Renaming a wireless connection

R

RoseW

Replaced a router with a Belkin that has wired and wireless in its features.
Desktop is wired to this router.
Laptop (IBM) found the wireless and connected with the name STEWART.
I still have a cable in the laptop for it to be part of a home network. The
laptop will show up in the desktop without the cable but without the cable a
pop up systray dialoque warns that a cable is not connected if the cable is
not inserted
This is a contradiction to the manual which establishes that the default
includes the name Belkin.
Contacting Belkin resulted in the recommendation to change the name.

What do I have to look out for if the name is changed in the laptop?

Rose
 
J

John Wunderlich

Replaced a router with a Belkin that has wired and wireless in its
features. Desktop is wired to this router.
Laptop (IBM) found the wireless and connected with the name
STEWART.

Is "STEWART" the:
Wireless Router SSID name?
MS Networking Group Name?
Laptop Computer Name?
I still have a cable in the laptop for it to be part of a
home network. The laptop will show up in the desktop without the
cable but without the cable a pop up systray dialoque warns that a
cable is not connected if the cable is not inserted

This is normal if you have the "Notify me when this connection has
limited or no connectivity" box is checked in the Properties of the
Wired Connection Settings.
This is a contradiction to the manual which establishes that the
default includes the name Belkin.

I'm assuming we're talking the default SSID Name here?
Contacting Belkin resulted in the recommendation to change the
name.

It's usually a good idea to change the SSID name from the default on a
wireless router... It makes it easier to know your router from the
neighbors'. You usually change this name in the router, not on your
computer.
What do I have to look out for if the name is changed in the
laptop?

Which name?
Changing the Workgroup or Computer name of the laptop computer just
changes its name/workgroup in the network neighborhood screen.
Changing the SSID name on the router would mean that you would choose a
different wireless network name to connect to from your laptop.

HTH,
John
 
R

RoseW

John Wunderlich wrote:
| |
|| Replaced a router with a Belkin that has wired and wireless in its
|| features. Desktop is wired to this router.
|| Laptop (IBM) found the wireless and connected with the name
|| STEWART.
|
| Is "STEWART" the:
| Wireless Router SSID name?
| MS Networking Group Name?
| Laptop Computer Name?
|
|| I still have a cable in the laptop for it to be part of a
|| home network. The laptop will show up in the desktop without the
|| cable but without the cable a pop up systray dialoque warns that a
|| cable is not connected if the cable is not inserted
|
| This is normal if you have the "Notify me when this connection has
| limited or no connectivity" box is checked in the Properties of the
| Wired Connection Settings.
|
|| This is a contradiction to the manual which establishes that the
|| default includes the name Belkin.
|
| I'm assuming we're talking the default SSID Name here?
|
|| Contacting Belkin resulted in the recommendation to change the
|| name.
|
| It's usually a good idea to change the SSID name from the default on a
| wireless router... It makes it easier to know your router from the
| neighbors'. You usually change this name in the router, not on your
| computer.
|
|| What do I have to look out for if the name is changed in the
|| laptop?
|
| Which name?
| Changing the Workgroup or Computer name of the laptop computer just
| changes its name/workgroup in the network neighborhood screen.
| Changing the SSID name on the router would mean that you would choose
| a different wireless network name to connect to from your laptop.
|
| HTH,
| John

Sorry ...the name is the Wireless Router SSID name. I read in one of the
wireless or networking reference sites ...or perhaps in the Belkin manual
that to change the SSID name can cause a loss of connection. That is what
has stuck in my head, at any rate. Now it also might have been in reference
to a totally wireless set up and the desktop is not connected solely with
wireless since it is using a cable.
The laptop has STEWART showing up as the Wireless connection within the
MShome network situation. The laptop just has the name 'laptop' I just
thought it odd that this name appeared since I don't have any neighbours
within 400 to 700ft using a wireless setup. I don't have any neighbours with
internet since I'm out in the rural area.
Rose
 
J

Jack \(MVP-Networking\).

Hi
Belkin's manual might refer to some particular case using their util.
However,When you use Windows Wireless Zero Configuration the name that
appears has the Wireless Network name is the SSID of the Router.
The rest of the names, like computer name and other devices name does apply
to the Wireless per-se.
Give the SSID a name that you choose and it would be the name of your
Wireless connection.
Jack (MVP-Networking).
 
L

Lem

RoseW said:
John Wunderlich wrote:
| |
|| Replaced a router with a Belkin that has wired and wireless in its
|| features. Desktop is wired to this router.
|| Laptop (IBM) found the wireless and connected with the name
|| STEWART.
|
| Is "STEWART" the:
| Wireless Router SSID name?
| MS Networking Group Name?
| Laptop Computer Name?
|
|| I still have a cable in the laptop for it to be part of a
|| home network. The laptop will show up in the desktop without the
|| cable but without the cable a pop up systray dialoque warns that a
|| cable is not connected if the cable is not inserted
|
| This is normal if you have the "Notify me when this connection has
| limited or no connectivity" box is checked in the Properties of the
| Wired Connection Settings.
|
|| This is a contradiction to the manual which establishes that the
|| default includes the name Belkin.
|
| I'm assuming we're talking the default SSID Name here?
|
|| Contacting Belkin resulted in the recommendation to change the
|| name.
|
| It's usually a good idea to change the SSID name from the default on a
| wireless router... It makes it easier to know your router from the
| neighbors'. You usually change this name in the router, not on your
| computer.
|
|| What do I have to look out for if the name is changed in the
|| laptop?
|
| Which name?
| Changing the Workgroup or Computer name of the laptop computer just
| changes its name/workgroup in the network neighborhood screen.
| Changing the SSID name on the router would mean that you would choose
| a different wireless network name to connect to from your laptop.
|
| HTH,
| John

