Wireless connection/will not connect

If all your gear is working fine then the issue lies with the girlfriend's laptop wi fi chip. I had the same issue and had to return the laptop for another.

When you reformatted your HD, did you use IBM's method which utilizes a hidden partition? This results in a laptop which appears to be as if it just came from the store, like a brand new laptop.
This method sets up the computer in the exact way that IBM built it. And puts all devices in their proper configurations.
If you have not done too much yet, you might want to try that method right away and see if it doesn't make a big difference in the way your laptop works.
-a.

No, it's probably because you have setup a wireless home network with security in place.

Go through the settings on your husband's notebook settings for your home network and set your Dell up the same way. You will need to know the SSID for the wireless network, security type and key to set it up.

Try setting up a new network connection in the Network and Sharing Center. You'll need your info from your router like:
router username:
router password:
network name (ssid):
network security type:
network security key:
connection type:
Some will also ask for a serial id(I've only ever come across one)

I've never used your particular brand of router but it ought to work the same way as far as the setup.

Right click on the wireless LAN and then click Repair. Do this in the Control Panel - Network Connections. This will force the wireless LAN card to get a new TCP/IP address from your wireless router.
When you get this Limited connectivity message do a repair - this is a common problem - the wireless connection icon is also on your Task Bar, you can right click in it to do a repair.

If it has been working before try the following:
Remove plug from your wireless DSL router for about 1 minute, reinsert the plug and try again.
Restart your laptop

I don't see why not..
are you trying to hook up both computers to your linksys router?
if you have 3 computers now... I'm assuming your old pc was connected directly to the router, your laptop was connected wirelessly and now you have a brand new computer that you also want to connect to the internet using your lynksis router.. you should have not problems doing it, wirelessly or using a wire...as long as your router has ports avaliable...

you cant connect to network if the network is using g band and you comuter is using only 802.11 a/b.. try to review the specification of your computer if WLAN is 802.11 a or b or g or a/b/g.. etc. your computer can only detect WLAN depends on its specs.

What version of windows are you running? 98, 2000, XP, Vista?

reinstall your wireless driver send your laptop model number i will send drivers