Installing a Wi-Fi router. How to set up a Wi-Fi router: the fastest way

Modern people are faced with the need to connect to Wi-Fi everywhere: wireless networks are much more practical and convenient than their cable “brothers”.

It’s just that similar WiFi privileges are mainly used by all kinds of mobile gadgets: phones, tablets, smartphones and most modern laptops. Accordingly, the question arises: why is a “classical” personal computer worse? After all, working on a desktop computer is much more convenient, but connecting to cable Internet often causes a lot of trouble.

And in this article we will look at how to connect a desktop computer to wifi, and what needs to be done for the computer to “catch” invisible Wi-Fi.

By the way, the age of the device is not directly related to the creation of a wireless network, and you can connect WiFi even to a relatively old computer.

Can a regular computer be connected to wifi?

Some difficulties with connecting Wi-Fi on a personal computer are not at all related to the “prejudice” of the developers or the unfortunate fate of this device, full of hardships.

The fact is that mobile devices and modern laptops are initially equipped with a built-in Wi-Fi adapter for connecting to a wireless network (which is not available on a desktop computer). However, such devices are mostly designed for short-term access to the network, and have a rather meager set of functionality.

While a desktop computer is designed for long-term work with both serious offline software and any resources of the global information network. Accordingly, the connection to all peripheral devices and external networks (Internet, power supply, etc.) is carried out here in a more reliable cable way.

A cable Internet connection for a desktop computer is more stable than a wireless Wi-Fi connection. Thus, with a WiFi connection, the reliability and speed of the network directly depend on the number of active connections, channel congestion, room architecture and many other third-party factors.

Therefore, it’s still not worth deciding to connect your home computer to wifi solely for aesthetic reasons. “Standard” cable connection is more reliable, more efficient ( Not), and causes much less damage to the health of the Internet user.

However, if a hard connection to the Internet source is unavailable for some reason, then you can connect Wi-Fi on your home computer in a matter of minutes.

How to connect your home computer to wifi?

To connect wifi to a desktop PC, first of all, you need to purchase a special removable Wi-Fi adapter - a miniature antenna that will “catch” the Internet signal transmitted by the router and return the data processed by the user to the router.

The most popular and inexpensive solution here would be to choose a removable USB adapter for your computer.

In order not to get a “pig in a poke”, it is better to buy a device from well-known and time-tested manufacturers: TP-Link, D-Link, etc.

If you purchased the adapter from an official distributor, the device comes with a disk with a special program for installing drivers.

How to install Wi-Fi on a computer running Windows 7?

1. Connect your adapter to any USB port on your computer.

2. Insert the disk into the drive, run the auto-configuration utility and, when prompted by the program, click the “Next” button.

3. After installing the driver, in the “Network Center” folder for Windows 7 (or “Network Connections” for Windows XP), you will see a new shortcut (in addition to the usual “Local Area Connection”). The name of the label will contain the brand name of the manufacturer of your adapter.

4. Now you can connect your desktop computer to wifi. To do this, right-click on the shortcut once -> “Connection” -> Select the name of your Wi-Fi network and enter the password.

How to set up Wi-Fi if there is no installation disk?

In addition to the “classic” purchase of a brand new licensed adapter, there are cases when the user needed Wi-Fi on the computer “here and now”, and he borrowed/purchased an old used WiFi adapter from friends.

Naturally, the disk with the driver for such an adapter has long been lost.

In such a situation, you need to download the archive with the driver from the Internet.

“But there is no Internet!” - you say - “What to do?”

Here To connect your desktop computer to wifi you should:

Connect the computer you are setting up to the router using a cable (if possible).

Go to the official website of the manufacturer of this adapter (or the specialized resource ddriver.ru), find the driver you need by the name of the USB-Wi-Fi adapter and download the software to your computer.

If a cable connection to the router is not possible, download the driver you need onto any computer connected to the Internet, and using removable media (flash drive) copy the archive to your wired computer.

2. Next, right-click once on the “My Computer” shortcut, then “Manage” and select “Device Manager” here. In the “Network Adapters” section, find the name of our USB adapter, right-click on it and select the “Update Driver” menu item. Next, specify the folder into which the archive with the necessary drivers was copied and click “OK”.

3. Once the installation is complete, you will be able to connect your desktop computer to wifi. To do this, in “Network Connections”:

Select a new shortcut;

Right-click on it;

Select the menu item “Connection”;

Select the name of your Wi-Fi network (which you specified in the SSID when setting up the router);

Enter your password and you can use the Internet.

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A WI-FI router is a device that provides Internet access in offices, apartments and public institutions. The main task of the device is to convert a wired signal into a wireless one. The WIFI router for the home has a compact size and medium range.

Having purchased a router for their home, many customers are faced with the problem of installing it. It is necessary to configure the device and network. Even if you follow the instructions from the router, it is not a fact that everything will work out. If you do not want to waste your time, then contact a professional. Remont-Gadget specialists will install a WI-FI router, providing you with secure Internet access. To do this you need:

leave a request on the website by filling out the feedback form;
order a service from a specialist;
agree with the master about the time at which he will arrive.

