Wireless Networking Driving Me Nuts

[KouklatheCat]

I just got a new laptop. I tried to hook my new laptop up to the internet via my wireless set up and I can't connect.

My old laptop a K6-2 333 running Win98 was easy to set up. I just used the wireless config tool provided by linksys and voila it was there. I have WEP enabled. My new laptop is running XP Home. I have noticed that on the new laptop there is no place to set the WEP key, just to get one when connected. I have DSL and a non static IP. I have DHCP enabled on all of my machines. I have tried disabling WEB in the router config and still no luck. The wireless tool says that the card is connecting with my router but for some reason I cant reach the internet. Also I can not access the router. The only place in Win XP I can find to set a WEP key lists only 40 bit or 104 bit encryption, the router asks for 64 or 128 bit.

The new laptop shows up in the DHCP table in my routers config.

I got the laptop at Best Buy and had to go for the dial up internet deal. I dont need the dial up but my dad does. They installed MSN internet on the computer for me (not by choice). I am able to access the internet just fine with the wired connection.

Any ideas what to try?

For some reason Compaq's default install is NTFS and all my other machines are FAT32. I know this will cause problems filesharing but it shouldnt affect bandwith sharing should it?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

 

[ktwebb]

I can find to set a WEP key lists only 40 bit or 104 bit encryption, the router asks for 64 or 128 bit

There is a 24 bit RC4 key that makes 40 bit WEP 64 bit or 104 Bit 128 Bit WEP. Hard to imagine you didn't even try but input your static WEP key into the space provided.

 

[KouklatheCat]

I looked in the router's set up and tired the key listed there but it did not work. It gave me an error message that said the key should be 6 (i think) or 26 characters. Where is the 24 bit key you are talking about and how the heck do I use it.....Im kinda a wireless networking moron (which is even lower then dummy so the books dont even work LOL)

Thanks

 

[ktwebb]

First thing you should do is get an association. Even someone who is schooled in WLAN's should normally start out without WEP. WEP is not enabed by default on any AP I know of and it certainly isn't enabled by default on a client card. Get a link from client to AP first, and worry about your security concerns after that. Install the driver and then run any utility software that came with the AP. If ithe software won't install on XP then just use XP's built in wireless support. Load the driver, right click on network places, click properties, right click on the wireless NIC icon, click properties. That is where you would configure your card if it needs it. SSID and so forth but SOHO AP's broadcast their SSID and xp is setup out of the box to search for AP's. Goto the wireless network tabs and look for APs. Let XP configure and then refresh.

install is NTFS and all my other machines are FAT32. I know this will cause problems filesharing

Incorrect. The file system will not cause filesharing problems over the network.

 

[KouklatheCat]

Im able to get link I have the laptop sitting on my desk about two feet away from my wireless router. Signal strength is 100%. According to the wireless card's config tool it is sending information just not getting it back. I get an error that says something about Internet Explorer was not able to navigate the search page regardless of what URL I use.

 

[ktwebb]

What are your ping results? Sounds like a WEP issue potentially. As mentioned, disable encryption on the AP and the card and then ping to see if you have IP connectivity.

 

[KouklatheCat]

I disabled WEP (I had to reset my router to do it sucker wouldn't let me). I also deleted the laptop from the DHCP table where it was listed under the name Compaq gave it from the factory (I changed it to something more me). A quick reboot and it works.

Now how the heck do I get WEP to work? Just re check the box in XP that says "They key is provided for me"? For some reason there is not enough room in the boxes for me to manually enter my WEP key. Should I be using the words I typed in during the router set-up to make the series of numbers and letters or the numbers and letters them self?

Also XP only shows 40 bit and 104 bit encription while the router shows 129 or 64 bit encryption.

Thanks again for your help....

 

[ktwebb]

I already went over 40 and 104 Bit WEP so I won't rehash that.

TO enable WEP: Generate the key from your AP (Yes, that key will be 40 bit or 104 bit) Goto your your NIC's properties, either from the control panel or by double clicking the network icon in your taskbar, click the wireless network tab. Click configure, enable WEP and type in your key. If you don't have enough room, you are either typing it in the wrong placed or typing it incorrectly. If you have a choice on your AP I generate the key in hex.

 

[KouklatheCat]

How do I use the 24 bit RC4 key to make the 40 and 104 64 and 128? Remember Im not very good at doing much beyond the basics with networking.

 

[ktwebb]

How do I use the 24 bit RC4 key to make the 40 and 104 64 and 128

You don't. I don't know how I can be any clearer on that. Type in the key generated by your AP.

 

[KouklatheCat]

They key generated by my wireless router is too long to fit in the space provided for in XP. The router's key is about four characters too long.

Any clue where im going to find where to enable the rc4 key, I don't see anything about it in either setup.....

thanks

 

[ktwebb]

Forget I mentioned the RC4 key okay. Completely remove it from your train of thought. You don't do ANYTHING with it. NOTHING. You don't enable it, you don't type it, NOTHING.

As I mentioned before, if you don't have enough space in windows, you either are mistaking something else for a WEP key, or trying to type it in the wrong place. Simple as that. There is room for a 40 or 104 bit key in the space provided by XP. When I get home I'll take some screen shots and email them to you or something.

 

[KouklatheCat]

OK thanks.