Trying to get wireless on a laptop...

[Emu2005]

Can anyone help please!
My mum has got a wanadoo broadband livebox. She set up wireless on her pc a while ago. She has now bought a laptop and we want to put it on there.
When we search for wireless networks to connect to, it says that we need to install a wireless device. Does this mean we need to install thesoftware for the wireless device? Or does it mean we can't get wireless networks on the laptop?
A CD came with the broadband stuff which I thought would install the software for the wireless device to work, but it keeps coming up with an error message a few stages in.
I rang Wanadoo and they advised the CD has nothing to do with it and the laptop is not set up for wireless networks, but it obviously is as it has a wireless switch!
Am I supposed to get some more software to go with the laptop before I can pick up wireless networks? Where do I get this from? I'm so confused!
Any help anyone can give will be appreciated.

[pug100]

If the laptop is wireless capable then you will need to enable it by switching it on. Sometimes Fn& f8 simultaneously but check your manual.

If not you will need either a wireless pcmcia card or a usb adapter to enable wireless networking.

Once the laptop is working wirelessly you will need the encryption key (16 digit alphanumeric number on the livebox) that will allow the laptop to use the livebox and press button 2 on the Livebox (I think if it is the old triangular type )whch allows other devices to connect to it.