Having some trouble setting up my laptop's wireless connection

[Rod]

I've just done a wipe and load of Windows Vista onto my laptop. It is
working great, but when I did the setup I plugged it in using a RJ-45 cable.
Now I want to use the wireless on my home network. Of course I hide the
SSID, and I am using WPA, but Vista is asking me things I haven' the
foggiest about, such as if it is WPA, or WPA2, or etc. I don't even know how
I can find this out.

So, how do I find out the answers to the questions that Vista is asking me,
concerning connecting to my home's wireless network?

Rod

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

I've just done a wipe and load of Windows Vista onto my laptop. It is
working great, but when I did the setup I plugged it in using a RJ-45
cable. Now I want to use the wireless on my home network. Of course I hide
the SSID, and I am using WPA, but Vista is asking me things I haven' the
foggiest about, such as if it is WPA, or WPA2, or etc. I don't even know
how I can find this out.

So, how do I find out the answers to the questions that Vista is asking
me, concerning connecting to my home's wireless network?

Rod

You need to check your wireless access point/router to determine what type
of encryption your currently using, ie. WPA or WPA2. Its probably easier to
simply start over and generate a new key/etc with Vista, save that off to a
flash drive and reconfigure your wireless access point/router...

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0406.mspx

Use a long random key. Its also a good idea to *NOT* cloak the SSID
broadcast. You only run into connectivity issues and it serves no good
purpose as far as security is concerned...

Wireless security recommendations...

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/LAN/SoHoWirelessSecurity.html

What wireless access point/router are you using?

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

 

[Rod]

I am using a Netgear WGT624 v2.

Rod

You need to check your wireless access point/router to determine what type
of encryption your currently using, ie. WPA or WPA2. Its probably easier
to simply start over and generate a new key/etc with Vista, save that off
to a flash drive and reconfigure your wireless access point/router...

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0406.mspx

Use a long random key. Its also a good idea to *NOT* cloak the SSID
broadcast. You only run into connectivity issues and it serves no good
purpose as far as security is concerned...

Wireless security recommendations...

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/LAN/SoHoWirelessSecurity.html

What wireless access point/router are you using?

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

 

[Guest]

Sooner:

May I ask you a question about the reason for NOT cloaking the SSID? I have
a desktop running XPSP2 directly connected to my wireless router, a laptop
running XPSP2 connected wirelessly and two PDAs connected wirelessly. I've
never broadcast my SSID and have always been able to connect using the PDAs
and XP laptop with no problem.
It seems to me that any form of protection (no matter how small) is better
then none. So I'm not quite sure I understand the reasoning behind your
suggestion for not broadcasting the SSID. Could you clarify? Thanks

 

[Guest]

Aahh... Just answered my own question.
See link:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/hiddennet.mspx

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

Aahh... Just answered my own question.
See link:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/hiddennet.mspx

Good link...

I was going to point you to this one...

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/10907

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...