Different Wireless problems
Discussion
Hi All
Time for me to call once more on that great pool of knowledge that is the PH Forum!
I have a wireless network with several pc's running quite happily.
I added a new laptop, all working beautifully. However, as the de facto IT Manager for this house I determined that I was not going to have a machine with XP Pro SP1 on my network, so upgraded it to SP2 (like all my others).
It now sees the wireless network, but refuses point blank to connect.
XP FIrewall is off
There is no other firewall on the machine that I can see (how can I check?)
I de-activated the anti-virus software just for good measure too, so what else can be stopping it linking? No other changes have been made to the network, and I have re-entered the network key (WEP 64 bit) as well, but nada.
Ideas??
SG
Time for me to call once more on that great pool of knowledge that is the PH Forum!
I have a wireless network with several pc's running quite happily.
I added a new laptop, all working beautifully. However, as the de facto IT Manager for this house I determined that I was not going to have a machine with XP Pro SP1 on my network, so upgraded it to SP2 (like all my others).
It now sees the wireless network, but refuses point blank to connect.
XP FIrewall is off
There is no other firewall on the machine that I can see (how can I check?)
I de-activated the anti-virus software just for good measure too, so what else can be stopping it linking? No other changes have been made to the network, and I have re-entered the network key (WEP 64 bit) as well, but nada.
Ideas??
SG
Thanks G V8S
I do use Mac filtering on the wireless network, but as I have not changed that, and the MAC address on the laptop adapter has not changed (unless XP SP2 does that??), and it was all working before the SP2 upgrade, what could have changed?
I am desperately trying to find the Wireless application direct (i.e. not use Windows), but no luck yet!
I have had a similar problem on one other laptop where it can take anywhere between 1 second and two hours to finally decide to connect to the network, whether by cable or wireless, and without touching anything. On the grounds I can think of nothing else to blame, I actually put that down to Norton Int Sec, but this laptop does not have that, just Symantec anti-v.
Any more ideas?
Many thks
SG
I do use Mac filtering on the wireless network, but as I have not changed that, and the MAC address on the laptop adapter has not changed (unless XP SP2 does that??), and it was all working before the SP2 upgrade, what could have changed?
I am desperately trying to find the Wireless application direct (i.e. not use Windows), but no luck yet!
I have had a similar problem on one other laptop where it can take anywhere between 1 second and two hours to finally decide to connect to the network, whether by cable or wireless, and without touching anything. On the grounds I can think of nothing else to blame, I actually put that down to Norton Int Sec, but this laptop does not have that, just Symantec anti-v.
Any more ideas?
Many thks
SG
Have you tried it with the WEP key disabled (in both the laptop and the access point?
How are you entering the WEP key? I've never really figured this out, but some will work with the passphrase, others need the hex generated string entered.
Another random guess - the laptop's wireless driver needs updating now you've gone to SP2?
How are you entering the WEP key? I've never really figured this out, but some will work with the passphrase, others need the hex generated string entered.
Another random guess - the laptop's wireless driver needs updating now you've gone to SP2?
I remember this problem from when I first did SP2 upgrades.
In order for some SP2 wireless installations to work, you need to change the key type from Open to Shared (or it may be the other way round, bit of a fuzzy memory).
Don't ask me why, i just remember it was the solution I used to get many a SP2 wireless system working.
In order for some SP2 wireless installations to work, you need to change the key type from Open to Shared (or it may be the other way round, bit of a fuzzy memory).
Don't ask me why, i just remember it was the solution I used to get many a SP2 wireless system working.
Ok lets look at this logically. The unique item it would seem is SP2 as you had the machine working previously therefore the finger seems to point at Microsoft again (now theres a surpise). I would firstly suggest as the previous post to uninstal the wireless from the laptop and re-install with any newer drivers. If none are available it could still be the driver as SP2 is a nuisance. Should this course of action not work then make sure your connection settings have not been altered by SP2 ie your ip address is not been changed and is now being blocked by he router. Also check that Windows hasnt alterend the workgroup name on your machine etc. Failing all of that chuck it out of the nearest window.
Hi All!
I'm a huge fan of the 'throw it out of the window' idea myself. Bill certainly causes plenty of problems here.....
I am still to try one or two of the ideas suggested, but for info the machine connects to the network / router just fine over cable, so the Workgroup name etc must be ok.
I don't have fixed IP addresses on the router, and again it connected via cable as soon as I plugged it in.
So, I will try fiddling with the WEP settings to see what that gives, and I will let you know!
TTFN SG
I'm a huge fan of the 'throw it out of the window' idea myself. Bill certainly causes plenty of problems here.....
I am still to try one or two of the ideas suggested, but for info the machine connects to the network / router just fine over cable, so the Workgroup name etc must be ok.
I don't have fixed IP addresses on the router, and again it connected via cable as soon as I plugged it in.
So, I will try fiddling with the WEP settings to see what that gives, and I will let you know!
TTFN SG
Hmmm
Well, we are slowly narrowing it down.
Having turned off the WEP security it connected just fine - it certainly seems windows is having trouble managing the WEP security, although it could be the way you have to enter the key.
In windows (still can't find any separate application to manage it) do you enter the key as continuous digits, or with a gap, or with a hyphen, or with a comma??
Cheers SG
Well, we are slowly narrowing it down.
Having turned off the WEP security it connected just fine - it certainly seems windows is having trouble managing the WEP security, although it could be the way you have to enter the key.
In windows (still can't find any separate application to manage it) do you enter the key as continuous digits, or with a gap, or with a hyphen, or with a comma??
Cheers SG
Still Grinning said:
Hmmm
Well, we are slowly narrowing it down.
Having turned off the WEP security it connected just fine - it certainly seems windows is having trouble managing the WEP security, although it could be the way you have to enter the key.
In windows (still can't find any separate application to manage it) do you enter the key as continuous digits, or with a gap, or with a hyphen, or with a comma??
Cheers SG
Well, we are slowly narrowing it down.
Having turned off the WEP security it connected just fine - it certainly seems windows is having trouble managing the WEP security, although it could be the way you have to enter the key.
In windows (still can't find any separate application to manage it) do you enter the key as continuous digits, or with a gap, or with a hyphen, or with a comma??
Cheers SG
Coninuous string of hex digits not a passphrase if you have that on you router.
26 digits for 128bit key IIRC
I am only using a 64 bit key (lowest common denominator on oldest unit I am afraid!), so it is a string of 10 hex charachters, but no matter how I enter them Windows can not get them accepted by the network. Like others, I clearly point the finger at Windows here.
I will continue to see if I can find ANY other way of entering the WEP key, other than windows, but bizarrely can not find any application for it.
May require a call to RM customer support (if it exists.....)
Thanks everyone for help so far, we certainly have narrowed it down somewhat.
I'll keep trying and if I score any joy I will let you know, but other ideas always welcome (assuming I am not actually going to throw it out of the window).
TTFN
SG
I will continue to see if I can find ANY other way of entering the WEP key, other than windows, but bizarrely can not find any application for it.
May require a call to RM customer support (if it exists.....)
Thanks everyone for help so far, we certainly have narrowed it down somewhat.
I'll keep trying and if I score any joy I will let you know, but other ideas always welcome (assuming I am not actually going to throw it out of the window).
TTFN
SG
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