If this is a cable connection, then all you need is a cable modem since your laptop already has an ethernet port.  The cable modem will connect via coax cable to your cable outlet and the laptop will connect via ethernet cable (regular not crossover) to the modem.

 

More than likely your laptop is wireless ready which means you might want to look at getting a wireless router also.  This is a device that will transmit the signal from the modem to the laptop wirelessly (not tied down by a wired cable connection).

 

First you need a broadband internet connection (cable or dsl) with a cable or dsl modem that has the capability of connecting by ethernet (cable or dsl modems that can only connect by USB will not work).

Next you will need a wireless router. Wireless routers have 4 ports that will connection of up to 4 computers by wired ethernet. It would be preferable that you connect any computers in the same room as the cable/dsl modem and router by wired ethernet. In that case any computer that is located within easy reach of the router and modem will only need an ethernet network card.

Then, any computer you want to connect by wireless will need a wireless network card. If you are not sure whether or not your computers have wireless network cards, check Device Manger under Network Adapters.

There is really no need to get a wireless router that advertises high speed, unless you are frequently transferring large files between computers on the local network. The standard 802.11g speed routers are much faster than a cable or dsl internet connection, so the higher speed would be wasted with the higher speed routers.

Once your network is setup, you can share any printer connected to any computer on the network, so long as the computer to which it is attached and the printer are powered on.

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/maintain/troubleshoot.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/setup/default.mspx

On any computer running Windows XP with SP1, disable the Windows XP firewall. It will not allow File and Printer Sharing. On computers running Windows XP with SP2, make sure that the Windows XP firewall has File and Printer Sharing checked off on the Exceptions tab. If you are running any third party firewalls, like those provided by such programs as Zone Alarm, Norton Internet Security, or McAfee Security Suite, make sure they are configured to allow local network traffic

I know I could have wireless because there is a light on my computer that says Wi-Fi. I don't know what is what though. Under device manager I have three network adapters listed. 1394 Net Adapter, Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller, and Intel(R) Pro/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection. I'm sure the Intel Pro/Wireless is for the Wi-Fi, but I don't know what the other ones are.

The Broadcom device is your wired ethernet connection and the 1394 is your firewire connection.  Firewire is sued mainly for external device like camers, printers, etc.

 

All you need is the modem and router to go wireless.

Ok, I got my subscription to Comcast high speed internet but it won't work. I have already contacted them and someone is supposed to come out on wednesday. I really don't know what the problem is. I hooked up everything like the installation cd said but it can't detect my coax cable. Why would this be?

There should be three lights on the modem.. One for power, one for a connection to the ISP, and one for activity.  Are all those on?

 

You did not need any software to connect this modem.  Try powering down everything, wait a few minutes, then power up the modem, wait 2-3 minutes then power up the PC and see if you can connect.

There are four lights lit up on mine. The power light is solid, the receive light is solid, the send light is flashing, and the pc/activity light is solid orange. I did everything you suggested but it still doesn't work. I think it might have something to do with the actual cable. The comcast guy said that sometimes there is a filter that won't let you use it.

I think I recognize this one.

It is a way to make money.

The ISP gives you the modem, tell you that the internet is connected. The internet is NOT connected at that times. You connect all the devices, but it is not working, so you first think you did something wrong. so you tap around couple of days, use forums, ask for help, but are allready paying for the internet which is not connected. Then finally when you get a technican to come and see the problem, they connect you to the internet and the technican charges you 40 or 80 or 100 euros (depends what nationality he is :smileywink: ).

I had experience with this way of "business" in Ireland. If you are not good in technical things - they WILL try to fool you.

If the modem tell your PC that coaxial cable is not connected (that is the antenna cable, the incoming cable, the TV, the internet) and you are sure that the TV is working with that cable - don't pay those technicians. not a cent. The connecting fee includes connecting the internet, right?

Did you by chnace put a DSL filter on the phone line the modem is connected to?  If so, take it off.

 

The filters are for the phones, not the modem.

1st - I thought she said she had cable, not DSL.

2nd - just of curiousity i took apart one of those filters and it appears that the "specialists" who recommend those filters do not know for what exactly are they ment. And that would be avoidance (excuse my bad english) digital signal interference on phones, faxes and alarm systems.

I got it all figured out. A technician came and removed the filter on the pole and I'm all set. And for the record I'm not a female. It's all good though because it's not like you can tell on a message board, lol.

I have no idea where he removed it from, lol. But it was free so I didn't ask much.