network key recovery

[Guest]

My laptop hard drive recently crashed, and I replaced it. I have a wireless
network that requires a network key. Unfortunately I misplaced the paper
that I wrote the network key on. I have two other computers (a desktop and
laptop) on the network and running. I have been unable to recover the
network key from either because of the encryption. This is a simple home
network set up for internet and printer sharing only. All computers run
Windows XP. My router is US Robotics Wireless Max G (I think it is 5461).

Does anyone know how I can recover the key so I can renetwork the laptop
with the new drive?

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

My laptop hard drive recently crashed, and I replaced it. I have a
wireless
network that requires a network key. Unfortunately I misplaced the paper
that I wrote the network key on. I have two other computers (a desktop
and
laptop) on the network and running. I have been unable to recover the
network key from either because of the encryption. This is a simple home
network set up for internet and printer sharing only. All computers run
Windows XP. My router is US Robotics Wireless Max G (I think it is 5461).

Does anyone know how I can recover the key so I can renetwork the laptop
with the new drive?

Have you looked in the router admin pages for the encryption key. Sometimes
the router will show you the key in a readable format. Check the users
manual for help with that.

Beyond that you might consider starting over and using Windows Connect Now
(WCN) to setup your wireless encryption scheme and save off the information
to a flash drive. With the flash drive you can easily recover if this
happens again or allow friends/family/visitors access to your network. Links
to WCN information and my wireless security recommendations are here...

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

--

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...
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

 

[Gordon]

Have you looked in the router admin pages for the encryption key.

Most routers that I know of show the key in clear....