DSL Modem...AT&T Install...Help

[Scuzz]

I am trying to help my out of town daughter set up her internet in her college apartment. It is thru AT&T. I had a modem from a previous DSL install at my office (replaced with Broadband) and we connected it to the incoming phone line. It seems to indicate that the DSL is active but we can't seem to figure out where to go from there.
Do modems require password and log in ID's? I don't remember how it worked atthe office when we installed it there.

Assuming we confirm the modem is okay (we will be calling the AT&T installer to have him check the line from inside as she hadn't moved in yet when the line was activated) do we then just need a $50-$60 router to get wi-fi going? And what does that involve?

She is using a laptop. I assumed she could as a last resort plug in the outgoing line from the modem into her laptop and that would work but she says she just gets a log-in page.

Any help..recomendations...ideas would be appreciated.

[papasmurff]

if i remember correctly ATT does use a user name and password system.  you can check out the settings of the modem by typing 192.168.1.254 into the browser... you might need a user name and password for that as well or a unique pin list on a sticker on the bottom of the modem.

sorry just realized you posted this last month... maybe i should read this section more often.