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unable to enable : security : Belkin 54g WiFi

I have a problem with a Belkin54g Wi Fi (F5D7231-4uk) which for a couple of years I’ve operated ‘unsecured’.  Have just spent hours trying to enable security and I’m steadily going mad.  I go into Security mode and select WPA/WPA2, then enter a Pass Phrase and Apply Changes.  With 10 seconds left on the count-down my wireless connection is terminated.  I clear theat screen and on the PC I select Choose Wireless Connection and get the ‘secured’ screen; hit Connect; enter the Pass Phrase twice and enter.  I then get an error message which appears totally disconnected with what I’m doing, basically the one that says to enter either 5 or 13 ascii chars or 10 or 25 hexadec chars.  Whatever I do seems fruitless.  The Belkin works perfectly with a cable connection.  Can anyone help?

5 or 13 characters is a WEP

pca_Burn-IT's picture

5 or 13 characters is a WEP key not  WPA.

 

Is that a clue??

 

Dave Burnett Microsoft MVP Shell/User (see http//mvp.support.microsoft.com/ )
God doesn't play dice Does that mean I was supposed to be like this??

Not at all.  I have entered

Not at all.  I have entered what I think to be a higher level of security so do not expect to get error messages relating what I think is to lower levels. I do not consider your answer to be helpful. Perhaps someone has a more helpful suggestion?

WEP WAP

The person you were so rude to is a very highly qualified computer expert and a more than helpful member of this forum for many years. If you had any sense at all you would have looked at his qualifications and realized this. If that is going to be your attitude you will get no help here.

 

I know this reply is of no help and that is how it is meant to be.

TomD

To put it simply, Your PC is

pca_Burn-IT's picture

To put it simply,

Your PC is trying to use a WEP key NOT WPA.

You need to change the security coding to WPA, if it is supported ( not all older PCs, network cards, operating systems do - 98 is one).

 

 

Dave Burnett Microsoft MVP Shell/User (see http//mvp.support.microsoft.com/ )
God doesn't play dice Does that mean I was supposed to be like this??

Early XP did not support WPA

Early XP did not support WPA either, it was an update.

So what OPSys are you running and if XP is it fully updated ?

LP

How early ? (Early XP not supporting WPA)

I realise now 5/13 chars is WEP and not WPA so It seems I'mnot WPA enabled; that explaind my lack of progress.  I have W XP SP2 and a 3 yr old laptop.   Does this kit pre-date WPA?   Can I get W XP updated to support WPA?

Regrets if I stepped on toes but the brevity of Dave Burnett's reply didn't help me in a situation I understand little about...."PC Answers: we explain everything in plain English"  Sorry  Dave, but stating a short fact known to you doesn't necessarily explain a mystery to me.

XP-SP2 supports WPA, so

XP-SP2 supports WPA, so there must be some other underlying reason for your problem.

Read these...

http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/winxpnetworking/ht/wpainwindowsxp.htm

http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/wirelessproducts/qt/

LP

WEP/WAP

pca_Burn-IT's picture

I wasn't the one that reacted Laughing as I am fully aware that my replies can be pithy. I usually try to gauge the skill of the person raising the question from the wording of the question - in this case I got it wrong.  Anyway that is the past.

I need some bits of information.

What make/model machine if laptop with built in card.

In any case the make/model of the network card.

Are you using the network software and client utility supplied with the card, or are you using the Windows built in client utility??

 

Dave Burnett Microsoft MVP Shell/User (see http//mvp.support.microsoft.com/ )
God doesn't play dice Does that mean I was supposed to be like this??

Tks for the texts

Tks for the links; I downloaded the W XP Support Patch for WiFi Protected Access - but was then told the version on my machine is a later verson. So I'm not at all certain what to do other than actioning what seems to be lower levels of security like preventing SSID broadcast etc and hope for the best. 

Supplemental:  I've cancelled broadcasting without a problem but when I change  SSID name OR enable WEP128, I lose my connexion during the countdown.  Seems perhaps I'm changing settings on the Router but not telling th laptop, so the laptop cannot talk to the router when the settings have taken effect.  Do I have to enter the new data, names etc  into the laptop separately?

Seems perhaps I'm changing

pca_Burn-IT's picture

Seems perhaps I'm changing settings on the Router but not telling th laptop, so the laptop cannot talk to the router when the settings have taken effect.  Do I have to enter the new data, names etc  into the laptop separately?

Yes - see my earlier post as well.

Once you've replied with that info I'll point you at some instructions.

 

Dave Burnett Microsoft MVP Shell/User (see http//mvp.support.microsoft.com/ )
God doesn't play dice Does that mean I was supposed to be like this??

Seems I was wrong

Seems I was wrong and you can get away with rude replies and still get help. Changed daysLaughing

TomD

Weel, I'll pass on this - I

Weel, I'll pass on this - I have no idea how to find out what network card I have and have less idea whether I'm using network software or Windows.  I have a laptop; I have a wireless router; I am trying to protect myself.  Thanks but I'll leave things as they are......

You're making this tough for

You're making this tough for yourself, if you don't know then ask.

To identify your laptop wireless card...

Start/Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Computer Management/Device Manager

open Network Adapters

You should see a description of your wireless card.

The most likely case is that you are using Windows to manage your wireless network.

The reason for this info is that while XP-SP2 supports WPA, your wireless card and/or network s/w might not.

Over to you.

LP

Thanks - always been too stuborn for my own good

I have three entries under Network Adapters.  1394 Net Adapter; Intel PRO/100VE Network Connection; Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B mini PCI adapter.   

Shall I guess the last entry is the network card? And no reason to think I'm using anything other than Windows as management.  Having turned the laptop upside down I see the build date as Nov 2003 - time flies doesn't it?  - and this must pre-date WPA.   I understand all now.  Presumably WEP is better than nothing?

 

WPA or not

pca_Burn-IT's picture

There is an updated driver for that wireless card - if you do not alrady have it installed.

look at:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-59438.html

The update is for some security holes in the driver.

It does support WAP

 

Dave Burnett Microsoft MVP Shell/User (see http//mvp.support.microsoft.com/ )
God doesn't play dice Does that mean I was supposed to be like this??

well I looked at it but it

well I looked at it but it doesn't mean much to me, except the part that says

"This package supports Wireless LAN installed models of the following systems:
- ThinkPad R40 (Machine Types 2722, 2723, 2724) (*1)
- ThinkPad R50, R50e, R50p, R51
- ThinkPad T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p
- ThinkPad X31, X40"

 

My computer is not a ThinkPad. 

I have also tried to enable 64 bit and 128 bit WAP and renaming the SSID but as always Iose the wireless connection during rebooting the router.  All very strange.  Think I'll just pull the mains lead out of the router when I'm not using it.  Thanks again.

If you are connected to the

If you are connected to the router wirelessly when you make the changes you laptop will drop the connect as it not in sync with the changes.

Hook up laptop to the router with a patch ethernet cable.  Make the router changes then configure the laptop to match.  Use task Manager Network tab to see if the wireless connection is operational.  My laptop has an Intel Wireless chipset in it and it has its own software to configure it.  It should be on your system tray (next to the clock).

Chris.

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