Remont-Gadget specialists provide services at home and in offices throughout Moscow and the region. After installing the router, you can enjoy fast Internet without annoying wires stretched throughout the apartment. It will be possible to access the network not only from a computer or laptop, but also from a tablet, phone, TV or set-top box. In addition, you can use wireless printing.

Cost of installing a WI-FI router

The computer center provides a wide range of services for installing and configuring routers. Remont-Gadget offers affordable prices. The cost of installing a router for a home includes:

setting up network access on the router;
flashing the device to the latest version (if necessary);
installing protection on a WIFI network;
connecting devices to the Internet.

Remont-Gadget specialists will also help you choose the optimal WI-FI router. The specialist can either advise you or purchase equipment and deliver it to your home. The price of this service starts from 500 rubles.

Professional configuration of any routers

Installing a WI-FI router yourself is not the easiest task. There are a huge number of different devices on the market, when choosing which it is important to remember that they must be supported by your provider. Remont-Gadget specialists recommend paying attention to routers from trusted manufacturers such as TP-Link or Zyxel. However, each model has its own specification. Installing a Wi-Fi router requires entering specific parameters.

Many users turn to providers for help. But even here success is not guaranteed. Providers, as a rule, give general recommendations without delving into the specifics of the client router. If you want the WI-FI network in your home to function stably, then contact a specialist:

the master will come to your home or office at any convenient time;
will configure the wireless connection and access point;
connects any devices to the Internet: computers, phones, set-top boxes;
will configure the network so that it works simultaneously with several gadgets.

At the end of the work, the technician will advise you on how to use the router. Trust the installation to professionals and save your time and nerves.

Before connecting, it is advisable to find an agreement with the provider, where all the settings are written down. If you can’t find it, you can call and find out what you need to set up your Wi-Fi router. Once we have this information, we can connect the router.

It is advisable to install the router in the center of the house or apartment so that the signal is more or less stable even on a balcony or loggia.

Typically, the blue color indicates the WAN connector for connecting the wire from the provider. On the ASUS RT-N10E router this is Ethernet. Separately, the Ethernet connectors for connecting computers via a local network are indicated in yellow.

At the beginning, we connect at least one computer via a local network using a patch cord (you can see how to crimp a twisted pair cable and get a patch cord at home). For settings. We connect as shown in the figure above and sit down at the computer connected by wire to the router.

Go to “Network and Sharing Center”

On the left click ""

Find your Local Area Connection, right-click on it and select “ Properties»

Among the marked components used by this connection, select “ Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click " Properties«

If you have “Get the next IP address” set, you can take a screenshot of this window so that the settings are at hand. The same settings are written in your agreement with the provider. Install " Obtain an IP address automatically" And " Obtain DNS server address automatically". Click " OK»

Now you need to log into the router's Web interface. We look at the bottom of the router case and there is the address of the Web interface and authorization data

I needed to reboot my laptop.

Changing the password for logging into the router's Web interface

Now you need to change the password to log into the router’s Web interface for greater security. Go to the section " Administration" to the tab " System". Set a new password and confirm it.

Here you can also set the Time zone from the drop-down list. Click “Apply”.

Conclusion

The most difficult thing when connecting a Wi-Fi router at home is finding an agreement with the provider. When this is done, feel free to set it up according to the instructions above. If you have a different router and are having difficulty setting it up, you can ask your provider for help by calling support or finding instructions for your model on the Internet.

One more thing. Once you have set up the router, you no longer need to start the connection that you started on your computer to connect to the Internet. (this is in the case of PPPoE, L2TP and the like) Now the connection is restored by the router.

Connecting to a wireless network is the most convenient way to access the Internet at good speed without unnecessary wires. However, to enjoy all the benefits of a wireless connection, you must first understand how to set up Wi-Fi on a laptop.

Enabling the adapter

Before you start creating a new connection, you need to check if the Wi-FI adapter is turned on.

Each laptop model has its own function key to turn the adapter on/off. For example, ASUS laptops use the combination Fn+F2, and Acer laptops use Fn+F3. On some Lenovo models, adapter status is controlled using a hardware switch located on the front panel.

To determine which key you have installed, look at the F1-F12 row. One of the buttons should have an icon - an antenna that distributes a signal. Press this button in combination with the Fn key and check that the Wi-Fi adapter indicator light changes from red to blue or green.

What to do if the Wi-Fi adapter does not turn on?

There are situations when, after pressing a function key, the adapter does not turn on. Typically this problem occurs due to one of the following reasons:

Incorrectly installed drivers.
Incorrect operation of the system.
Virus infection of laptop.

Until you eliminate the cause, the question of how to set up Wi-Fi in a laptop will not receive a positive resolution. Most often, the problem lies in incorrectly installed drivers, but it would also be a good idea to check the system for viruses. If no malicious applications are found, reinstall the Wi-Fi module drivers and try turning it on again.

How to set up Wi-Fi on a laptop

Setting up on Windows XP

To configure, you just need to correctly specify some parameters of the wireless connection:

If you have set a password for your wireless connection, you will be required to provide a security key, after which the connection will be established.

