Welcome to Gaia! ::

Yay! Ragnarok is t3h back! heart

ok time to make use of that encyclopedic techie info I keep tucked in the back of my skull

first question as veras said is weather or not you have a PCI or USB wireless adapter

Second question is weather or not your Laptop has integrated wireless instread

Third prelimenary question is if no to questions one and two where is the closest radioshack to where you live?

To Veras and Walking Encylopedia, I have no idea what you're talking about, BUT.. Can I do Kedian's idea?
By the way, any specific name for the USB Adapter? >.>

Okay, what kind of router do you have? Just get a USB Adapter that is the same brand as your router. [Talk to a salesman at Future Shop. Say that you have a '____' Wireless Router, and you'd like a USB Adapter of the same brand.]

Actually there are a few errors in your comment

all G series cards and routers (the current standard) work with A & B series networks (the last previous two standards)..... and most of the current retail models are G series

also a USB adapter is less affective than a PC adapter... it runs mroe slowly as it has to convert data back and forth, a certified network retailer or technicision would recomend a PC adapter as it plugs directly into the laptop and thus provides a better connection (I for the record am certified on Networking hardware)

and the brandname of a card or router has nothing to do with weather it will work or not.... you could take a D-Link wireless card for a desktop, a Netgear PC adapter for a laptop, and a Linksys Wireless router and they would all work together as long as your network cards are of compatable series (G series si backwards compatable, but A & B sereis are not as they are earlier standards.... so a G series PC adapter will work on a A or B network)

it should not matter what kind of router it is..... current G series wireless adapters are backwards compatable with older networks

I would suggest two things

First turn off the modem, unplug the router, and turn off all computers..... then turn on the modem and let it set up with everything turned off (you should get power, and dsl/cable lights active).... not plug the router back in (this should yeild Internet and Ethernet lights on the modem as well as the lights on the router)...... now finally turn on your computers and laptop, that should give you access (and the activity light on the modem)

If that does not work try goign through the detect and set up options for a new network within Windows

if you still have problems let me know and I will try to figure out another solution