How can you tell if your desktop supports wireless router?

Question

Ok so lately our router has been horrible and we are thinking about getting a new one that's wireless. What i need to know is how can i tell if my computer supports wireless without having to buy a network usb adapter that's 18 bucks.

Answer 1

does the desktop have an antenna poking out of the back? if not the odds are pretty good that it does not have an existing 802.11 wireless adapter. this is required for wireless connectivity. if your wireless router has rj45 ethernet ports on the back then you can continue to connect the desktop to the new router this way.

you can get a wireless ethernet adapter for your desktop from any of the big electronics stores like circuit city or best buy, theyre usually about 60 bucks.

Answer 2

Control Panel / Network Connections

There will be a Local Area Connection for your wired ethernet, and if there is a wireless card, it will also have a Wireless  Network Connection there.

Chances are, your DT doesn't have it unless you added one.

Answer 3

Normally, it will have a little monitor icon in the system tray next to your clock that has a few of what look like sound waves coming off the right side and a red X. This shows that you do have a wireless card and you can connect once you get a wireless router without having to buy those stupid adapters.

Almost all notebooks and laptops come with a wireless card in them now, it would be tough to find one that doesn't. I tend to doubt that a desktop comes with a wireless card built-in, although maybe an ultra-new one does. If you are running a desktop that's more than a few months old, I can guarantee you don't have one.

If you don't see that icon in the system tray, then you can go to the manuals that came with your computer and they should tell you what hardware you have in your computer.