Just to add some details to the above post:
The brand of router you buy won't really matter in the end. But don't spend the extra cash for the Apple one unless you plan to fully use it's additional features. Just about any of them will work for getting you connected, and the majority of them are way less $$ too
Once you have a router, then:
A) Have everything, computers, modem, router powered
OFF, and keep them off until all other connections are made.
B) Leave the cable modem as it is, but connect the ethernet line from it to your new router instead of to the existing computer.
C) Then run another ethernet cable from 1 of the router's ports to the existing computer. The MB will be wireless-ready out of the box, so don't worry about any other cables.
D) Now, do the following, in this
EXACT order:
1) Power on the cable modem. Wait 5-10 minutes or until
ALL of the GREEN lights on the front of it are lit up.
2) Power on the router, same as above.
3) Power on the existing computer & let it fully boot to the desktop.
4) Now, get the manual that came with the router, find the router's internal IP address, open your web browser & type that address into the location bar & press enter.
This will put you at the router's configuration interface. Follow the directions in the manual for creating your password & changing the security settings etc etc.
Once you are done with configuring the router, you should be able to get an internet connection on the existing, wired computer, and you can log out of the router. If not, you goofed somewhere and there is no point in trying to use the wireless part. Go back & fix the wired connection
FIRST, then adding a lappy or other wireless device is just a matter of getting it to detect & log onto your network.......
And yea, I've done this a few times, and the above steps have worked EVERY time nottaproblemo nomussnofuss
just post back if you need further assistance
