Need Help Connecting New Laptop to Internet

[Keyboard Hound]

I just bought a new Toshiba laptop today. I'm trying to get it hooked to the internet. We have wireless. The computer finds the Network, but I can't get it to connect. It's asking for the security key, and I don't know what that is. If that's something like a password, I don't have it. My daughter set up the system for me, and she is unavailable right now. Can anyone help me?

Thanks.

[jvc]

At a guess (and someone with more knowledge will be along shortly), I'd say you just have to wait for the security key from your daughter.

[Keyboard Hound]

Thanks, jvc. I'm waiting and hoping someone will.

[Medievalist]

It's a password, probably twelve or sixteen characters.

I'm afraid you'll have to ask your daughter.

[Keyboard Hound]

If I can't get it from her, what will I have to do? Set up a new system? What would that entail?

[Jersey Chick]

I know with my laptop (also a Toshiba) I needed the code that was on the side of my wireless router. That might be the security code you need. On mine, it's called a WEP key and it's used to make my wireless connection a secured one.

Take a look on the router.

Whoa... The technomoron (me) may have actually been able to help someone... that's it - the world is about to end...

:D

[Giant Baby]

You could check the literature for the new router she may have left around your house (check in the router assembly box or in piles beside the computer). Also, look for cryptic post-it's. Most people jot the key down somewhere.

Unless she made it obvious and didn't think she needed to. You need the key to get access. If she's got a password she's always (or usually) used, or (better yet!) one she attributes to you, try that.

Otherwise, you need the key from her. Sorry. You should still be able to hook into your server via cord. But, who wants that?

[Keyboard Hound]

Thanks, all. I finally got hold of my daughter and got the key. Now when I type it in, it sends me right back to the place where I typed it. On another page I get a message that says:
401 Unauthorized

Access to this resource is denied; your client has not supplied the correct authentication.

Anyone got any suggestions as what to try next?

[Keyboard Hound]

Thanks bunches to you helpers and encouragers.
I got it connected! I can't believe I did it!!

[Seams]

next time this happens, you can reset the password manually by holding down the reset button on the router as you plug it in for 30 secs.

the other route, i'm unsure which router make you have, but I have a dlinks, and you can take your lappy, hard connect it to your router, and type in the address

http://192.168.0.1/

this brings you to a page, I don't believe you need to place a name or password on the first page 'Admin' for the user 'Admin' for the paswrd sometimes, then login, first time i did it, i just hit the log in.

in the next page you come to where you can reset everything with no password

once in, put a password, make a copy of it when it tells you and save it somewhere you can find it. use as mentioned about a WEP as its secure, and you don't want to be having people leech off your system, it slows you down and for other reasons.

glad you sorted it out.

[Keyboard Hound]

Thanks, Seams. I'll store this somewhere for the next time this happens.