Setting up internet on new lap top. Help please.

[flobadob]

We got a new lap top today and I'm looking for some advice on how to get it connecting to the internet. On our PC when I connect the internet connection lead into it a little orange LED comes on nut when I connect the lead to the lap top I don't see any LED coming on and it doesn't seem to show that anything is connected. It is using Vista. What else do I need to do?

[rojash]

talk about vague...
Do you mean a light on your router or a light on your PC?

[flobadob]

Yeah, it's hard to know what to say or what details to give when I don't really know what I'm at. When the internet cable is connected to the PC there is an orange light when connected. When I disconnected the cable from the PC and plugged it into the laptop there was no sign that it was connected ie no lights showing on the laptop. I think there may be a problem with the cable because when I connected back onto the PC I had to jiggle it about a bit before I could get the orange light to come on again.

I've given up on it for this evening, might try again tomorrow.

[rojash]

Most Network Adaptors installed in PCs have 1 or more indicator lights. Most laptops don't - or if there is an indicator, it's not near the network socket.

I suspect that the light would have come on on the PC if you'd simply waited a few seconds - doubt if the jiggling achieved anything.

There should be a light on the router that corresponds to each connected device.
Why not just connect the laptop, open IE and see if you can get to google or some other site?

[galeck1947]

How are you trying to connect ? By cable or by wireless. If you connect by ethernet cable to your laptop you wont see any lights on it but if you start the laptop and once it is booted if you check ther lower RH corner near the clock you should see an icon which indicates internet connection. To make sure open Control Panel and head to Network and Sharing Center which will show you your connection. If you dont see a connection ie a red cross instead of a straight line then use the connection repair to repair or find your problem. Vista has these capabilities to help you . Once you connect your cable reboot your laptop and see if it connects.