Setting up on Windows 7

We've sorted out XP, now let's see how to set up a wireless network on a laptop with Windows 7 installed. There are practically no fundamental differences:

This completes the wifi setup on a Windows 7 laptop. When connected, you enter the security key and gain access to the Internet.

For Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 there are no differences in settings from the seventh version. The list of networks available for connection can be called up directly from the notification panel - there is a special Wi-Fi icon in the tray.

Video of Wi-Fi settings on a laptop

It is more convenient to use the Internet on a laptop through a wireless access point. Before connecting, you need to learn how to set up a Wi-Fi adapter on your laptop. We will talk about methods for turning on and configuring the device in the most popular versions of Windows. Methods for updating drivers will be discussed.

How to find out if a Wi-Fi module is installed on a laptop

Almost every mobile gadget is equipped with a Wi-Fi module, but you should definitely check its availability. Be sure to check your laptop's technical manual first. In the specifications opposite the “Wireless Communications” column there should be Wi-Fi or IEEE 802.11 lines. Their presence indicates that the necessary component is installed in the laptop.

An alternative option is to look for the presence of the component in the list of devices. To do this, go to computer properties and click the “Task Manager” link. In the window that opens, among all the hardware, open the “Network adapters” tab, and then find the line with the previously described words or the words Wireless (Wi-Fi).

If it's not there

The best option is to upgrade your laptop. Most likely, you have a very “old” model with low performance and a missing wireless module. When funds do not allow you to buy new equipment, order a USB module. It looks like a flash drive and serves as an external Wi-Fi module. There are hundreds of models on the market with different characteristics. Driver installation is required for operation.

How to turn on the Wi-Fi adapter

To use wireless Internet on laptops and individual computers , You should activate the Wi-Fi module and then connect to the required network. There are several hardware and software methods for enabling Wi-Fi, which will be discussed in detail below.

Switch on the body

For the convenience of users, many manufacturers have made the switch a separate button on the body of the gadget. It can be located on the front panel (on the Esc side or near the Num keys).

We also recommend inspecting the side panels on both sides for the presence of a switch. It has an antenna icon with diverging waves. Often there are light indicators on the case that inform you about the performance of specific components.

If there is such a switch and the component itself is working correctly, of course, all activation comes down to one simple action.

Keyboard shortcuts

Another way is to activate the module with a keyboard shortcut. On laptops, additional settings are located on the function buttons F1-F12. Also on the keyboard you can find a key with the letters Fn. With its help, additional functions are enabled (including Wi-Fi). You need to hold Fn and click the button with the image of the company icon (on different models they will be F2, F3 or F12). The action will activate the indicator (if any) and the connection icon will appear in the Start panel on the right side.

Alternative options

If the previous manipulations do not produce results, the problem is in the drivers or operating system settings. A rare exception is marriage. As a last resort, after all resuscitation attempts, contact a service center, especially if the laptop is under warranty. Also make sure your Wi-Fi hotspot is ok. The problem may lie in the incorrect operation of the Wi-Fi router (re-configuration or firmware update is required). Try connecting your mobile phone or tablet to it to check.

Installing or updating drivers

WiFi inoperability is often related to the driver. The latter is specialized software that ensures the correct operation of the physical device in the operating system shell. There are three main ways to install a new driver:

independently through the downloaded installer;
through standard Windows functions;
through specialized software.

The first method is the most reliable option, as it eliminates outside interference. The laptop owner should go to the manufacturer’s website, and then find the software downloads category. Next, in the search, write the full name of your model and OS version. Be sure to find out the bit size (32 or 64 bits). A list of all drivers will be published based on your request. Download the file for the Wireless network adapter.

The second method involves downloading the required driver through the Microsoft database. In Device Manager, right-click on the Wi-Fi adapter and select “Update drivers.” Please note that the updater may not always find the latest version.

The latter method is extremely convenient, since the program takes care of all the “dirty work” of searching and installing. An effective tool is Driver Genius. To update the driver, follow these steps:

“Driver Jenius” has a huge database, and regularly updates it, so the software can be used to update the software of any laptop hardware.

Necessary actions and settings in the operating system

The wireless adapter can be activated using OS tools. The user should enable it separately in the network settings. Next, we will tell you how to set up Wi-Fi on a laptop for the most common Windows systems.

Windows XP

Complete setup on Windows XP consists of the following steps:

Setting up Wi-Fi within Windows XP will be completed after completing the described steps.

Windows 7

The user should make similar settings in the “seven”. The difference from the previously given instructions is minimal:

Often the provider issues a static IP. In such situations, you need to set the parameters according to the service provider's requirements. In other cases, automatic receipt of parameters allows you to use Wi-Fi without problems.

Windows 8/10

These OS versions have similar interfaces, so the procedure for them will be almost identical. You need to follow steps similar to those given earlier for other Windows systems:

Additionally, if you have problems with access, run the diagnostic center. The system may identify errors due to which you cannot connect to a Wi-Fi point.