Questions about Realtek NIC and Toshiba PCI

[martindcx1e]

Hi all. I'm pretty new to all this. I apologize in advance for the length of this message. When I look at the network connections on my Toshiba laptop I see two icons: Wireless Network Connection and Local Area Connection. The Wiresless Network Connection apparently utilizes the Toshiba Wireless LAN Mini PCI Card, and the Local Area Connection uses Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC. It says that the Local Area Connection is disabled. My question is - what is the difference between the wireless connection and the local connection, and what is the difference between the PCI Card and the Realtek? Do I have 2 cards in my laptop? Also on my desktop PC (which is connected to the router), in its network connections it shows 2 local area connections and a 1394 connection. One local connection uses the Realtek NIC and it is enabled and connected. The other local connection uses a PCI Ethernet Adapter and is disabled. For the 1394 connection it says it uses something called 1394 Net Adapter. Again what are all of these for? Also I cannot view the available wireless networks on my desktop PC which is connected to the router. Why can't I and how do I do that? Thanks.

[geezer]

They are exactly what they say they are. The realtek is your cat5 wired network adapter. Plug a cat5 cable between it and your router and you will be connected. The PCI wireless lan adapter is exactly that. If you have a wireless router, then enable the wireless adapter, set up security on both devices etc and hey presto!