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Cut the cord

R

Rgarner

Android Expert
I FINALLY got wifi for this Dell Inspiron from centurylink. It works ok except I have to keep it plugged in with the ethernet jack and the yellow cord. It's kind of inconvenient and I want to know how I can get it to work without that. I figured settings but I haven't been able to find it there. It's windows 8.1, not my fault. I (kind of) like 7 home premium but I probably won't downgrade, or could I?
 
So can I just check I've understood correctly, since on the face of it the first and second sentences seem to contradict each other?

My guess is that you have a wireless router, but you don't have WiFi on the computer so are using a wired connection to the router. Is that right? If so then a usb WiFi adapter would allow you to use the computer wirelessly (I'm assuming it's a desktop since all laptops have WiFi, and that you just want it and the router in different places). An extension lead would help if the adaptor sticking out of the usb port isn't convenient (would let you position the adaptor to taste).
 
It's a laptop, for a giant anyway, The guy brought what's apparently called a modem, which I tried to use without plugging into it. When that didn't work, he suggested plugging in the yellow cord to the ethernet slot on the side. That does work, but it's pretty clunky. I want to be able to pick up the computer and move it around without that clumsy cord.
 
Hadron said:
So can I just check I've understood correctly, since on the face of it the first and second sentences seem to contradict each other?

My guess is that you have a wireless router, but you don't have WiFi on the computer so are using a wired connection to the router. Is that right? If so then a usb WiFi adapter would allow you to use the computer wirelessly (I'm assuming it's a desktop since all laptops have WiFi, and that you just want it and the router in different places). An extension lead would help if the adaptor sticking out of the usb port isn't convenient (would let you position the adaptor to taste).
Click to expand...

@Rgarner if your laptop doesn't support a WiFi card, then @Hadron.totally 's suggestion above is your best solution. There's also the possibility that your router is running frequencies which your laptop doesn't support with its older hardware, which Mr. @Hadron 's suggestion is still your best option.. You could possibly update your WiFi card (laptop hardware) but I'm unsure if your older Windows distro can process the changes after appropriate WiFi drivers are installed.. Linux doesn't distros rarely ever need any kind of extra drivers for anything (FYI).
 
I tried using the Internet access icon on the lower right, next to the speaker icon. It's too light to be switchable to on, but I don't know why. Are you suggesting that I should download Linux, possibly Ubuntu? How do I do that? Will it work and provide wifi on a machine 5 or 6 years old?
 
before we go any farther, please do this for me. In the bar at the bottom of your screen, you'll see a folder icon (file explorer). Open that and in the column on the left you will see a hierarchical list of drives, volumes and folders. On the one that says "This PC" right click and chose "manage". It will have a little shield on it. From there click on "device manager" in the left column (close to the bottom) and then on the right look for something called network adapters. there will be a little arrow next to it. Click on that to expand and tell us what it says. If there is NO wireless adapter present no amount of software or changes will make it work. If there is a wireless adapter, then we can tell you how to verify its working
 
Now it claims wifi is on and connected. I guess I should just unplug the yellow cord and find out if that works. Here goes.
 
I just did what lunatic59 said and there's a whole bunch of them. I want to send a screenshot but I guess I can't. Anyway, I unplugged the yellow cord and it doesn't seem to make any difference. I guess i finally got "real' wifi.
 
devicemanagement.png
 
I don't know how I could save that file but not the next one. I had a different screen I wanted to save and I did alt printscreen but then when I went to paint it wouldn't save it with control s. What am I doing wrong?
 
1. ALT printscreen
2. Paste to Paint
3. Save

Did you leave out #2?

Looks like your wireless drivers are installed.
 
I think I might actually have the wifi problem fixed. Now all I have to do is figure out the paint thing. Paste is control v? Save is control s? Does f12 also save?
 
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