Need techie help! Question about wireless router

[Gina]

This is probably a stupid question... and the sad thing is, I am normally one of those "techie people" -- but I know little to nothing about routers.

Here's the deal: I have an ancient dinosaur of a desktop computer, which hasn't even been turned on in probably two years. The main household computer for DS and I is my laptop. The wireless router is connected to the dinosaur, and the laptop, Wii, iPod, Nook, smart phones all use the signal.

The desktop computer is in a little hutch in the living room, and I was wanting to yank the thing out completely so the accordion door will close and I can just use the hutch for storage. I just don't know what to do with the router! There's a blue cable that runs from the router to the computer -- but if the computer hasn't even been on all this time, does it need that connection?

I hate sounding so clueless, especially since I have taken that computer apart and replaced things in it myself a boatload of times, but the whole wireless thing is just out of my realm of understanding.

Any suggestions? Thanks!


-gina-

 

[BillSears]

Unplug it from the computer and see if the router still works.

I'm pretty sure you only need the physical line between the computer and router if you want to do something like change the router password or other setup things.

 

[Kycha]

Unplug it from the computer and see if the router still works.

This!

My router is not hooked up to a computer and I have no problem connecting to it wirelessly from my laptop, Nook and other devices.

 

[LaLalovesWDW]

The only important connection for the router is between your internet connection (cable modem, DSL, or whatever) and the router. The computer that you had hooked up seemed to have just occupied a port on the router - not actually fulfilling any administrative need. From your description, you should be fine to toss the dino and just make sure the router has a solid connection to your ISP.

When you need to log into the router for anything, you can always wirelessly access it from the laptop by just going to the home IP address.

 

[Gina]

You guys? Seriously awesome. Unplugged the blue cable and everything still works fine over here on the laptop. Now I can get that eyesore out of my living room!

Thanks!!