wpa-psk not working

[Guest]

i am trying to configure a wireless router and i had wpa-psk configured, i
got 3 machines, 1 is a desktop connected directly to the router and 2 laptops
(mac n pc), the mac can get on to the router with no problem and accepts the
pre shared key. and for the xp machine, it keeps telling me that it needs to
between 0-63 characters and etc and it wont accept the pre shared key which
is basically like johndoesmith.

any ideas?? the xp is a windows xp pro, sp2 with all the updates. the mac is
a 10.5 machine.

thanks a lot

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

HI
Are you sure that the Laptop can do WPA? May be it is restricted to WEP
level.
From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.
No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Brake" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Brake ).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).

Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to download
the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless
Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with
your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass
phrase.

Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible
of one of the Wireless devices.

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the
max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of
WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can
do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the
device with a better one.

Setting Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 -
http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html

Jack (MVP-Networking).