[Wireless networking] please help - no ideea on what to do next

[Tiberiu Dubau]

Hello all,

I have a huuuuge problem connecting my Acer 5100 Vista Home
Premium-running laptop to my work network, meaning that I can't. I have
spent the better part of last week browsing web pages, reading about how
easy it is to connect to such a network, but, alas, I can't do it.
I'll try to write exactly what I do, when I do it, when trying to connect,
maybe I'm missing something that you guys may see.
Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Before we start here are the network specs I received from our admin:
ssid: B2ZA1831BG16674SF578517254B25A15
key: B25A1801BF16674AF878510259
shared, WEP
(my desktop pc at work, works great with these settings)



Here goes:
- right clicking on the network task bar icon shows me that there are 2
wireless networks in range, but not my workplace network (which is
protected)
- clicking on the connect to a network tab, brings me to the manually
connect to a wireless network option, so I click on that
- i speciffy the name(SSID), i select no authentification (open), and i
check
start this connection automatically, then click next
- after the successfully added my network window pops up, i choose change
connection settings
- on the wireless network properties, on the security tab, i choose shared
as the security type, and WEP as the encryption type and then proceed to
entering the provided network security key as key index 1 and finally click
OK (seeing as I don't see save anywhere...).

Much to my surprise, when I'm returned to the successfully added my network
window, and choose connect, absolutely nothing happens, and I'm left
stearing into the sun... And when I check again the security settings on the
manage wireless networks window, i see the shared option, the wep option,
but the key isn't anywhere near the lenght it should be (i see only 8 dots
instead of 26)

What can I do to make things right? Where am I going wrong? PLease help....
--

Tiberiu Dubau

Ascent Soft
www.ascent-soft.ro

 

[Guest]

Hi Tiberiu,

I had a similar problem at home, where I use a secure wireless network.
As far I've understood, there's a problem with Vista identifying wireless
connection.
So, I changed the setting to the tcp/ip protocol from automatic to manual
and I entered all the information, ip, subnet mask, default gateway and dns.

Since then my problems have disappeared.

I hope I've helped.

 

[Tiberiu Dubau]

Cheers mate,

I've changed those settings, belive me, I've tried it... doesn't do the
trick for me. I can't even see the damn network I've just successfully (so
it said) added to the list... The wireless lan adapter is working with the
information I entered (static IP, subnet, gateway & dns). The funny thing
is, when hard wired into the office lan, it works like a charm (bloddy
bastard).

Tibi

 

[Guest]

Have you tried to disable WEP from the router and connect?
That's the first thing I've made.

 

[Tiberiu Dubau]

Got a little problem with that too, Paul. I can't go messing around with the
settings on the damn router because it's locked up (don't have access
(meaning the password) to it.
Besides, they won't change the encryption type just for me and my
head-strong wireless adapter (seeing as the other systems - laptops and
desktops - work like a charm with these bloody settings under XP)
But, come on, there has to be a way, right? I mean, I paid good money for
the Vista licence, and there's absolutely NO WAY I'm gonna spend another
euro on an XP Pro licence...

Where's a good MVP when you need him... ) Hope one of them has an answer
for me...

 

[Joe Guidera]

According to the config specs provided by your admin you need to select
"Shared" for authentication and not "Open".

Joe

 

[Tiberiu Dubau]

I do select shared, Joe, but only after selecting open as the security type,
then on the change connection settings (on the security tab) i choose
shared... Even when I start out with WEP as the security type and then
choosing shared I still don't see the slimy network I just added...

 

[Kerry Brown]

Hello all,

I have a huuuuge problem connecting my Acer 5100 Vista Home
Premium-running laptop to my work network, meaning that I can't. I have
spent the better part of last week browsing web pages, reading about how
easy it is to connect to such a network, but, alas, I can't do it.
I'll try to write exactly what I do, when I do it, when trying to connect,
maybe I'm missing something that you guys may see.
Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Before we start here are the network specs I received from our admin:
ssid: B2ZA1831BG16674SF578517254B25A15
key: B25A1801BF16674AF878510259
shared, WEP
(my desktop pc at work, works great with these settings)



Here goes:
- right clicking on the network task bar icon shows me that there are 2
wireless networks in range, but not my workplace network (which is
protected)
- clicking on the connect to a network tab, brings me to the manually
connect to a wireless network option, so I click on that
- i speciffy the name(SSID), i select no authentification (open), and i
check
start this connection automatically, then click next
- after the successfully added my network window pops up, i choose change
connection settings
- on the wireless network properties, on the security tab, i choose shared
as the security type, and WEP as the encryption type and then proceed to
entering the provided network security key as key index 1 and finally
click OK (seeing as I don't see save anywhere...).

Much to my surprise, when I'm returned to the successfully added my
network window, and choose connect, absolutely nothing happens, and I'm
left stearing into the sun... And when I check again the security settings
on the manage wireless networks window, i see the shared option, the wep
option, but the key isn't anywhere near the lenght it should be (i see
only 8 dots instead of 26)

What can I do to make things right? Where am I going wrong? PLease
help....

It may be that the router or access point is not compatible with Vista.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932134/en-us

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928233

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/using/tools/igd/default.mspx

Have you checked with the router/access point manufacturer?

Another thing to check is the driver for the Acer 5100. It does work as I am
typing this on an Acer 5100. I have successfully connected to several
wireless networks, both public and private some using WEP, with it.

http://secure3.tx.acer.com/VistaDownloads/AcerSeries.aspx

Another thing to check is which WEP key is in use. Make sure you have
selected the right one. With WEP it is possible to assign four keys. It may
be they are using a key besides the first one.

 

[Chuck]

I had the same issue. My fix so far, "enabled netbios" fixed
Didnt really like it, nut it worked for now

 

[Tiberiu Dubau]

Could you be a sport and guide me through the process? Click that, select
that and so on...

Thanks mate!

 

[Joe Guidera]

Go to manage network connections. Right click on the network connection
(wireless adapter) and select properties. Scroll down and click on TCP/IP
(v4) and select properties. Hit the advanced button. Select the WINS tab
and select the "Enable Netbios" radio button.

J

 

[Retired]

You may be putting your work network at a security risk by listing your SSID
and your KEY in a newsgroup post. Avoid doing it in the future.