Computer Hardware Issue(?)/Wireless Internet Question

Factual Questions
1

I read the sticky regarding people asking too frequently about spyware and I don’t think this applies.
Part I
Basically I decided the inside of my computer was too dusty (in which it was) and that’s why my ‘silent’ computer fans were being noisy so I decided to clean my computer a bit with some compressed air. Now because of that my computer has decided it doesn’t have a network card which means no internet (I am a hopeless internet addict. I NEED my internet). From the looks of it <pure speculation> the network card is integrated into the mother board and somehow I screwed up a connection in the motherboard </pure speculation> and I have no f’ing clue to how to make my computer realize it has a network card.
Part II
Thankfully a friend lending me his PowerBook for a good portion of the semester and it has wireless capacities. But apparently the wireless connection in this apartment needs a password and I have no clue what it is and neither do my roommates. Is there a way to find that out on the computer the wireless router is connectioned to (I guess?).

All replies will be appreciated. Thanks.

2

Depends on the wireless router being used. In some cases the “password” is on the access point (wireless router) itself. Check the internet for the model router being used there. They should have some walkthrough describing how to get connected. In my case the special number that needs to be used is on a sticker on the bottom of the router. Put that number in the right spot and make sure all settings are as they should be (again supplied by the online instructions) and you should be good to go. It is of course possible that the information you need is not so conveniently located in which case you need to track down the owner of the router and find out what you need to know. In a pinch you can probably reset the router to its out of the box settings and set it up as if new but it not being your router you might piss someone off doing that.