to the clock.

elliebean_2

Thank you for all the help so far.

I've reinstallled the software and have now got the icon in my system tray. However, every time I get to the Wireless Network Properties screen and try to insert the WEP key the whole lot crashes on me. It's done this about 4 times now!

elliebean_2

And now it crashes every time I boot up and the only way to turn it off is to remove the battery. Nothing else works.

albertross_2

you don't need to take the battery out, just hold down the on/off switch for 6 seconds.

Difficult to know what to advise, apart from uninstalling the software, and trying again (using safe mode maybe (F8 at boot).

does it hang at the point you put in the key and press return?