What's the model of router as they vary in their setup? Most wireless routers for UK use should be setup for UK region, Channel 11 and wireless mode 'b or g'. SSID is just a name you call the router to identify it out any other wireless networks you may pickup and the encryption stops anyone logging onto your router and using your connection.
The laptop can be configured if you know the routers SSID, and if it uses WPA-PSK or WEP Encryption and you know the encryption key!
To try and configure the laptop, see the following post and scroll down to the
Configuring Wireless Clients: section:
http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n101676.asp and see if you can follow that.
If you don't know the SSID or the encryption key we'll set it up from scratch!