I need help with our new netbook that we got from the SDM redemption

[avoncallingu]

Hi! We have a laptop that I use nightly to communicate with SCers. My husband sometimes wants to interrupt and check things online. (How cheeky!) So we decided to cash in our SDM points for a netbook. It seemed easy enough. Now we have a WIFI connection on our desktop which enables the laptop to work. I never have to type in a security code to get the laptop to work. (My db made some reference a couple of weeks ago that we should speak to Bell - who is our provider- and set one up)
Now when I try to get the netbook to work - it's asking for a security code - I may not be using the right term - I thought - OK the WIFI will only work on one computer at a time - so I turned of the laptop and tried using only the netbook - same deal - where's the security code? So - who do I call? Bell? Acer? (the maker of the netbook) Microsoft? - the netbook has Windows 7. Will I need to pay for another connection through Bell?

[scam-master]

If you never set up the wireless network yourself then you'll have to get the password from your isp who installed it. They should have given you the password when they set it up though.

[Sally888]

Depends if you set ip your WEP incryption yourself or if your ISP did. I personally set up my wireless myself and made up my own key. There is a way of finding it yourself, what kind of model and router do you have for wireless? I know with dlink I just put in a certain web address and all my info comes up.

[Brainy142]

try looking on the bottom of the router, the wep password might be there.

[Cala]

There is no reason that both computers cannot connect at the sametime. It souds like you are using your desktop as a bridge and that your home connection does not have build in wireless. When you are connecting to the wireless does the connection have your desktop computer name or something else that lets you know that you are trying to connect to it? Given that you have gone from no password being asked for to one being asked it is very likely that you had been connecting to another open network someplace in your area, and that connection is now gone.

On your desktop computer you will need to enable the use this computer to allow other computers to connect to the internet otherwise it will never allow the laptop to connect.

Personally i would check with bell to see if they include wireless internet with your package a lot of compies do, and if they do then find out how to enable it. If they charge extra for it, then use the desktop or get yourself a wireless router.

[avoncallingu]

Thanks, everyone - I'll try to put your suggestions to use and see where I get. We don't have a "router" - I bought a contraption at Staples when we first set up our first laptop and it plugs into our desktop computer and provides the wifi - but since then the desktop has been PAINFULLY slow. I called Bell and they said it was not their problem and I just haven't had time to follow up. When we open the laptop (not the new netbook) the connection shows just as "Bell899" and the laptop does not ask for a security code. I'm going to try to do some more investigating and get back to you. Thanks again!