Sorry ...the name is the Wireless Router SSID name. I read in one of the
wireless or networking reference sites ...or perhaps in the Belkin manual
that to change the SSID name can cause a loss of connection. That is what
has stuck in my head, at any rate. Now it also might have been in reference
to a totally wireless set up and the desktop is not connected solely with
wireless since it is using a cable.
The laptop has STEWART showing up as the Wireless connection within the
MShome network situation. The laptop just has the name 'laptop' I just
thought it odd that this name appeared since I don't have any neighbours
within 400 to 700ft using a wireless setup. I don't have any neighbours with
internet since I'm out in the rural area.
Rose

If I understand you correctly, you left the SSID of your new router at
its default (Belkin) and your wireless laptop connected to a wireless
network with the SSID STEWART. That's someone else's network -- even if
you're out in the country and don't have any neighbors withing 400 to
700 feet.

Assuming that you had nothing to do with creating the name STEWART, try
this: have your laptop wirelessly connect to STEWART. Disconnect the
power from your router and/or unplug the DSL cable. Is your laptop
still connected to the Internet?

What you probably are remembering is a warning that you will lose the
wireless connection if you change the SSID in the router -- until you
change the SSID in the laptop to match the new name in the router.
That's to be expected.

The wired portion of the network has nothing whatsoever to do with SSID.
 
R

RoseW

Lem wrote:
| RoseW wrote:
|| John Wunderlich wrote:
||| |||
|||| Replaced a router with a Belkin that has wired and wireless in its
|||| features. Desktop is wired to this router.
|||| Laptop (IBM) found the wireless and connected with the name
|||| STEWART.
|||
||| Is "STEWART" the:
||| Wireless Router SSID name?
||| MS Networking Group Name?
||| Laptop Computer Name?
|||
|||| I still have a cable in the laptop for it to be part of a
|||| home network. The laptop will show up in the desktop without the
|||| cable but without the cable a pop up systray dialoque warns that a
|||| cable is not connected if the cable is not inserted
|||
||| This is normal if you have the "Notify me when this connection has
||| limited or no connectivity" box is checked in the Properties of the
||| Wired Connection Settings.
|||
|||| This is a contradiction to the manual which establishes that the
|||| default includes the name Belkin.
|||
||| I'm assuming we're talking the default SSID Name here?
|||
|||| Contacting Belkin resulted in the recommendation to change the
|||| name.
|||
||| It's usually a good idea to change the SSID name from the default
||| on a wireless router... It makes it easier to know your router
||| from the neighbors'. You usually change this name in the router,
||| not on your computer.
|||
|||| What do I have to look out for if the name is changed in the
|||| laptop?
|||
||| Which name?
||| Changing the Workgroup or Computer name of the laptop computer just
||| changes its name/workgroup in the network neighborhood screen.
||| Changing the SSID name on the router would mean that you would
||| choose a different wireless network name to connect to from your
||| laptop.
|||
||| HTH,
||| John
||
|| Sorry ...the name is the Wireless Router SSID name. I read in one of
|| the wireless or networking reference sites ...or perhaps in the
|| Belkin manual that to change the SSID name can cause a loss of
|| connection. That is what has stuck in my head, at any rate. Now it
|| also might have been in reference to a totally wireless set up and
|| the desktop is not connected solely with wireless since it is using
|| a cable.
|| The laptop has STEWART showing up as the Wireless connection within
|| the MShome network situation. The laptop just has the name 'laptop'
|| I just thought it odd that this name appeared since I don't have any
|| neighbours within 400 to 700ft using a wireless setup. I don't have
|| any neighbours with internet since I'm out in the rural area.
|| Rose
||
||
|
| If I understand you correctly, you left the SSID of your new router at
| its default (Belkin) and your wireless laptop connected to a wireless
| network with the SSID STEWART. That's someone else's network -- even
| if you're out in the country and don't have any neighbors withing 400
| to 700 feet.
|
| Assuming that you had nothing to do with creating the name STEWART,
| try this: have your laptop wirelessly connect to STEWART.
| Disconnect the power from your router and/or unplug the DSL cable.
| Is your laptop still connected to the Internet?
|
| What you probably are remembering is a warning that you will lose the
| wireless connection if you change the SSID in the router -- until you
| change the SSID in the laptop to match the new name in the router.
| That's to be expected.
|
| The wired portion of the network has nothing whatsoever to do with
| SSID.

RE: SSID STEWART is someone else's network. Oh, lovely...
I have unplugged the DSL cable and took the laptop outside to the patio and
the laptop connected to the Internet.
How you have written it above makes it less ominous.....Change SSID in
router and change SSID in the laptop to match new name....okay, got that.
I was hesitant to continue with the security settings when this name
automatically showed up (I didn't have anything to do with the name) and I
haven't used the laptop on the internet until I got a clear understanding of
this naming issue. Belkin support just wrote one sentence...Change the
name...and I needed more words than that to complete the picture in my head
<grin>

So I'm interpreting that I go into the router setup by typing in the laptop
network numbers and change the name in that router setup structure-then I
change the name in the laptop. After that I can do the security codes which
are in the Belkin router set up pages. That part seemed a little intricate
but I'll venture forth.
Rose
 
