How can I tell if my desktop PC has built-in Wireless Networking capabilities?

Question

I have an HP Pavilion desktop PC which I bought back in 2005. I'm thinking of buying a wireless router so I can get this desktop and my laptop computer on the same wireless network. My laptop has Wi-Fi built into it, because it is a newer computer. As for this desktop PC, I am unsure whether it has wireless networking capabilities built in or if I would have to buy a network adapter to get the PC to recognize the wireless signal from the router. How can I tell if my desktop PC (running Windows XP Home Edition) has wireless networking capabilities built in and whether or not I would have to buy a network adapter to accomplish this task?

Answer 1

If you didn't install one,it doesn't have wireless.

Answer 2

First, most desktops with wireless use a PCI card with an external antenna. Check the back of your machine - is there an antenna, or a place to attach one?

Second, you can right-click My Computer and choose Properties. Go to the Device Manager, sort by type, and look under Networking devices. If you have wireless networking built in, it should show up there.

Answer 3

Few if any desktops come with wireless adapters.  If you paid extra at the time you purchased a desktop to have a wireless adapter installed, it should have one.   To check to see if there is a wireless adapter installed:

Right click on my computer and then click on properties.

Click on the hardware tab.  Select the device manager button. Scroll down to the Network adapters section.   If you have a wireless adapter installed it should be shown in this section as a 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n device.  If you only see 1394 Adapter and Ethernet adapter, you don't have one yet.