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Jim asked: “I have a question about my 11-year-old Dell Desktop computer. I do not have the internet on this computer, but I have wifi in my home thru my cable service. How can I get internet service to it? Do I need an ethernet cord to connect it to my mode that is connected to my TV? I hope someone can help me out.”
John, you have two options. The simpler option is to do just what you said, run a cable to the computer, plug it in, and you’ll probably be connected right away.
If you want to avoid cables and try to use the WiFi you have at home, you can, but you’ll need some additional hardware.
Depending on how technically inclined you are, you can open up your desktop and install an internal wireless network card or just plug in a USB WiFi antenna, which would be as easy as plugging it in the way you would a flash drive and then installing some drivers.
A USB antenna will probably cost you more, but thereś next to no installation and it allow you to use the WiFi network you already have, if you’d rather do that.
We do not recommend you get that Dell online at all. Period. An 11-year-old machine is likely running an ancient (by today’s standards) version of Windows — probably Vista or XP. Microsoft no longer supports those versions which means no more security updates! Vulnerabilities that haven’t been patched never will be, allowing hackers to access your information. You could spend the money to upgrade, but it’s better spent on a new laptop.