Laptop owners need an internet connection to their laptop. A laptop without the Internet loses more than half of its advantages over stationary computers. In addition, a laptop without the Internet does not have the full scope of functionality provided by the manufacturer. How to connect the Internet to a laptop so that you can always and everywhere have access to the World Wide Web? What connection methods are there? What are the advantages of wired and wireless Internet?
Connecting a laptop to the Internet via Wi-Fi
Today, Wi-Fi is one of the most affordable and widespread ways to connect to the network. All modern laptops are equipped with wireless network adapters, and public places and service facilities give visitors the opportunity to connect to a Wi-Fi network for free. If your laptop has a Wi-Fi adapter, then the sequence of steps for connecting to the Internet is very simple:
- we activate the Wi-Fi module;
- We go to "Start" - "Connection" or "Control Panel" - "Network and Sharing Center".
- Choose among the available connections "Wireless network connection"
- We decide on the Wi-Fi network to which we want to connect. If the network is protected, then we indicate the network password.
We are waiting for a few minutes for the computer to connect to the network. Voila, we have wireless internet available.
If your laptop is old and doesn't have a Wi-Fi network adapter, you can buy an external wireless network card that plugs into a USB port.
Connecting the Internet to a laptop using a USB modem
To access the network in rural areas, outside the city, in places where there is no Wi-Fi, a very popular way is to use 3G modems connected to the USB port of a computer or laptop.
Such a connection is possible if there is network coverage from the provider. Many operators offer promotional USB 3G modems with Internet access. The connection procedure may differ depending on the service provider. Some providers provide free settings with access to the user's personal account. In some cases, the modem contains special programs for connecting to the Internet. In most cases, the setup and connection procedure is as follows:
- We plug the USB modem into the laptop connector.
- Launch the software installation program. Alternatively, a browser will automatically open with a window indicating the connection status.
- We launch the installed program and press the "Connect" button (if necessary, indicate the username and password).
We use the Internet on a laptop.
Laptop network connection using a cable
All, without exception, laptops are equipped with network adapters with an RJ-45 connector. It is a standard that has been used in computer networks for over 10 years. A wired connection provides significantly faster Internet access speeds compared to wireless connections. This connection is no different from connecting a stationary PC. The operating system will automatically detect the local network.
With one click of the mouse, a connection is created (if necessary, enter your username and password). The settings for the IP address, gateway, DNS servers will either be determined automatically, or will need to be set manually (depending on the provider's recommendations).
Connecting a laptop to the internet using a computer connected to the internet
This is an alternative to the usual connections if you do not have a wireless router or the opportunity to buy a USB modem. In this case, the computer acts as a modem or distributes the Internet.
Method 1. Wired laptop to computer connection. The provider's cable is connected to the network card 1 of the computer. The second network card of the computer is connected with a cable to the network adapter of the laptop. In the settings of the computer's network connection, check the box next to "Allow other network users to use this computer's Internet connection." In this case, your computer acts as a router or modem and must be turned on for the Internet to work on the laptop.
