major82
join:2009-04-10
Milwaukee, WI
|  How to add a new notebook to an existing wireless network?
"2Kmaro" sent me!
I "Bit The Bullet" and ordered an Inspiron Notebook for my wife from Dell. It is a replacement for my Dell Dimension 4100 Desktop which has OS Windows ME. It will come with Windows XP and a DVD of Windows Vista for future usage. I also specified an N-Wireless card to be consistent with the type I have in my other Inspiron Notebook. It will be a 32-bit OS. Planning ahead, what do I need to do to get my present wireless system (Netgear Router) to accept/acknowledge the new notebook? I have Time Warner Cable. Again, Thanks for your valued help!
P. S. I presently have the Desktop hard wired to the Netgear Router. My plan is to take the Desktop out of the Network after I have the new Notebook on the Network. |
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ImpetusEra
join:2004-05-19
00000
| Since you have to ask it is probable the router was never changed from defaults and you'll have to do nothing. If MAC filtering is enabled in the router the MAC address of the new laptop would need to be added. If the connection is encrypted with WEP/WPA you'd need the key to be able to connect. If SSID broadcast is disabled you'll need to know the SSID and manually setup the network on the laptop. If you don't run DHCP on your network you'll need to setup static addressing. |
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major82
join:2009-04-10
Milwaukee, WI
| Thank you for your prompt response and valued comments. Please comment on the following:
1. How will I be able to find the MAC address of the new laptop?
2. I'm not familiar with the terms WEP/WPA, SSID, DHCP could you please elaborate on these items.
Once again thank you. |
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ImpetusEra
join:2004-05-19
00000
| reply to major82
It's unlikely the router is using MAC filtering so you probably won't need to bother with that. You can get the MAC address of the wireless adapter by entering "ipconfig /all" at a command prompt.
WEP/WPA are for wireless encryption which if isn't already enabled probably should be. You can read about these here:
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wired_Equi···_Privacy
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access
SSID is the name of the network and is either broadcasted or not. See following:
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSID
DHCP assigns IP addressing to clients connected to the network. See:
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhcp
Unless you or someone else changed the defaults of the router you'll probably find theres nothing you have to do to make it work. |
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major82
join:2009-04-10
Milwaukee, WI | Thank you for the guidance on the various terms. Another question? I want to share the files on the Dell Dimension 4100 with the new Dell Notebook. Can you please suggest the best way to accomplish this objective. Thank you. |
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