Zep - I have 3 devices in my network list: 1) 1394 net adapter 2)intel 82566mm gigabit network connection (this one I was able to get an updated driver - but on my network connections, it still shows as local area connection - "network cable unplugged,fire..." and I'm not able to click that and get the rest of the sentence. if I click it it just gives me the name of the adapter. 3) intel wireless wifi link 4965AGN The first and third ones say they are connected and firewalled. I believe that this last wireless 4965AGN is the one that has problems and gets repaired. I could be wrong about that. The LAN one I think has always been unconnected/unplugged. I don't know what that's for or if I need it. Is that my wired internet connection? Thanks. Lynn. PS - if I go through network devices and select update drivers, it only offered updated drivers for the intel 82566mm gigabit network connection. Is there any point in googling for updated driver if this route indicate no new drives exist?

yes and it is often very easy to turn it off by mistake. on my netbook it is a little slider button at the very front edge right where I often grab it and in doing so slide it to off. Look for the little symbol that looks like a satelite dish sort of. Also depending on how old it is it may not have a wireless connection card in it which you can take care of easily. Tell us the model of the laptop. Have you hooked it up to your connection using a wire to make sure you can connect that way and it is not some other problem? If not do that right away. and give us more info on the type of connections you have and the specs on the laptop including the OS.

Lynn, I now see more clearly what you're trying to do. It's much like setting up a network at home. When you're sharing internet with 2 or 3 computers, you'd be setting up a router (such as a Linksys) with wireless capability. First you'd need to setup the router with an encryption. The manual for Linksys has good instruction on how to set it up. This will only allows computers that share the same encryption number to be within the network and will keep the others away. The nearby computers will see the Linksys ID but will not be able to get into the network without the encryption number. Since you're the owner, you have the choice of who to give that encryption number to once you had it set up. This number can be changed at anytime you feel a threaten nearby. I normally use the Linksys auto encryption number because it uses a lengthy combination of letters (case sensitive) and numbers which makes it difficult to hack into. What Jane explained only works if you're not setting up a network. When you set up a network, regardless of whether you're using wireless or a cable, all 3 computers can still be seen if allowed to. Each individual computer within the same network can be set up so not to allow other computers to see it. The only thing they could see is a list of computer's name within the network. Windows have a network security feature in the Control Panel that allows you to set up what you want to share and what not. For example, all 3 of you may want to share the same printer and nothing else. As far as hacking, by setting up an uncrypted router (hardware firewall), you should be pretty safe. Plus, each individual computer should also have a firewall software installed. This is the 2nd protection. A professional hackar (or whatever you call him/her) would probably not interest in your type of business to go through the trouble of hacking into your network. Think of it as your home have an alarm system but your neighbor doesn't. Guess, which home the burglar would rather break into? As for within the network, if all 3 of you trust each others enough to share the cost of internet service, I don't see a reason for worrying with one of you hacking the other one's computer. Do you? If you do however, then, it's best not to share the internet service. You may want to set up a rule to let each others know right away when one of the computer is stolen. If that ever happens, change the encryption code right away to prevent the stolen computer entering into your network. Keep in mind that the your friend's computer won't be able neither until you provide them with the new code. Someone already mentioned, it's best to always set up a password and 'lock up' (not log off) the system whenever you're walking away from it for a few minutes. I know you probably already know some of these things. I just add the info in for other readers that may need it.

I print from my laptop wirelessly through a desktop. If your desktop doesn't see the printer, chances are neither will the network. But you can try. Is everything networked now for file and print sharing ? Make sure plug and play is enabled on the computers, and maybe also in the router , then Start/Settings/Printers & add a printer to the laptop... it will search and find the printers just as if it were connected directly to the laptop. You may have to install the printer software on the laptop too, but most likely windows has a driver for it already, but will not have any of the gingerbread software.