Internet is not working with laptop with windows xp (I6000)?

i rewipped my mom’s laptop but it wont connect to the internet. usually it’d be an easy step by going to “connect” and picking my modem from the options. but it doesn’t show up, i try to make a new connection, or use a “home connection” but it pretty much leads down to it’s not wireless or something. do i need to install drivers for this, and if so, how could i do that? i tried on the dell website via flash drive but im not sure if that was supposed to work or not.