Create a Wireless Network in Windows

1. If buying router and adapter separately, ensure your wireless router is at least as new as your wireless adapter so that they use compatible standards (known as 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n). For maximum compatibility choose Tri-mode or dual-mode 802.11b/g standards.

2. If you are not using Windows XP, check that drivers are available for the chipset of the wireless adapter for your operating system before you buy.

Set up your new router

1. If you want to share a broadband connection via a wireless router, plug the new wireless router into your internet connection point (filter/splitter if ADSL, directly into phone socket if DSL)

2. If you have one, turn on your broadband connection and existing external modem FIRST (wait for all lights to return to normal).

3. Plug your router into your PC with an ethernet cable

4. Turn on your new wireless router SECOND (wait for it to start up fully).

5. Go to your internet browser and type http://192.168.0.1 (Belkin), http://192.168.1.1 (Linksys), http://192.168.2.1 (Others) and enter your username and password for your router (often this is "admin" for username and "admin" or "password" for password)

6. Enable wireless capability (SSID) and enter your username and password given to you by your internet service provider.

7. Choose WPA (or WEP if your card cannot handle WPA) security and enter a passkey and write it down.

Detecting your wireless adapter

1. Note the manufacturer and model of your wireless adapter then plug it into your PC.

2. If your operating system does not recognise the wireless adapter then get drivers from any discs that came with the adapter or, failing that, from the internet.

3. In Windows XP, either right click on the .inf file and click install, or enter Device Manager and Update Drivers on the Unknown Device.

4. Once Windows XP recognises your wireless device it should appear in Network Connections and offer you a choice of routers to connect to within range.

Connecting to a network

5. Choose your router (usually the manufacturer name aka SSID), the security method and enter the passkey in order to connect to it. Use Auto DHCP unless otherwise instructed.

6. This should find the wireless router (click refresh until it does) and connect to the network through the new router.