I'm confused and need technical help.

I have a desktop which I love but my wife prefers her laptop.  She decided to get her a new one and gave me her old one.  While she was struggling to learn her new computer, I took my laptop and hooked it to the big screen TV and set the laptop on my desk.  I liked that since it took up less room but I didn't get to enjoy the setup.  She got her computer set up but noticed she didn't have a secure internet connection so she changed her setting.  I lost my connection on my laptop so I had to undo everything I had done and now I can't connect to the internet with my laptop unless I use the Ethernet cable.  No wireless connection.  So, can this problem be solved?