L

Lem

RoseW said:
Lem wrote:
| RoseW wrote:
|| John Wunderlich wrote:
||| |||
|||| Replaced a router with a Belkin that has wired and wireless in its
|||| features. Desktop is wired to this router.
|||| Laptop (IBM) found the wireless and connected with the name
|||| STEWART.
|||
||| Is "STEWART" the:
||| Wireless Router SSID name?
||| MS Networking Group Name?
||| Laptop Computer Name?
|||
|||| I still have a cable in the laptop for it to be part of a
|||| home network. The laptop will show up in the desktop without the
|||| cable but without the cable a pop up systray dialoque warns that a
|||| cable is not connected if the cable is not inserted
|||
||| This is normal if you have the "Notify me when this connection has
||| limited or no connectivity" box is checked in the Properties of the
||| Wired Connection Settings.
|||
|||| This is a contradiction to the manual which establishes that the
|||| default includes the name Belkin.
|||
||| I'm assuming we're talking the default SSID Name here?
|||
|||| Contacting Belkin resulted in the recommendation to change the
|||| name.
|||
||| It's usually a good idea to change the SSID name from the default
||| on a wireless router... It makes it easier to know your router
||| from the neighbors'. You usually change this name in the router,
||| not on your computer.
|||
|||| What do I have to look out for if the name is changed in the
|||| laptop?
|||
||| Which name?
||| Changing the Workgroup or Computer name of the laptop computer just
||| changes its name/workgroup in the network neighborhood screen.
||| Changing the SSID name on the router would mean that you would
||| choose a different wireless network name to connect to from your
||| laptop.
|||
||| HTH,
||| John
||
|| Sorry ...the name is the Wireless Router SSID name. I read in one of
|| the wireless or networking reference sites ...or perhaps in the
|| Belkin manual that to change the SSID name can cause a loss of
|| connection. That is what has stuck in my head, at any rate. Now it
|| also might have been in reference to a totally wireless set up and
|| the desktop is not connected solely with wireless since it is using
|| a cable.
|| The laptop has STEWART showing up as the Wireless connection within
|| the MShome network situation. The laptop just has the name 'laptop'
|| I just thought it odd that this name appeared since I don't have any
|| neighbours within 400 to 700ft using a wireless setup. I don't have
|| any neighbours with internet since I'm out in the rural area.
|| Rose
||
||
|
| If I understand you correctly, you left the SSID of your new router at
| its default (Belkin) and your wireless laptop connected to a wireless
| network with the SSID STEWART. That's someone else's network -- even
| if you're out in the country and don't have any neighbors withing 400
| to 700 feet.
|
| Assuming that you had nothing to do with creating the name STEWART,
| try this: have your laptop wirelessly connect to STEWART.
| Disconnect the power from your router and/or unplug the DSL cable.
| Is your laptop still connected to the Internet?
|
| What you probably are remembering is a warning that you will lose the
| wireless connection if you change the SSID in the router -- until you
| change the SSID in the laptop to match the new name in the router.
| That's to be expected.
|
| The wired portion of the network has nothing whatsoever to do with
| SSID.

RE: SSID STEWART is someone else's network. Oh, lovely...
I have unplugged the DSL cable and took the laptop outside to the patio and
the laptop connected to the Internet.
How you have written it above makes it less ominous.....Change SSID in
router and change SSID in the laptop to match new name....okay, got that.
I was hesitant to continue with the security settings when this name
automatically showed up (I didn't have anything to do with the name) and I
haven't used the laptop on the internet until I got a clear understanding of
this naming issue. Belkin support just wrote one sentence...Change the
name...and I needed more words than that to complete the picture in my head
<grin>

So I'm interpreting that I go into the router setup by typing in the laptop
network numbers and change the name in that router setup structure-then I
change the name in the laptop. After that I can do the security codes which
are in the Belkin router set up pages. That part seemed a little intricate
but I'll venture forth.
Rose
Yes.

Generally, the best way to configure a wireless router is by connecting
to it with an Ethernet cable. Once you have everything setup the way
you want, you disconnect the cable and use the wireless.

Most home routers, including Belkin routers, have an address like
192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. The correct address will be in the manual.
With your laptop connected to the router by Ethernet cable (plugged
into one of the 4 LAN jacks, and NOT into the WAN or Internet jack),
open a browser (such as IE or Firefox), and you'll be able to log in to
your router's configuration utility and make the necessary changes.

All home routers have an easy way to reset to factory defaults (usually
a small button on the back somewhere). So don't worry about messing up
the settings. If things get so bad that you can't get back to the
router to change something, you can always reset. On the other hand,
most routers also have a way to save the configuration to your computer.
Once you have things set the way you want them, you might consider
doing that.
 
