How do I connect laptop to internet?

How do I connect my laptop to a wired internet connection using an ethernet cord?

• I currently have a HP Pavilion laptop running on Windows XP and I want to use the internet through an ethernet cord for a faster connection. The wireless internet works just fine, but when I connect one end of the ethernet cord in the router and the other in my laptop, my internet suddenly stops working. How do I enable a wired internet connection on my laptop?

• Answer:

  Uhm idk why it would do that? But when you plug the ethernet into your laptop an icon in the bottom right hand corner of a computer should come up just like it would if you were running on a wireless connetion. Try right clicking on that and looking through the options. But other then that if you have the router plugged into the modem (comcast user speaking) and your ethernet into the laptop & router it should connect. If nothing works I'd suggest calling your internet provider and they should help you out.