Well, I know nothing about routers, but I thought it would be nice to be able to use a laptop or wireless internet radio if I wanted. Perhaps there is a different purpose of routers than I thought. Maybe I will call trendnet and ask them if it will work. Maybe the desktop needs a wireless adapter, but that doesn't seem right because it is wired. Maybe my cables are shaky or maybe it just doesn't work with my setup. I can get a wireless signal, but the desktop loses connectivity for some reason. I'll look into it later. The dell is a DIM 4500 so maybe it's too old to do things like this. Thanks anyways.

That's right. Want to use it for laptop or others.

Ethernet from desktop to LAN on router. Wan on router to cable modem. 

I have an older Linksys router. I had to clone my MAC address.

http://www6.nohold.net/Cisco2/ukp.aspx?pid=80&login=1&app=search&vw=1&articleid=3686

Help me understand.

Your Dell 4500 is currently connected the the cable modem? There isn't a router.

You bought the TRENDnet wireless router. You want to use the TRENDnet for wireless for a laptop?

My cable modem has only one Ethernet port. Is yours somehow different?

I don't understand the problem is. You are going to have do some work.

You need to clone the 4500's MAC address. If you refuse to follow the directions, then you will be stuck with what you have now.

http://www.trendnet.com/support/kb/kbp_viewquestion.asp?ToDo=view&questId=1091&catId=424