Wireless laptop

I have a laptop with a Net gear network adapter plug into the USB port and it works fine in hotels when given a key but not here at home. The 2nd wireless laptop works just fine without a key which is my wife’s. My laptop requires a network key when trying to log into my wife’s network (also called a WEP Key or WPA Key) I get a message saying "Type the key, and then click connect" I'm trying to get into my wife’s network but can't. My ISP provider doesn't know and Net gear wants more for tech support than I could buy another router. I really don't know anything about wireless so could anyone help me understand what's going on? I also want my desktop wirerless and can I do that with a USB port?

Hey Soul,

Yes, if you are talking about a USB network adapter, desktop computers can use them. If it is netgear, perhaps the simplest method would be to download the latest driver software from the website, then go into control panel and remove your current one. After that, install the one you just downloaded and follow the wizard. It should list the security of your router on its own, and all you need to do is put in the password. let me know if it works.

Note that the adapter stores profiles for each wireless location you visit. So that coffee shop you love will have a different profile than your wife's, which you will need to connect to


You can download the software to a USB device from another computer and then load it to your computer if you cannot get internet

The router password and network password are usually different. You do need those passwords to access the router and netword, respectively.

Hoever, you might not have even set a password for the router yet. Depending on the router, you can type its address into your wife's computer and when it pops up, log in. If either of you didn't set a password for it, the password could be anything from "password" to just being left blank. If you google this, you might get more info on what the preset password is, and what address your router uses. You then go into the router settings and change the network password.

Failing that, your only option would be to reset the router, log in to it, and set everything back up, including passwords.