Windows XP computers on wireless network lose login credentials

[MartinWill2]

My network was recently ugraded to a Netgear Rangemax N model, to which two
computers are directly connected, one runnng Windows XP SP2, the other
Windows 98SE. There are three other WIndows XP SP2 and two Windows Vista
Home Premium computers also connecting wirelessly, with new Netgear adapters
(N or G+ types.)
Problem is that the Vista laptop and desktop and the three wirelessly
connected XP computers all periodically lose wireless connection, which is
not restored after rebooting.
Looking at Start|Control Panel|System|Devoce Manager, the network adapter is
typically showing a yellow (!). Recommended procedure is to uninstall the
adapter, remove it, reconnect it, and let Windows reinstall it, which it does
automatically, but then it requires the long WEP key to be re-entered to
reconnect to the network. Why does this keep happening?
The Vista network map shows all computers except the Windows 98 SE one as
the KB922120 patch was installed. Is there a similar patch for Windows 98 SE?
In the past I have tried installing with Netgear software but the Win XP
computers appear to "lose" the drivers completely and the WG511T or WN111
programs cease to load on startup. When manually opened I get the message
"device cannot start." I tried using Windows to set the configuration
instead because of these problems with the Netgear software.
The router connects to Internet via an Arris cable modem on a Comcast
network which also handles digital voice for two phone lines. On the Wireless
N Vista desktop I get up to 12Mbps speed over the Internet, and 270Mbps
between computer and router. The others are mostly 108Mbps. The Vista
laptop has had repeated slow response problems, which were due to the Norton
360 firewall (now disabled). It also keeps giving messges like "The TCP/IP
setting is incompatible with your router" or "Set the TCP/IP setting to
improve performance" (alternately when I click diagnose and repair.)

 

[Barb Bowman]

you should not compromise security by using WEP. While the 98SE
machine would be a problem, you could get a gaming adapter that
supports WPA2 or at least WPA to plug into an ethernet port on the
98SE box. WEP is NOT safe.

First step is to uninstall Norton completely. Does anything improve?

Next, unbind IPv6 from the NICs on the Vista machines
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com/ipv6-how-to-unbind-from-a-nic-in-windows-vista/

then see http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/932134

last, make sure you have the latest firmware for the router and the
latest drivers for the NICs

My network was recently ugraded to a Netgear Rangemax N model, to which two
computers are directly connected, one runnng Windows XP SP2, the other
Windows 98SE. There are three other WIndows XP SP2 and two Windows Vista
Home Premium computers also connecting wirelessly, with new Netgear adapters
(N or G+ types.)
Problem is that the Vista laptop and desktop and the three wirelessly
connected XP computers all periodically lose wireless connection, which is
not restored after rebooting.
Looking at Start|Control Panel|System|Devoce Manager, the network adapter is
typically showing a yellow (!). Recommended procedure is to uninstall the
adapter, remove it, reconnect it, and let Windows reinstall it, which it does
automatically, but then it requires the long WEP key to be re-entered to
reconnect to the network. Why does this keep happening?
The Vista network map shows all computers except the Windows 98 SE one as
the KB922120 patch was installed. Is there a similar patch for Windows 98 SE?
In the past I have tried installing with Netgear software but the Win XP
computers appear to "lose" the drivers completely and the WG511T or WN111
programs cease to load on startup. When manually opened I get the message
"device cannot start." I tried using Windows to set the configuration
instead because of these problems with the Netgear software.
The router connects to Internet via an Arris cable modem on a Comcast
network which also handles digital voice for two phone lines. On the Wireless
N Vista desktop I get up to 12Mbps speed over the Internet, and 270Mbps
between computer and router. The others are mostly 108Mbps. The Vista
laptop has had repeated slow response problems, which were due to the Norton
360 firewall (now disabled). It also keeps giving messges like "The TCP/IP
setting is incompatible with your router" or "Set the TCP/IP setting to
improve performance" (alternately when I click diagnose and repair.)