R

RoseW

Lem wrote:
| RoseW wrote:
|| Lem wrote:
<snip>||| If I understand you correctly, you left the SSID of your new
router
||| at its default (Belkin) and your wireless laptop connected to a
||| wireless network with the SSID STEWART. That's someone else's
||| network -- even if you're out in the country and don't have any
||| neighbors withing 400 to 700 feet.
|||
||| Assuming that you had nothing to do with creating the name STEWART,
||| try this: have your laptop wirelessly connect to STEWART.
||| Disconnect the power from your router and/or unplug the DSL cable.
||| Is your laptop still connected to the Internet?
|||
||| What you probably are remembering is a warning that you will lose
||| the wireless connection if you change the SSID in the router --
||| until you change the SSID in the laptop to match the new name in
||| the router. That's to be expected.
|||
||| The wired portion of the network has nothing whatsoever to do with
||| SSID.
||
|| RE: SSID STEWART is someone else's network. Oh, lovely...
|| I have unplugged the DSL cable and took the laptop outside to the
|| patio and the laptop connected to the Internet.
|| How you have written it above makes it less ominous.....Change SSID
|| in router and change SSID in the laptop to match new name....okay,
|| got that.
|| I was hesitant to continue with the security settings when this name
|| automatically showed up (I didn't have anything to do with the name)
|| and I haven't used the laptop on the internet until I got a clear
|| understanding of this naming issue. Belkin support just wrote one
|| sentence...Change the name...and I needed more words than that to
|| complete the picture in my head <grin>
||
|| So I'm interpreting that I go into the router setup by typing in the
|| laptop network numbers and change the name in that router setup
|| structure-then I change the name in the laptop. After that I can do
|| the security codes which are in the Belkin router set up pages. That
|| part seemed a little intricate but I'll venture forth.
|| Rose
||
||
||
| Yes.
|
| Generally, the best way to configure a wireless router is by
| connecting to it with an Ethernet cable. Once you have everything
| setup the way you want, you disconnect the cable and use the wireless.
|
| Most home routers, including Belkin routers, have an address like
| 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. The correct address will be in the
| manual. With your laptop connected to the router by Ethernet cable
| (plugged into one of the 4 LAN jacks, and NOT into the WAN or
| Internet jack), open a browser (such as IE or Firefox), and you'll be
| able to log in to your router's configuration utility and make the
| necessary changes.
|
| All home routers have an easy way to reset to factory defaults
| (usually a small button on the back somewhere). So don't worry about
| messing up the settings. If things get so bad that you can't get
| back to the router to change something, you can always reset. On the
| other hand, most routers also have a way to save the configuration to
| your computer. Once you have things set the way you want them, you
| might consider doing that.

I got the laptop SSID name changed but continuing with the security settings
created an issue. The message that a network key was required came up and
I'm not clear what is to be entered. I tried some combinations within the 5
to 13 characters in the Windows Xpsp2 dialogue box but it wasn't successful
so I disabled the security entries in the router setup. Restarted the laptop
and it would connect with security disabled in the laptop wireless account
properties . I rarely use the laptop for the internet and its rarely turned
on so I can investigate what is required for this 'network key' before
attempting to turn the security back on again.
Rose
 
R

RoseW

RoseW wrote:
| Lem wrote:
|| RoseW wrote:
||| Lem wrote:
| <snip>||| If I understand you correctly, you left the SSID of your new
| router
|||| at its default (Belkin) and your wireless laptop connected to a
|||| wireless network with the SSID STEWART. That's someone else's
|||| network -- even if you're out in the country and don't have any
|||| neighbors withing 400 to 700 feet.
||||
|||| Assuming that you had nothing to do with creating the name STEWART,
|||| try this: have your laptop wirelessly connect to STEWART.
|||| Disconnect the power from your router and/or unplug the DSL cable.
|||| Is your laptop still connected to the Internet?
||||
|||| What you probably are remembering is a warning that you will lose
|||| the wireless connection if you change the SSID in the router --
|||| until you change the SSID in the laptop to match the new name in
|||| the router. That's to be expected.
||||
|||| The wired portion of the network has nothing whatsoever to do with
|||| SSID.
|||
||| RE: SSID STEWART is someone else's network. Oh, lovely...
||| I have unplugged the DSL cable and took the laptop outside to the
||| patio and the laptop connected to the Internet.
||| How you have written it above makes it less ominous.....Change SSID
||| in router and change SSID in the laptop to match new name....okay,
||| got that.
||| I was hesitant to continue with the security settings when this name
||| automatically showed up (I didn't have anything to do with the name)
||| and I haven't used the laptop on the internet until I got a clear
||| understanding of this naming issue. Belkin support just wrote one
||| sentence...Change the name...and I needed more words than that to
||| complete the picture in my head <grin>
|||
||| So I'm interpreting that I go into the router setup by typing in the
||| laptop network numbers and change the name in that router setup
||| structure-then I change the name in the laptop. After that I can do
||| the security codes which are in the Belkin router set up pages. That
||| part seemed a little intricate but I'll venture forth.
||| Rose
|||
|||
|||
|| Yes.
||
|| Generally, the best way to configure a wireless router is by
|| connecting to it with an Ethernet cable. Once you have everything
|| setup the way you want, you disconnect the cable and use the
|| wireless.
||
|| Most home routers, including Belkin routers, have an address like
|| 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. The correct address will be in the
|| manual. With your laptop connected to the router by Ethernet cable
|| (plugged into one of the 4 LAN jacks, and NOT into the WAN or
|| Internet jack), open a browser (such as IE or Firefox), and you'll be
|| able to log in to your router's configuration utility and make the
|| necessary changes.
||
|| All home routers have an easy way to reset to factory defaults
|| (usually a small button on the back somewhere). So don't worry about
|| messing up the settings. If things get so bad that you can't get
|| back to the router to change something, you can always reset. On the
|| other hand, most routers also have a way to save the configuration to
|| your computer. Once you have things set the way you want them, you
|| might consider doing that.
|
| I got the laptop SSID name changed but continuing with the security
| settings created an issue. The message that a network key was
| required came up and I'm not clear what is to be entered. I tried
| some combinations within the 5 to 13 characters in the Windows Xpsp2
| dialogue box but it wasn't successful so I disabled the security
| entries in the router setup. Restarted the laptop and it would
| connect with security disabled in the laptop wireless account
| properties . I rarely use the laptop for the internet and its rarely
| turned on so I can investigate what is required for this 'network
| key' before attempting to turn the security back on again.
| Rose

