Home Network 2 computers?

I've never used a network before but am interested in networking with my wife's laptop in the home. Her laptop is wireless enabled (the network adaptor is inserted into the side of the laptop) so she connects to the internet through the router I have connected to my desktop computer. The question for the moment is: do I need any more hardware (such as a network adaptor) for my computer before I use the Network Wizard in WinXP to set a network up? We both have WinXP on our computers. Thank you.

 

If both of you are connected to the same router, your hardware configuration is ready for networking.

 

Actually, Dennis, the connection from the wall socket is split two ways: one directly to my pc and the other to the router from which she receives the signal for her laptop. Would I therefore need a network adapter for my pc?

Thank you.

 

Your computer will need a network adapter (NIC).
Unless your computer is close to 10 years old, you have a good chance of having an adapter installed on your computer.
I'm confused with your following quote ...

A typical home setup with wired AND Wifi connections is connected as follows ....................

Internet service connection (from wall jack).
|
Modem (Broadband - Cable or DSL).
|
Router - (Connects to modem via Wan port -(and)- connects to your computer adapter via Lan port). (Enable Wifi within Router).

The above assumes your router has Wifi and Wired capabilities.
It may help if you provide a device listing you are currently using for your connections (brand and model numbers).
Also see the ReggieB's Network Basics

 

Thanks, Dennis. What I have to do now is pull my computer desk out and check exactly how I've connected everything. Since I set it up some time ago I've not had any problems with connectivity, either with my desktop or my wife's laptop. However, I suspect that my connections are unorthodox and unsuitable for networking. Since my pc is only one year old (see model in my signature) it probably has a NIC installed?

Before I take the time to do the above, here's what I believe I've done:

1. Plugged a splitter into the wall socket.
2. Connected one cable from the splitter to a socket at the back of the pc.
3. Connected the other cable to the router.

So, I'm getting my broadband directly from the socket and the laptop in the kitchen gets it from the router. Simple, working, but not suitable for networking.

I'll study the links you gave me and get back to you when I'm more up to speed on how I should have set things up.

Thanks again

 

The way your currently your wired, I don't understand how both computers have shared Internet access. You can NOT split the inbound ISP source at the wall jack. You need a special device (Modem-with built in Router/Wifi -(OR)- Modem connected to Router with built-in Wifi, router then connects to all local computer(s).
To make a long story short, if both of you have Internet service (shared), you are ALREADY hardware configured to set up a network ... but sure would be nice to know what each device/name/model is between wall jack and your computer.

 

Ok, Dennis, a little bit of progress happening here

I use a BT Voyager 2110 Wireless ADSL Router.

The DSL socket on the router is connected to the DSL socket on the DSL filter connected to my broadband source (telephone line).

A yellow ethernet cable (?) is plugged into a 'wired network' socket on the router, and the other end is plugged into a socket with a symbol (a line with one square over it and two squares under).

I ran the Wireless Network setup wizard and the Network Setup wizard in Control Panel on both computers. Everything went smoothly, following instructions and reviewing links carefully.

I don't have time tonight to test the setup beyond checking that the 'Shared Folder' is in play, but I'll return with the results when that happens, successfully or unsuccessfully

Many thanks for your help thus far

 

BT Voyager 2110 Wireless ADSL Router features ----
Your router has all the features to set up a secure network.
For your computer, you are plugged into one of the 4x ports available on the router. Your router's Wifi supports WEP and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access). If you could provide brand/model Wifi adapter on your wife's laptop, we can suggest the most secure Wifi connection.

 

It's the BT Voyager 1060 laptop adapter, Dennis.