Thank you so much for replying.  I am so grateful!  I am turning the wireless on at setup, but I still get two "x" out  icons on the bottom right hand side of the screen.  I have no idea about the other questions you asked.  I am extremely "computer challenged." 

Is your Wi-Fi indicator on?  You can also log into your BIOS (press F2 at the Dell logo boot screen) and make sure the wireless adapter has been switched on.

 

Which wireless adapter do you have?  It should work with D-Link router just fine - different brands of wireless devices should work together.  Is your D-Link router broadcasting its SSID?

Which client software are you using to manage your wireless network connections?

 

 

 

I have a D-link ethernet di-604 router.  Is this what I need for wireless connection?  Or do I need a Wireless D-link?

How do I find out which software is on the computer for the wireless?  The laptop does not seem to detect that there is a D-link nearby.

Look at this tutorial:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1277020,00.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/expert/bowman_wirelesssecurity.mspx