Dell OptiPlex Desktop, Windows XP, Recently Formatted, How do I put internet on it!?

Question

Well what can I say, I'm computer illiterate. I crashed my computer. So I call up my computer guru brother "HELP I CRASHED MY COMPUTER!" Well he helped me pretty much all the way, but we have a mystery *Eerie music* I installed my wireless adapter (Linksys Wireless-G With Speedbooster) Which goes into the back in a USB port. Then I connected it to the network in our house. So I open up internet explorer, sweat beads down my forehead, and, it won't connect! So I'm connected to our network but Internet Explorer is being stupid. So I ask my brother he says he has NO CLUE what to do. So calling all computer literate geeks out there :) Please tell me what should I do!?

And if you are wondering I'm on the mother parental units laptop (Stupid Vista computer thinking its sooooo cool being able to have a backup in case you DO crash it.... I SHANK YOU) lol

Thanks ahead of time :)

PS: I KNOW one of you guys is going to say "USE FIREFOX" I'm sorry but....uh....no Firefox makes me frustrated, i HATE Firefox, it may work for you but it doesn't work for me, again "Computer Illiterate" Plus I'm an electronics killer :)

PPS: I don't have a warranty on my computer anymore, we voided it putting a second Hard Drive into it, which is what crashed my computer to begin with.

Answer 1

Perhaps the adapter is broken, or the usb port is. Put the adapter in a different usb port, and try again. Or try a different adapter.

Or even then, perhaps it isn't installed properly.

Oh yeah, you might not have a "G" network.

Answer 2

Ok... you say you are connected to your local network (LAN).  If that is true, you should be able to ping your router.   First from your Mother's computer click on the Start button and in the Start search box type: CMD then press Enter.  In the Black DOS window type: IPCONFIG /ALL followed by Enter.

Write down the IPV4 address, Default Gateway, DHCP server and DNS server addresses.

Now go to your computer click on the Start button, select RUN and type CMD followed by pressing the Enter key.   In the Black DOS window type: IPCONFIG /ALL  Followed by Enter.

You should see an IP address that is close to your mothers. The default gateway, DHCP and DNS server addresses should match your mother's exactly.  If that is not true then you are not connected to your local network.  Verify that you connected wirelessly to your router.

Connect your computer directly to the router with an ethernet cable from your nework port to verify that your able to connect to the internet without the wireless adapter.  If you can, there's something wrong with your wireless configuration.  You may have to provide a Wireless password to join the network via wireless connections.

If being directly connected to the router doesn't work, you should unplug the power to the router and cable/dsl modem and wait for 3 minutes.   Plug the modem in first and wait for about 30 seconds then plug the router back in and try to see if you get a connection.