Connecting laptop with no wi-fi

mayfieldgirl

Am really not techie minded so hope someone can help me out. I'd like to connect an old laptop to my Sky wi-fi. It's running XP and is not wi-fi enabled.
I've tried to connect via an ethernet cable from the router to the laptop with no luck. I've read about using a USB wi-fi adaptor - would this do the job?
It's only to use occasionally.
Thanks.

enfield_freddy

it should connect with a basic rj45 cable from the router ,


if you want to go wireless you need a small usb wifi adaptor like this (example) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150Mbps-WiFi-Wireless-N-WLAN-150N-USB2-0-Adapter-Stick-Dongle-XP-Vista-Win7-Mac-/300878663745?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item460dc41041

mayfieldgirl

Thank you. Think I will try for the adaptor like your link.

enfield_freddy

example , shop around ,

tavernman

Do you get any messages when you try with ethernet cable , and what is the manufacturer and the model number of the laptop. It may be because it has an ip address from a different router you may have had before sky ?

forgotmyname

Did you use the correct cable? There are crossover cables and standard ones, Which one do you have?

With a cable it should be a simple case of plug it in and its on the net.

Are the drivers installed for the network?

Check the device manager to see if you have any yellow exclamation marks.

nessa1422

I've got an ethernet cable from the laptop to the router but after I've filled in the password etc it just doesn't connect, and times out, saying the remote computer did not respond.
The laptop is a 'Tiny' and there are numerous old dial-up connections available. Should I get rid of those first?
I have a house full of various leads - what type am I looking for?
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

enfield_freddy

yes remove all the dial up connectors , you might even want to go in device manager and disable the onboard modem

RumRat

nessa1422 wrote: »

The laptop is a 'Tiny'

:eek::eek:
Theres a blast from the past..;):D

nessa1422

RumRat wrote: »

:eek::eek:
Theres a blast from the past..;):D

I know!! My daughter is trying to play Sims 2, which keeps crashing on Windows 8 so we're trying to download it onto an older version, hence the Tiny resurrection.

somersethillbilly

RumRat wrote: »

:eek::eek:
Theres a blast from the past..;):D

Was n't the acronym "Tough It's Now Yours"