Vista loses WiFi key repeatedly

[Guest]

Hi. Let me pass you some info before going to the specific problem:

Laptop: Toshiba Satellite U 300 / Core Duo @2.00 GHz with 1G Ram
Operating system: Vista Home Premium
Router: Linksys model WRT54GS version 3.0. Firmware version is v2.07.1
dated Feb 26, 2004.
Network config: non-broadcasting, WPA-TKIP with a 63 characters long,
randomly generated key.
There are other 4 laptops connected to the same network, all of them running
on Windows XP.

For some strange reason, after Stand-by or hybernation the laptop running on
Vista looses the network key (all others running on XP have no problem).

I have reset the wifi network several times making sure everything is OK but
the problem persists. FYI both the "connect automatically" and "connect even
if not broadcasting" options are selected.

Before posting this I've checked with Linksys about upgrading the firmware
but they responded that it is not necessary since mine is OK in terms of
security patches, etc.

I look forward to hearing your suggestions to solve my problem. Tks so much !

 

[Guest]

Have you tried typing the WPA key in hexadecimal rather than ASCII?

It sometimes solves the problem.

 

[Guest]

Thanks so much Burr. I have not tried your suggestion yet because the
problem has stopped with no apparent reason. If if shows up again I will try
your method and I'll let you know if it worked. Tks again.

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Sun, 5 Aug 2007 06:00:00 -0700, Timmus

Thanks so much Burr. I have not tried your suggestion yet because the
problem has stopped with no apparent reason. If if shows up again I will try
your method and I'll let you know if it worked. Tks again.

Not relevant here, perhaps, but a general heads-up: Be careful if you
see unexpected pop-ups requesting the WiFi encryption key - just in
case it's malware that will send it out.

--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

To one who only has a hammer,
everything looks like a nail

 

[Guest]

Good point, thanks for this heads up. As a rule I am very protective when it
comes to disclosing this kind of info but after all the back and forth I had
with this it could well caught me off guard. Again, thank you for your
valuable suggestion.

And by the way, everything is running smoothly now. Vista never "lost" the
network key again. The laptop has gone in stand-by and hybernation but it
always picked up the network just fine upon resuming. I don't have any idea
why it gave me all those headaches at the begining... I just hope it stays
this way.

Rgds