I have been searching with Google and I did all the steps when it came to
enter the Network key so I must have typed incorrectly the 26letter/number
series produced in the Belkin security Wep section. I'll try again tomorrow.
Rose
 
L

Lem

RoseW said:
RoseW wrote:
| Lem wrote:
|| RoseW wrote:
||| Lem wrote:
| <snip>||| If I understand you correctly, you left the SSID of your new
| router
|||| at its default (Belkin) and your wireless laptop connected to a
|||| wireless network with the SSID STEWART. That's someone else's
|||| network -- even if you're out in the country and don't have any
|||| neighbors withing 400 to 700 feet.
||||
|||| Assuming that you had nothing to do with creating the name STEWART,
|||| try this: have your laptop wirelessly connect to STEWART.
|||| Disconnect the power from your router and/or unplug the DSL cable.
|||| Is your laptop still connected to the Internet?
||||
|||| What you probably are remembering is a warning that you will lose
|||| the wireless connection if you change the SSID in the router --
|||| until you change the SSID in the laptop to match the new name in
|||| the router. That's to be expected.
||||
|||| The wired portion of the network has nothing whatsoever to do with
|||| SSID.
|||
||| RE: SSID STEWART is someone else's network. Oh, lovely...
||| I have unplugged the DSL cable and took the laptop outside to the
||| patio and the laptop connected to the Internet.
||| How you have written it above makes it less ominous.....Change SSID
||| in router and change SSID in the laptop to match new name....okay,
||| got that.
||| I was hesitant to continue with the security settings when this name
||| automatically showed up (I didn't have anything to do with the name)
||| and I haven't used the laptop on the internet until I got a clear
||| understanding of this naming issue. Belkin support just wrote one
||| sentence...Change the name...and I needed more words than that to
||| complete the picture in my head <grin>
|||
||| So I'm interpreting that I go into the router setup by typing in the
||| laptop network numbers and change the name in that router setup
||| structure-then I change the name in the laptop. After that I can do
||| the security codes which are in the Belkin router set up pages. That
||| part seemed a little intricate but I'll venture forth.
||| Rose
|||
|||
|||
|| Yes.
||
|| Generally, the best way to configure a wireless router is by
|| connecting to it with an Ethernet cable. Once you have everything
|| setup the way you want, you disconnect the cable and use the
|| wireless.
||
|| Most home routers, including Belkin routers, have an address like
|| 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. The correct address will be in the
|| manual. With your laptop connected to the router by Ethernet cable
|| (plugged into one of the 4 LAN jacks, and NOT into the WAN or
|| Internet jack), open a browser (such as IE or Firefox), and you'll be
|| able to log in to your router's configuration utility and make the
|| necessary changes.
||
|| All home routers have an easy way to reset to factory defaults
|| (usually a small button on the back somewhere). So don't worry about
|| messing up the settings. If things get so bad that you can't get
|| back to the router to change something, you can always reset. On the
|| other hand, most routers also have a way to save the configuration to
|| your computer. Once you have things set the way you want them, you
|| might consider doing that.
|
| I got the laptop SSID name changed but continuing with the security
| settings created an issue. The message that a network key was
| required came up and I'm not clear what is to be entered. I tried
| some combinations within the 5 to 13 characters in the Windows Xpsp2
| dialogue box but it wasn't successful so I disabled the security
| entries in the router setup. Restarted the laptop and it would
| connect with security disabled in the laptop wireless account
| properties . I rarely use the laptop for the internet and its rarely
| turned on so I can investigate what is required for this 'network
| key' before attempting to turn the security back on again.
| Rose

I have been searching with Google and I did all the steps when it came to
enter the Network key so I must have typed incorrectly the 26letter/number
series produced in the Belkin security Wep section. I'll try again tomorrow.
Rose

Perhaps you've got it sorted by now. Perhaps not.

The "network key" is something you first enter in the router's "security
section" (via your browser). If you do this while you are connected to
the router with an Ethernet cable, you won't be disconnected from the
router as soon as you "save" or "apply" the setting. You then enter the
same key in the WinXP dialog box on your laptop.

You really should use WPA2 (or at least WPA) rather then WEP, depending
on what your laptop can do. WEP encryption is rather easily cracked
these days.
 
R

RoseW

Lem wrote:
<snip>:
||| Lem wrote:
|||| RoseW wrote:
||||
|||| Generally, the best way to configure a wireless router is by
|||| connecting to it with an Ethernet cable. Once you have everything
|||| setup the way you want, you disconnect the cable and use the
|||| wireless.
||||
|||| Most home routers, including Belkin routers, have an address like
|||| 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. The correct address will be in the
|||| manual. With your laptop connected to the router by Ethernet cable
|||| (plugged into one of the 4 LAN jacks, and NOT into the WAN or
|||| Internet jack), open a browser (such as IE or Firefox), and you'll
|||| be able to log in to your router's configuration utility and make
|||| the necessary changes.
||||
|||| All home routers have an easy way to reset to factory defaults
|||| (usually a small button on the back somewhere). So don't worry
|||| about messing up the settings. If things get so bad that you
|||| can't get back to the router to change something, you can always
|||| reset. On the other hand, most routers also have a way to save
|||| the configuration to your computer. Once you have things set the
|||| way you want them, you might consider doing that.
|||
||| I got the laptop SSID name changed but continuing with the security
||| settings created an issue. The message that a network key was
||| required came up and I'm not clear what is to be entered. I tried
||| some combinations within the 5 to 13 characters in the Windows
||| Xpsp2 dialogue box but it wasn't successful so I disabled the
||| security entries in the router setup. Restarted the laptop and it
||| would connect with security disabled in the laptop wireless account
||| properties . I rarely use the laptop for the internet and its rarely
||| turned on so I can investigate what is required for this 'network
||| key' before attempting to turn the security back on again.
||| Rose
||
|| I have been searching with Google and I did all the steps when it
|| came to enter the Network key so I must have typed incorrectly the
|| 26letter/number series produced in the Belkin security Wep section.
|| I'll try again tomorrow. Rose
||
||
|
| Perhaps you've got it sorted by now. Perhaps not.
|
| The "network key" is something you first enter in the router's
| "security section" (via your browser). If you do this while you are
| connected to the router with an Ethernet cable, you won't be
| disconnected from the router as soon as you "save" or "apply" the
| setting. You then enter the same key in the WinXP dialog box on your
| laptop.
|
| You really should use WPA2 (or at least WPA) rather then WEP,
| depending on what your laptop can do. WEP encryption is rather
| easily cracked these days.

