Solved Wireless Router

[ChanceyGardner]

First of all I apologise in advance for my computer ignorance. Here's the problem. Talk Talk sent us a new router. We set it up and it works from our mobiles , my wife's tablet and my sons computer upstairs. However the Lenovo PC will not allow internet access. This is the PC that the last router ( cable type) was connected to. I have read forums, watched videos etc but wireless is not enabled seems to be the root of the problem. I can't do anything to fix it. It's very frustrating. I need to enable wifi basically.

 

[DMHolt57]

Right click on the Network icon in the bottom right of the taskbar. Select Open Network and Sharing Center. On left top side, click Change Adapter Settings.
Is the WiFi adapter showing, right click and select Enable or Connect To.

 

[ChanceyGardner]

I've done that lots of times and wifi doesn't appear as an option. Thanks though.

 

[DMHolt57]

That tells me absolutely nothing. Do you have a wifi adapter enabled on this machine? Do you see an adapter for wifi in the Device Manager? Do you need to acquire a wifi adapter dongle?

 

[ChanceyGardner]

I don't know what a wifi adapter is to be honest. Dongle wise, we don't have one. I thought it would be a simple matter of plug in and go. Complex things , computers and all that.

 

[DMHolt57]

Can you open the Control Panel. Then the Device Manager and look under Network Adapters. What is there?

 

[ChanceyGardner]

We do have those dongles, TalkTalk ones. In network adapters the options are; intel(r), portable devices, processors, sound, video and game controllers, system devices and Universal Serial Bus controllers. Nothing about wireless.

 

[ChanceyGardner]

When you do diagnostics it says you need Ethernet cable. It won't entertain the wireless option.

 

[DMHolt57]

Plug one of the Talk Talk dongles in a usb port, what happens?

 

[ChanceyGardner]

The talk talk dongle flashes and lights up and in a pop up box it asks for an ISP number.

 

[ChanceyGardner]

I'm off to bed now. I will resume this tommorow but may I say thank you for all the help and apologys again for my disgraceful lack of knowledge on all things computer related.

 

[strollin]

Since your Lenovo PC was wired to the old router, it is very likely that it does not have wifi capabilities.

First of all, are you sure that the new router only supports wifi? Check the rear of the router to see if there are any jacks for you to connect via cable between the router and your PC.

Can you confirm that the Lenovo PC is a desktop or tower computer and not a laptop? Typically, only laptops include wifi built-in. If your Lenovo doesn't have a wifi adapter, you should be able to purchase a fairly inexpensive USB wifi dongle that plugs into a USB port on the Lenovo that will then allow you to connect via wifi to the new router.

Edit: Do you have one of the routers listed here?: About the TalkTalk Router | TalkTalk Help
Even the basic router listed says it has 2 Ethernet ports so you should be able to plug the Lenovo in by cable like it was with the old router.

 

[ChanceyGardner]

It is a tower computer not a laptop. I can't connect a cable as the router is in a different room from the PC. I presumed it did have wireless capabilities because wireless is referred to in the control panel as a possible option but if getting one of those dongles works I will do that. Thank you.

 

[ChanceyGardner]

Thank you one and all. The Wifi usb dongle arrived yesterday. At first it was still saying driver not found during the installation process but eventually I got it sorted and the internet is fast and working great. Thanks again and apologies again for my lack of knowledge!

Solved

 

[strollin]

Glad you got it working.