how do i find out if my pc is wireless enabled

loopylass30

Hi every 1,
Well ive recently purchased a lap top so im moving this pc upstairs into my sons bedroom, im buying a router and the plan is for him to get internet access via the router, but how do i find out if this pc is wireless enabled, it was bought less than a year ago from dell, its intel pentium 4 and runs with xp.
ive no idea where to look tofind out and i cant seem to find all the leaflets n bumf that came with it;.
can any 1 help me please ?

loops

Zahc

I'm willing to be corrected, but few desktop PCs come with wifi as standard. To check, go to control panel, system, hardware, device manager and have a look in network adaptors.

Zahc

withabix

Your desktop will almost certainly NOT be wireless enabled.

There are basically two options:

1) Easy: USB wireless network adapter. Install software, plug wireless adapter into USB port. No case opening required.

2) Not quite as easy: PCI wireless network adapter. Open case, plug wireless adapter card into spare PCI slot (if the DELL has any spare ones). Install software. Your son will be able to do this for you - a bit like programming the video recorder....:D

loopylass30

Zahc wrote: »

I'm willing to be corrected, but few desktop PCs come with wifi as standard. To check, go to control panel, system, hardware, device manager and have a look in network adaptors.

Zahc

Thanks for the swift reply

Ive followed your instructions and in network adapters it says this ?

intel(R) PRO/100 VE network connetion

so does that mean its wireless ready ?

Shaun_d123

Alternatively go to Start, My Network Places, view network connections.

If yoiur PC is wifi enabled there should be an icon under the LAN/High Speed Internet Section

loopylass30

withabix wrote: »

Your desktop will almost certainly NOT be wireless enabled.

There are basically two options:

1) Easy: USB wireless network adapter. Install software, plug wireless adapter into USB port. No case opening required.

2) Not quite as easy: PCI wireless network adapter. Open case, plug wireless adapter card into spare PCI slot (if the DELL has any spare ones). Install software. Your son will be able to do this for you - a bit like programming the video recorder....:D

Is a usb wireless network adapter 1 of those dingle things ?

loops

Shaun_d123

Loopy ; That just looks like your PC has a network card installed but is Not Wireless enabled

withabix

loopylass30 wrote: »

Is a usb wireless network adapter 1 of those dingle things ?

loops

No, that's a Marlon

Yup, it's a dongle thingy.

loopylass30

awwww blooming technology, i hate it

albertross_2

just buy a router with usb dongle package. If it is BB through a BT phone line (as opposed to cable), you will need an adsl wireless router.

ormus

wifi pci cards are about 9 quid now, from (eg) ebuyer.com