If you want to make sure you're using the wire instead of the wireless, open up you network connections, right click on the wireless connection and select disable. When you want to go back to it, do the same thing, but click enable.

I think I did do that and the internet wouldn't work. I will check it again
thank you

sportsmom-
I don't know why the professor would worry about how you're connected (wired vs. wireless), but, if you want to go wired, let's be clear: the cable that delivers your Internet connection should come out of the wall to your modem box; then there should be an Ethernet cable that goes from the modem to your router (and it has to be plugged into the correct, marked port); and lastly, there should be an Ethernet cable that goes from one of the other ports on the router to your computer.

The network configurations have priority levels and a network cable has a prefered or higher priority than wifi.
You really shouldnt need to do anything expcept possibly update the wired nic settings if its not already set to default automatic everything.
Unless of course at one time you were bothered by the 'a cable is unplugged' message that some get.. and have disabled the wired nic in network settings or Device manager at some time in the past.

I warned you I was computer rookie. Here is what I know:
1. I have two computers. One that is set up for wireless( laptop) and one that is an older computer no wireless and is hooked up to the router.
2. Both of them work connecting to the internet
3. My older one has issues and is very slow so I mostly use my laptop. Professor said something about his blackboard and wireless has problems time to time
4. I have the cable from the wall from the cable company that is hooked to their modem and then through an ethernet the older computer has a cable from router to it.
5. I wanted to do the same thing with my laptop. I tried disconnecting the olderr computer to the router and plugging the laptop in it's place but it still appears it is using wireless( because when I disenabled wireless) it wouldn't hook to internet

I don't know how to check wireless settings to accept all like somebody recommended
thanks

Actually if the router is plugged into the old computer instead of the modem...that may be the problem.

this is how it should go....cable modem has an ethernet cable to router, ethernet cable from router to laptop and (if you have enough cables) ethernet to old computer

you'll need to recycle everything after the physical connection is made, please power down the computers, router and modem

power back up in a specific order....plug in or turn on the modem then wait until the 'online' or 'internet' light becomes non-blinking ....power up the router and wait 2 minutes...boot up the computers

this re-syncronizes the network and you should be able to get either computer online

Pam

Sportsmom... Just an alternative wireless on/off suggestion.

Does your laptop have a wireless on/off switch on its case?

Alternatively it may have a keyboard wireless on/off key that works when you hold down the Function (Fn) key while pressing the Wireless key (looks like a little man with brackets either side of his head - non technical description!)?

If you can switch the wireless on and off this way it will make that part easier to change back and forth when you need to - but it won't fix your internet problem that the others are helping you with.

Colin

Thank you- I will try that this weekend. I just got this computer and trying to find out what every button is. It has a blue button on top that does have like a little man with no arms and brackets. Plus I will try rearranging the enthernet cables.

When my college kid left the house- the computer knowledge went with it!

Sportsmom, Yes that's the one - it is actually supposed to represent a radio aerial sending out radio waves.

There are plenty of people on here to help build your computer knowledge. Believe me, if I can do it anybody can.

I hope that saying still applies because yesterday my 90 year old neighbour bought his first computer, printer/scanner and speech recognition package.

He is a Royal Navy veteran and has suddenly decided that he must write his WWII memoirs. He is in excellent health and has both the ability and determination to succeed. It will make gripping reading - once he has learnt what the black buttons on the keyboard do!(big grin) I guess I will be busy for a while.

Colin