I've got an old Gateway desktop I need to connect to a wireless router for my job. I just bought a new, much stronger NetGear router and it still won't connect. I no longer have a laptop and I'm DESPERATE to get this working. Please help a 52-year old teacher who is rather "un-techie" get online for her students and families! Many, many thanks!

Assuming you're using the Netgear Smart Wizard software, go to your settings screen and delete all the profiles. After that, create a new one and put in the settings for your NEW network, then save it.

The WEP encryption key is configured in the router's wireless settings. This encryption key is then used to configure the wireless card in the computer so it can connect to the wireless router.
I suggest you use WPA or WPA2 encryption, this is stronger than the old WEP encryption.
To secure your wireless network from unauthorized access, please click on this link and follow my instructions :-
Normal 0 http://www.fixya.com/support/r3559128-wireless_router_security

These are some reasons why your new Hp laptop can't connect through your Netgear Router is because your Router has a security that used a password to connect to your router or the ip address of your desktop and Dell laptop is already setup to the router to work with internet.

You can learn how to setup your router easily.

Smart Wizard:
http://syndicate.sellpoint.net/Netgear__Inc_/90983/16285-8W6DBC-28-player-T1_MP/MPPlayer/MPPlayer.html?Master=Self&PlayerTitle=&ShoppingCart=http%3A%2F%2Fsyndicate.sellpoint.net%2FNetgear__Inc_%2F90983%2F__buybutton__.html&LVerify=Syn-WMP2YD-90987&Width=536&Height=525&ParentUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.netgear.com%2FProducts%2FRoutersandGateways%2FWirelessNRoutersandGateways%2FWNDR3300.aspx

Netgear Data Sheet:
http://www.netgear.com/upload/product/wndr3300/wndr3300_ds_25sep09.pdf

Here's the instruction how to access your Netgear Router (to change the settings and to allow your new Hp laptop to connect to the internet)

http://www.ultimateone.co.uk/article/netgearrouteripaddress

I suggest to use a password security, for easy connection of your computers

Did you have the netgear before you bought the new laptop?
If so all you need is the wireless key - which you should have written down.
There is no need to set up the netgear again as it is already doing its job. You set up the computer to talk to the netgear.

Connect your broadband router to the netgear router, set your netgear router as "gateway" and put netgear's IP address as your DNS Server and Gateway in your laptop wifi connection.

You don't need to connect your netgear, you have only to connect your computer to the 2Wire (is wireless also) - If your computer ins not wireless Only you have to do is insert a wireless PCI card in your computer or and USB wireless device and connect to the 2Wire Wireless Router

Netgear's web site has an excellent tutorial on how to do this. It involves turning off the DHCP on the Netgear, and linking the LAN prots of the two routers. There is no connection to the WAN port of the Netgear.

Here's the link http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n101236.asp

Carl

trendnet is cheaper with a distance around 100m and settings also simple

Hello,
have you tried to follow the manual chapter 3, page 3-1 ?
If you lost your manual you can find one here:
http://kbserver.netgear.com/pdf/wgr614v6_ref_man_20Apr05.pdf

One of your computers can go online because its using a wired connection to the router, but the wireless clients cannot access the connection - is this right?

Then you only need to setup the wireless part in the router.

Why do you need to bridge?

Can't you use both devices off the one router?

usually to bridge you would need, effectively , 2 extra access points to set as the bridges, they then connect to the other routers, allowing communication between the 2.

I do know 2wire is slightly different but you would still need something to act as a bridge on the netgear end.

I still don't understand why you need both routers running. Connect both your computers to the same router which has the internet connection.

Hope this helps

Tony