Yes, I entered the passphrase in the router's security section and it
created the 26 key combination. I was connected to the router with an
ethernet cable...BUT...the laptop was disconnected anyway. It seems to have
gone totally to the wireless and ignores the cable. I could still deal with
the configuration via the cabled desktop.
Its the entry of the Network Key in the Windows Xppro dialoque. Its almost
like there isn't enough room for the total combination and I'm not leaving
spaces between the groups of that total 26 numbers/letters.
I wondered if I should uncheck the line that says 'Let Windows manage the
network' ..or words to that effect.

The laptop is not a major player. Its purpose is to go on extended
camera/photography excursions and I store images on the laptop. If I make a
cd or dvd presentation I'll put it in the laptop to see if the disc works in
another setting. Its an older IBM and with an external harddrive it serves
its purpose. I keep it updated so an internet connection makes that
convenient. Oddly enough it received the July update for the Net framework
without a quiver and my NEW desktop had to have Net 2 uninstalled and
reinstalled <lol!>

I was up to all hours of the early morning trying to figure out what I was
doing wrong when I got to the step of entering the Network Key in the
Windows Xppro so I haven't got that "sorted out" <grin> I'm building up
enthusiasm to go back at it again.
Rose
 
L

Lem

RoseW said:
Lem wrote:
<snip>:
||| Lem wrote:
|||| RoseW wrote:
||||
|||| Generally, the best way to configure a wireless router is by
|||| connecting to it with an Ethernet cable. Once you have everything
|||| setup the way you want, you disconnect the cable and use the
|||| wireless.
||||
|||| Most home routers, including Belkin routers, have an address like
|||| 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. The correct address will be in the
|||| manual. With your laptop connected to the router by Ethernet cable
|||| (plugged into one of the 4 LAN jacks, and NOT into the WAN or
|||| Internet jack), open a browser (such as IE or Firefox), and you'll
|||| be able to log in to your router's configuration utility and make
|||| the necessary changes.
||||
|||| All home routers have an easy way to reset to factory defaults
|||| (usually a small button on the back somewhere). So don't worry
|||| about messing up the settings. If things get so bad that you
|||| can't get back to the router to change something, you can always
|||| reset. On the other hand, most routers also have a way to save
|||| the configuration to your computer. Once you have things set the
|||| way you want them, you might consider doing that.
|||
||| I got the laptop SSID name changed but continuing with the security
||| settings created an issue. The message that a network key was
||| required came up and I'm not clear what is to be entered. I tried
||| some combinations within the 5 to 13 characters in the Windows
||| Xpsp2 dialogue box but it wasn't successful so I disabled the
||| security entries in the router setup. Restarted the laptop and it
||| would connect with security disabled in the laptop wireless account
||| properties . I rarely use the laptop for the internet and its rarely
||| turned on so I can investigate what is required for this 'network
||| key' before attempting to turn the security back on again.
||| Rose
||
|| I have been searching with Google and I did all the steps when it
|| came to enter the Network key so I must have typed incorrectly the
|| 26letter/number series produced in the Belkin security Wep section.
|| I'll try again tomorrow. Rose
||
||
|
| Perhaps you've got it sorted by now. Perhaps not.
|
| The "network key" is something you first enter in the router's
| "security section" (via your browser). If you do this while you are
| connected to the router with an Ethernet cable, you won't be
| disconnected from the router as soon as you "save" or "apply" the
| setting. You then enter the same key in the WinXP dialog box on your
| laptop.
|
| You really should use WPA2 (or at least WPA) rather then WEP,
| depending on what your laptop can do. WEP encryption is rather
| easily cracked these days.

Yes, I entered the passphrase in the router's security section and it
created the 26 key combination. I was connected to the router with an
ethernet cable...BUT...the laptop was disconnected anyway. It seems to have
gone totally to the wireless and ignores the cable. I could still deal with
the configuration via the cabled desktop.
Its the entry of the Network Key in the Windows Xppro dialoque. Its almost
like there isn't enough room for the total combination and I'm not leaving
spaces between the groups of that total 26 numbers/letters.
I wondered if I should uncheck the line that says 'Let Windows manage the
network' ..or words to that effect.

The laptop is not a major player. Its purpose is to go on extended
camera/photography excursions and I store images on the laptop. If I make a
cd or dvd presentation I'll put it in the laptop to see if the disc works in
another setting. Its an older IBM and with an external harddrive it serves
its purpose. I keep it updated so an internet connection makes that
convenient. Oddly enough it received the July update for the Net framework
without a quiver and my NEW desktop had to have Net 2 uninstalled and
reinstalled <lol!>

I was up to all hours of the early morning trying to figure out what I was
doing wrong when I got to the step of entering the Network Key in the
Windows Xppro so I haven't got that "sorted out" <grin> I'm building up
enthusiasm to go back at it again.
Rose

This sounds like a situation that could be fixed up in 5 minutes sitting
in front of your computer, but will take rather longer to describe in
writing.

