Hi FL,
Do you use a router or a usb modem for your home broadband connetction?
If it's a router you would just need to set the laptop to use a LAN (network) rather than dial up connetion, i.e. do not dial when a network is present Then plug in the network cable from the router. As the router stores all your account details and keeps the connetion live the laptop should just get a network address and get online.
If you have an adsl modem that connects via USB you will need to install the software for that modem to the laptop and make this the primary connection.
If you can let us know what kit you use to connect now and the operating system for the network someone will be able to come up a set of instructions or a help file.
Regards
Memetic