Putting wi-fi on a desktop PC

[Juicymarmalade]

I just got my first desktop computer and I want to use the wi-fi connection from my router used for my laptop on the new PC. I got an ethernet cable but it didn't work. How do I get my wi-fi on a desktop computer?

 

[bill001g]

Buy a cheap usb wifi card. many under $15

 

[Juicymarmalade]

Hmm maybe I'll do that but is there a reason why my eternet cable didn't work? Because when I connect to my PC and my router it says the PC is connected to an unknown network but that network doesn't work. If I don't have the pc and cable connected there won't be anything so something tells me the ethernet cable can connect to some sort of network. Is tere any possibility of it still working or should I just return the cable and get the usb wifi card?

 

[bill001g]

I see i though you just wanted to know how to get wireless. Wired will work much better so its worth the effort to get it fixed. Your cable is fine I suspect.

This is likely a setting either in the router or the PC. The PC should be set to obtain its ip automatically and the router needs to have the DHCP server configured. Does your laptop work when you connect it with a wire to the router. If so I would be suspecting the router is fine and you need to look at the PC setting first.

On a new machine you also need to be sure you loaded the correct drivers for the motherboard. The ones mircosoft uses sometime do not work you want to be sure you are using the one directly from the manufactures site. Most the time though the port will not even light up when you have the drivers wrong.