First, turn off the PC and modem, then remove the Ethernet cable from the PC and plug it into the router’s WAN port. Install a second Ethernet cable between the PC’s Ethernet port and one of the router’s Ethernet ports. Power the modem, router and then PC, waiting for the system to boot and initialize before attempting an Internet connection.
Most routers are programmed with the manufacturer’s default settings, including the network’s name or service set identifier (SSID), channel and sign-on password. These default settings generally may be changed using included software or an online setup utility provided by the router’s manufacturer.
Configure the router by entering the router configuration IP address at the URL provided, followed by the configuration utility ID and the default password. To find your router’s default IP address and the default login info, refer to the owner’s manual. If you own a Linksys router, a popular brand, the IP address is usually 192.168.1.1. Two other popular brands, D-Link and Netgear, generally use 192.168.0.1.