I think you're still trying to configure WEP encryption in the router.
That's the option that generally has you put in a "passphrase" and then
generates from 1 to 4 26-character "keys." WPA (and its improvement,
WPA2) are not only much more secure than WEP, but there's only one
passphrase to worry about.

This article discusses WPA:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0303.mspx
And this one, WPA2:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0505.mspx

I strongly suggest that you leave checked the option to "Use Windows to
configure my wireless network settings." Not only will it be easier for
me (and others) to explain how to make the settings you need, but you
may or may not have installed a different utility to configure the
notebook's wireless settings.

**************************
caveat to above paragraph:

Such utilities are provided by the manufacturer of the notebook and/or
the wireless adapter. Problems can arise if you in fact do have such a
utility active at the same time the Windows utility is active. Take a
look in the notification area (next to the time). The Windows icon
looks like this:
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Query...-a2b1c1b61c75&DocumentSet=en-US&RenderKey=XML
Do you have any other icons showing that open up a wireless
configuration utility?
****************************

The display where the "Use Windows ..." checkbox is located should look
like this:
http://screenshots.modemhelp.net/sc...tion/Properties/Wireless_Networks/Index.shtml
Your list of "Preferred networks" should show the SSID you created. If
there are other networks listed, "Remove" them. Click the "Properties"
button and you should get:
http://screenshots.modemhelp.net/sc...ociation/(Auth-Open)--(Encryp-Disabled).shtml

If your SSID isn't in the list already, click "Add." You'll go to the
same screen as shown above, but you'll be able to enter the SSID in the
"Network name (SSID)" box.

Assuming that you have Service Pack 2, you should see 2 drop-down boxes.
One says "Network Authentication" and the other "Data encryption."
Click the "Network Authentication" drop-down box. You'll have a number
of choices, depending on the encryption capability of the wireless
hardware (and its driver) in your laptop. For example, my fairly old
wireless adapter gives me 4 choices: Open, Shared, WPA, and WPA-PSK. If
you have newer hardware, you may also have WPA2 and WPA2-PSK. Instead
of "PSK" you may see things like WPA-Personal or WPA-Enterprise. You
want PSK, Pre-Shared Key, or Personal -- they're all the same.

If you see WPA2-PSK, choose that. Otherwise, choose WPA-PSK.

Click the "Data encryption" drop-down. You should have a choice between
TKIP and AES. Pick AES.

Now enter your passphrase in the "Network key" box and the one below it.
Your passphrase should be between 8 and 63 characters long, not a
dictionary word, and certainly nothing connected with you personally,
such as your address, phone number, or birthday. If you want it to be
"really random," there are key generators on the web:
http://www.kurtm.net/wpa-pskgen/
https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm
Although you'll see a lot of advice to use the longest possible key, it
really doesn't need to be 63 characters long. I don't generally put a
whole lot of stock in what George Ou writes, but this particular piece
is not far off: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=127

Finally, not only the passphrase, but the type of authentication and
encryption must be the same on both the router and the laptop. So, if
in going through the above process you selected WPA2-PSK, but you had
previously set your router to WPA, you'll have to change the router.
Same thing for AES vs TKIP. If for some reason, you don't have as many
choices on the router as you had in setting up your laptop, you'll have
to pick the best one on the router and then go back and re-configure the
laptop.

If you still have problems, please do the following, with and without
the laptop connected to the router with an Ethernet cable:

Open a command prompt window and type the following command:

ipconfig /all > c:\connection.txt {press enter}

Using Notepad, browse to and open C:\connection.txt, and copy/paste the
information into your next post.
 
R

RoseW

Lem wrote:
| RoseW wrote:
|| Lem wrote:
|| <snip>:
||||| Lem wrote:
|||||| RoseW wrote:
<snip>
||||| I got the laptop SSID name changed but continuing with the
||||| security settings created an issue. The message that a network
||||| key was required came up and I'm not clear what is to be entered.
||||| I tried some combinations within the 5 to 13 characters in the
||||| Windows Xpsp2 dialogue box but it wasn't successful so I disabled
||||| the security entries in the router setup. Restarted the laptop
||||| and it would connect with security disabled in the laptop
||||| wireless account properties . I rarely use the laptop for the
||||| internet and its rarely turned on so I can investigate what is
||||| required for this 'network key' before attempting to turn the
||||| security back on again.
||||| Rose
||||
|||| I have been searching with Google and I did all the steps when it
|||| came to enter the Network key so I must have typed incorrectly the
|||| 26letter/number series produced in the Belkin security Wep section.
|||| I'll try again tomorrow. Rose
||||
||||
|||
||| Perhaps you've got it sorted by now. Perhaps not.
|||
||| The "network key" is something you first enter in the router's
||| "security section" (via your browser). If you do this while you are
||| connected to the router with an Ethernet cable, you won't be
||| disconnected from the router as soon as you "save" or "apply" the
||| setting. You then enter the same key in the WinXP dialog box on your
||| laptop.
|||
||| You really should use WPA2 (or at least WPA) rather then WEP,
||| depending on what your laptop can do. WEP encryption is rather
||| easily cracked these days.
||
|| Yes, I entered the passphrase in the router's security section and it
|| created the 26 key combination. I was connected to the router with
|| an ethernet cable...BUT...the laptop was disconnected anyway. It
|| seems to have gone totally to the wireless and ignores the cable. I
|| could still deal with the configuration via the cabled desktop.
|| Its the entry of the Network Key in the Windows Xppro dialoque. Its
|| almost like there isn't enough room for the total combination and
|| I'm not leaving spaces between the groups of that total 26
|| numbers/letters.
|| I wondered if I should uncheck the line that says 'Let Windows
|| manage the network' ..or words to that effect.
<snip>|| Rose
||
INLINE
|
| This sounds like a situation that could be fixed up in 5 minutes
| sitting in front of your computer, but will take rather longer to
| describe in writing.
|
| I think you're still trying to configure WEP encryption in the router.
| That's the option that generally has you put in a "passphrase" and
| then generates from 1 to 4 26-character "keys." WPA (and its
| improvement, WPA2) are not only much more secure than WEP, but
| there's only one passphrase to worry about.

