Dell laptop wireless connection question?

Question

I have a Dell Inspiron laptop. I recently reinstalled Windows XP and would like to establish a wireless internet connection. However I have no wireless connection icon , previously I did. Can someone please tell me which driver is necessary to enable a wireless connection. Thanks.

Answer 1

In control panel open network connections, right click on wireless network connection and select enable if you have not already done so

Answer 2

my lap top screen is looking ....sandy....not the normal color

Answer 3

go to start menu then see if you are having option(connect to) click it then select (wireless network)if you are having all this so  listen.... click right mouse button to the icon of the (my computer) and then select properties after that all the information will come about your then go to (hardware) then (device manager) check which wireless network adapter you are having and remember it download the wireless network adapter company name type in the google search and you will get it and then download and install the driver then the icon will come if it will not come go to start menu then (connect to) (wireless network)then the will come.....

Answer 4

Open Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager.  See if there is a "?" icon for any network adapter(s) or ethernet controller(s).  If this is the case, chances are that you need to install its device driver first.   This is probably on one of the disks that came with the computer.  If not, you may need to go on another computer and download its driver (you can probably get it from Dell.com) and then burn it to a CD or memory stick.  CD is probably best, because there could be a USB driver needed for accessing memory sticks as well that you may need to download.  Then, you need to install the driver.  If it is an .EXE file it may have its own installer, or may extract to a folder.  If it is a .ZIP file, you extract it to a folder.   For drivers without their own installers, you can right click on the "?" device in the device manager and go to "Update Driver" and then choose the folder you extracted the driver files to.   It is a good idea to do this for ALL devices where there is a "?" icon, not just network adapters.

Then, when you have the driver installed, make sure that your laptops Wi-Fi is enabled if there is a switch or "Fn + Key" combination for enabling it.   Then, you should get the wireless icon back.   Then, to connect to a network, you double click it and choose the SSID of the wireless network you are connecting to.  Depending on the network, it may ask for a WEP or WPA key if the network is secure.  Enter the key (if needed) and you should be connected.