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[MartinWill2]

1. I use WEP 128bit because there are additional Windows ME computers and a
Sony PSP that do not support WPA but occasionally need to be connected to the
network.
2. Norton 360 (60-day trial) came installed on my new Sony Vista laptop and
it does not have any way to be reinstalled if I uninstall it. New computers
don't come with software disks any more. However I have an unused seat of a
3-seat NIS2008 that could be used, if necessary. I don't believe NIS is the
problem as different computers have different versions of Norton or McAfee
installed.
3. The Netgear WNR834v2 is brand new and has automatically checked for
latest firmware on install and each time it is restarted.
4. I think the problem is related to IPv6 as you suggest.
5. The issue is with the XP computers losing their network connectivity and
the adapters on these computers losing their driver software and having to be
reinstalled.
6. The 98SE computer connects directly to the router so is not using WEP or
WPA. My question here was why it doesn't show up on the Vista laptop and
whether there is a patch like KB922120 for XP that can be installed on 98SE
computers and/or Windows Me computers. KB922120 was installed on all four
Windows XP SP2 computers to allow the Vista network map to work.
7. The NICs are all new purchased 2008 from Best Buy or CompUSA and the
install program checks for the latest software.
8. Only the Windows Vista laptop computer is reporting TCP/IP settings
incompatible with router, I will try disabling IPv6 on it.
9. There does seem to be an issue with computers using Windows to connect to
WEP router as they always assume there is only 64-bit security and try to log
in with the first few characters of the network key instead of the entire 26
characters. This is a WINDOWS problem that Microsoft needs to address and
fix. If I use Netgear's software to connect it always remembers the entire
key. I would use WPA if there was an alternative solution for Wondows 98 and
Me and Sony PSP.

Please respond with comments keyed to the specific numbered paragraphs above.

 

[Barb Bowman]

1. it is certainly your choice to use security that can easily be
broken. we can warn you of the risks, but the rest is up to you.
I've convinced friends and family that security is the most
important piece of the puzzle.

2. We've seem Norton cause issues for other people. There are other
alternatives that do not cause issues. I personally rely on a SPI
firewall in my router, NOD32 from Eset for AV and Windows Defender.

3. I can't find your exact model # router on the list at
http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/ProductList.aspx?m=v&cid=712&g=d
there are similar product numbers, but not the exact one you have.
typically you can find certified products and even the version of
firmware that was certified on this site

4. did you unbind IPv6? what happened

5. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/932134

6. MS discontinued support for those old operating systems and no
patches will be issued. there will be no LLTD support for these
older versions of Windows.

7. yes, but you need to check after they are installed

8. please do

9. be sure you are using the HEX key that is on the router. other
than that, I can't give any other suggestions.

1. I use WEP 128bit because there are additional Windows ME computers and a
Sony PSP that do not support WPA but occasionally need to be connected to the
network.
2. Norton 360 (60-day trial) came installed on my new Sony Vista laptop and
it does not have any way to be reinstalled if I uninstall it. New computers
don't come with software disks any more. However I have an unused seat of a
3-seat NIS2008 that could be used, if necessary. I don't believe NIS is the
problem as different computers have different versions of Norton or McAfee
installed.
3. The Netgear WNR834v2 is brand new and has automatically checked for
latest firmware on install and each time it is restarted.
4. I think the problem is related to IPv6 as you suggest.
5. The issue is with the XP computers losing their network connectivity and
the adapters on these computers losing their driver software and having to be
reinstalled.
6. The 98SE computer connects directly to the router so is not using WEP or
WPA. My question here was why it doesn't show up on the Vista laptop and
whether there is a patch like KB922120 for XP that can be installed on 98SE
computers and/or Windows Me computers. KB922120 was installed on all four
Windows XP SP2 computers to allow the Vista network map to work.
7. The NICs are all new purchased 2008 from Best Buy or CompUSA and the
install program checks for the latest software.
8. Only the Windows Vista laptop computer is reporting TCP/IP settings
incompatible with router, I will try disabling IPv6 on it.
9. There does seem to be an issue with computers using Windows to connect to
WEP router as they always assume there is only 64-bit security and try to log
in with the first few characters of the network key instead of the entire 26
characters. This is a WINDOWS problem that Microsoft needs to address and
fix. If I use Netgear's software to connect it always remembers the entire
key. I would use WPA if there was an alternative solution for Wondows 98 and
Me and Sony PSP.

Please respond with comments keyed to the specific numbered paragraphs above.

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/