Dear Computer Lady,
I would like to connect my laptop to a wireless network in my house. the “main” computer has a linksys. my brother has hooked up one laptop to it already, but has misplaced the security key necessary to have my computer connected. is it possible to connect to the wireless internet another way?
Vanessa
Dear Vanessa,
The nice thing about a secure wireless network is that it keeps other people out of your network unless they have the security key or password.
The first thing you will need to do, is find the manual for your Linksys router. If you don’t have the original paperwork, you should be able to find another manual on their website that you can download and print out. It will contain important information that you will need as you go along.
While I am on the subject of the manual, that is where I always write critical information like the password to access the router and the security key when I set up a router.
If you have the password to access the router from your main computer, you can use it to look up your security key. Your manual will have instructions for how to access the router along with the default password. Hopefully, you changed the password and wrote it down.
If you don’t have the password to access the router from your main computer, I have good news and bad news for your situation.
The good news is that you can reset the linksys router to its default settings, and then set it up again with a new router password and security key. (be sure to write them down)
The bad news is that your brother will have to reconfigure his laptop with the new security key once you have reset the router.
How do you reset the router? The manual will have directions, but every linksys router that I have seen has a small reset button, usually on the bottom. If you hold in that button for about 30 seconds the router will be reset back to the factory defaults and you can use the manual to reconfigure the router.
Elizabeth
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Speaking of passwords – since the computer is at your finger tips, why not make up a “Password file” and secure the file with a password and when you need it, you can access your password file immediately, rather than looking through manuals.