I got the encryption done in the router setup. I used a passphrase.

| This article discusses WPA:
| http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0303.mspx
| And this one, WPA2:
| http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0505.mspx
|
| I strongly suggest that you leave checked the option to "Use Windows
| to configure my wireless network settings." Not only will it be
| easier for me (and others) to explain how to make the settings you
| need, but you may or may not have installed a different utility to
| configure the notebook's wireless settings.
|
| **************************
| caveat to above paragraph:
|
| Such utilities are provided by the manufacturer of the notebook and/or
| the wireless adapter. Problems can arise if you in fact do have such
| a utility active at the same time the Windows utility is active.
| Take a look in the notification area (next to the time). The Windows
| icon looks like this:
|
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Query...-a2b1c1b61c75&DocumentSet=en-US&RenderKey=XML
| Do you have any other icons showing that open up a wireless
| configuration utility?
| ****************************
THE wireless icon shows up in the notification area...

| The display where the "Use Windows ..." checkbox is located should
| look like this:
|
http://screenshots.modemhelp.net/sc...tion/Properties/Wireless_Networks/Index.shtml
| Your list of "Preferred networks" should show the SSID you created.
| If there are other networks listed, "Remove" them. Click the
| "Properties" button and you should get:
|
http://screenshots.modemhelp.net/sc...ociation/(Auth-Open)--(Encryp-Disabled).shtml
|
| If your SSID isn't in the list already, click "Add." You'll go to the
| same screen as shown above, but you'll be able to enter the SSID in
| the "Network name (SSID)" box.
The New name I created in the Router Setup is listed

| Assuming that you have Service Pack 2, you should see 2 drop-down
| boxes. One says "Network Authentication" and the other "Data
| encryption." Click the "Network Authentication" drop-down box.
| You'll have a number of choices, depending on the encryption
| capability of the wireless hardware (and its driver) in your laptop.
| For example, my fairly old wireless adapter gives me 4 choices: Open,
| Shared, WPA, and WPA-PSK. If you have newer hardware, you may also
| have WPA2 and WPA2-PSK. Instead of "PSK" you may see things like
| WPA-Personal or WPA-Enterprise. You want PSK, Pre-Shared Key, or
| Personal -- they're all the same.
|
| If you see WPA2-PSK, choose that. Otherwise, choose WPA-PSK.
|
| Click the "Data encryption" drop-down. You should have a choice
| between TKIP and AES. Pick AES.

My Encryption choice is Disabled or WEP
|
| Now enter your passphrase in the "Network key" box and the one below
| it. Your passphrase should be between 8 and 63 characters long, not a
| dictionary word, and certainly nothing connected with you personally,
| such as your address, phone number, or birthday. If you want it to be
| "really random," there are key generators on the web:
| http://www.kurtm.net/wpa-pskgen/
| https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm
| Although you'll see a lot of advice to use the longest possible key,
| it really doesn't need to be 63 characters long. I don't generally
| put a whole lot of stock in what George Ou writes, but this
| particular piece is not far off: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=127
|
| Finally, not only the passphrase, but the type of authentication and
| encryption must be the same on both the router and the laptop. So, if
| in going through the above process you selected WPA2-PSK, but you had
| previously set your router to WPA, you'll have to change the router.
| Same thing for AES vs TKIP. If for some reason, you don't have as
| many choices on the router as you had in setting up your laptop,
| you'll have to pick the best one on the router and then go back and
| re-configure the laptop.

I was typing in the resulting numbers/letters from the passphrase into the
Wireless Network Properties SSID Network Key Windows dialogue box. So its
the passphrase I type into the Network Key/Confirm network key.

| If you still have problems, please do the following, with and without
| the laptop connected to the router with an Ethernet cable:

IF while I'm configuring the router with the online appearance I have the
laptop connection UNCHECKED [whenever this network is detected Windows can
connect to it automatically - Connect when this network is in range] THEN
the laptop might revert or use the ethernet cable.
As it stands since I only have WEP as a choice then I can just redo or
reactivate the Wep settings in the router and type the Passphrase into the
Network Key box.
|
| Open a command prompt window and type the following command:
|
| ipconfig /all > c:\connection.txt {press enter}
|
| Using Notepad, browse to and open C:\connection.txt, and copy/paste
| the information into your next post.

Well, we'll see how it goes <grin>
Rose
 
J

James Egan

My Encryption choice is Disabled or WEP

It may be worth a trip to the belkin website to download the latest
firmware for your router.

Apart from better encryption and security for your network, WPA or
WPA2 has much better key management than WEP so you won't be
struggling trying to manually enter hex numbers like you are at the
moment.

It's a very simple procedure after you have downloaded the correct
file from belkin.


Jim.
 

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