How Do I Make This Computer Wireless

My neighbour has given me their laptop computer while I am waiting for our new computer to arrive.
This computer is a IBM ThinkPad Lenovo R61, running Windows XP.
I have a router upstairs and am running the cable down to the first floor where I use the computer.
Not sure if this is doable but I wasted to find out from you guys.
Thanks

 

If the router is wireless, then you can buy a very cheap Wifi usb dongle for that laptop

 

The Router is wireless.
I failed to mention that it was wireless at the previous owners house without a USB dongle.
They used a NetGear 2.4g and my NetGear is N300. I was trying to get this laptop to see the new Router (NetGear N300) but don't know how to do that.

 

http://www.dummies.com/computers/pcs/how-to-enable-your-wireless-nic-in-windows-xp/

 

Thanks, it is "enabled"

 

Wireless NIC is activated.
Here's what I've done so far.
Stuck the memory stick into the router and waited a minute.
On the laptop I activated the wireless network setup wizard.
At the end I got this message: The Wizard completed successfully.
Below within the box was:ERROR - Microsoft Windows XP (this computer, Depending on the wireless software running on this computer, the Wireless Network Setup might not work. For details, see article 871122 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base on Microsoft.com.)

 

There should be a Lenovo tool that is used to configure the Wireless settings (though I always use the default Windows tool).

 

I don't know whether I can help here or not as the only XP system I still have is in a virtual machine where networking is set up rather differently, but I'm intrigued by this statement. What has a memory stick got to do with wireless networking and why have you plugged one into your router?

 

Years ago when I first had set up my computer for a router, the computer detected it, but not this second hand computer

 

Have you accessed the Netgear settings to ensure that the router is broadcasting its SSID? This feature might be turned off.

Where has this come from?

 

It's more likely software related, but what is the make/model of the NIC? There is a chance it could be the card not seeing a 2.4 GHz signal.

As far as the settings, some routers allow you to use a flash drive for setting up the connection.

 

I've tried to retrace my steps and so far have not found it. My neighbour, who use to own this computer, was also using the USB on the router. You apparently plug the flash drive into the router, wait for 3 flashes, remove the f!ash drive and plug it into the computer.

 

How would I access NIC information, to a answer your question?

 

Just look for the Lenovo tool that is the default for wireless connections and use that, it should be in the Start menu somewhere.

If you'd prefer to use the Windows tool, find the Lenovo tool and access the settings/properties to disable it so you can use the Windows tool to connect instead.

 

What type of security settings are you using? WEP, WPA, or WPA2?

Your NIC may not support some types of security.

You can use a program like Speccy to find out what a PC is made of.

 

Thanks for that. It's very unlikely that XP has the capability to set up a wireless network that way so unless you can find the Lenovo tool satrow talks about you will have to configure the wifi network manually. It isn't difficult but without an XP system here I can't guide you. To access the router configuration to check the SSID and other wireless settings enter 192.168.1.0 into your browsers address bar. You will be asked for a username and password and Netgear uses admin and password by default, case sensitive. The router settings will open in a new web page.

(If the IP address doesn't work try 192.168.1.1 - I'm having difficulty remembering these details)

 

EDIT - or 192.168.0.1

 

Okay, downloaded Speccy, but not sure where to look for security settings.

 

You won't find the wireless security settings in Speccy. They are in the router settings - try following my guidance above in #18 and #19

 

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\sandra>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : sandy
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : natnow.rr.com

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-E8-52-C8-B7

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : natnow.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) 82566MM Gigabit Network Con
nection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1A-6B-38-24-DC
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.47
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 209.18.47.62
209.18.47.61
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, November 01, 2016 1:34:43 P
M
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, November 02, 2016 1:34:43
PM

C:\Documents and Settings\sandra>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : sandy
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : natnow.rr.com

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-E8-52-C8-B7

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : natnow.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) 82566MM Gigabit Network Con
nection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1A-6B-38-24-DC
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.47
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 209.18.47.62
209.18.47.61
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, November 01, 2016 1:34:43 P
M
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, November 02, 2016 1:34:43
PM

C:\Documents and Settings\sandra>

 

ipconfig has resolved the IP address of the router, (the default gateway), as 192.168.0.1 so thanks TimW, but it says nothing about the wireless security protocol it is using. Anyway you can now access the router settings using 192.168.0.1 in the browser address bar and admin and password as username and password. So you can check that the router is broadcasting its SSID and, I would suggest, set the wireless security protocol as WEP or WPA. You will also need to set the wireless password in the router that every device trying to connect will be asked to supply. What you need now is for an XP user to step in and help you complete the router and network adapter configuration.

 

Just in case you need it, the latest driver for your WNIC (WiFi card) can be found here:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/do...Wireless-Software-and-Drivers-for-Windows-XP-

Read the instructions carefully. The file with the "D" before the x32 is the driver only. I recommend that one, and letting Windows Wireless Zero do the job.

 

This got too extensive where we lost wireless connection with our other two devices. We ended up paying Better to get us up and running.
Just want to thank everyone for their assistance.