Why does my netgear router not find my laptop

[sharons126]

I have a desktop and a laptop..Netgear for wifi...All worked fine until I disconnected my desktop....Now the only way my laptop will work is if plug it into the ethernet...making it a desktop of sorts...How do I fix this so it will work wherever I want it to? When I call netgear they want a fee and won't tell me how to fix it..

 

[Routersforhumans]

Well, first of all, explain the situation as if your router is turned on, then is it able to search the wi-fi networks?

Do a power drain of the router and then check for its functionality???