[thefactor]

ok, here's the latest. i pulled the plug on the wireless router and plugged it back in. the lap top now connects to an unsecured wireless network that someone in my vicinity has. and the internet works.

however, when i try to connect to my network, which is password secured, it does not work.

[CougarGA7]

I’m telling you, you have to enter the encryption key for your router if it is secured.

[JamesP81]

however, when i try to connect to my network, which is password secured, it does not work.

Ah! Your router is configured with a network key. This is basically a password that keeps other folks around you from connecting to your router. You'll need to know the network key. See if you mom has it wrote down somewhere.

If your mom has a computer already connected to the network with internet working, then that machine clearly has the correct key entered. You can use that machine to log in to the router and it *might* list the network keys. I know that you can do that with Linksys routers, but Netgear I'm not sure.

If you absolutely can't get the network key, you can reset the router to factory defaults, which will remove the network key. But, if there are any settings in the router specific to your ISP that it must have, you'll lose those settings too, which would cause your internet to stop working altogether. Most cable internet providers don't have anything like that, however. Or if they do it's all stored in the cable modem and you don't have to worry about it.

On a side note, a new Mac laptop out of the box would be experiencing exactly this same problem. I guarantee it.

[stuartcr]

Go completely unsecure just to make sure it’s connecting, then assign your securitie one step at a time.

[antiRepublicrat]

the lap top now connects to an unsecured wireless network that someone in my vicinity has

The problem is there are huge number of things to be configured and matched up.

If nothing else is using the router, try this: Go into the router's settings (likely http://192.168.1.1), reset them to default and start fresh. There may also be a tiny button in the back you can push in with a paper clip to reset the router. Now most likely you'll be able to immediately connect if you're already connecting to other open networks.

Now read the router's manual on how to set up encryption to secure your router, unless you want to run an open WiFi point.

[BJungNan]

A list of wireless signals hitting your computer should appear in the list. Click on the one that is yours and a screen should appear that asks for your password. That’s how mine works.