Re: Laptop wont connect to WiFi network with security settings


"Tom Cole" <tacoleNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:gttne45sk7e1rrisms42rftet17fcbt4cu@xxxxxxxxxx
On Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:05:09 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:24:27 +1300, Tom Cole
<tacoleNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:43:41 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Mon, 6 Oct 2008 10:57:40 -0500, "S.Lewis"
<Gossamer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


"alien" <nofenders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:gcd7mm$mdn$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


"M" <spamtrap@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:6ks1v7F97op1U1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have just bought a Dell XPS laptop but am unable to connect to my
wireless network unless I remove the security settings.

It will connect OK when the security type is set to no
authentication
with the corresponding setting on the 3COM router however will not
work
with WPA encryption. The network adaptor is an Intel WiFi Link
4965AGN.

The router settings are:
Router settings (OfficeConnect 3COM ADSL Wireless 11g Firewall
Router)
PPPoA
Channel: Auto
SSID Broadcast: Enable
Wireless Mode: 11g Only (also tried Mixed 11b + 11g and long rang
mixed
11b + 11g)
g Nitro Enable (disabling does not make a difference)
WPA: WPA-PSK (no server) The only other WPA available is with Radius

I believe that all the other router settings are correct as they
work
with the laptop with the WPA taken off.

I have another desktop which connects wirelessly its settings are:
Windows XP
Raling RT2500 Wireless LAN Card
Network Authentication WPA-PSK
Data encryption TKIP

The laptop does not offer the exact corresponding settings
The network adaptor is an Intel WiFi Link 4965AGN
This connected OK when the security type was set to no
authentication
with the corresponding setting on the 3COM router however will not
work
with security type set to WPA-Personal (there is not WPA-PSK) with
Encryption type TKIP. I have tried all of the other WPA options.

As part of the set up I created a new 63 digit key and applied it to
the
router, the wireless desktop and the laptop. This was done as a
copy and
paste using a USB key and Notepad. I have taken care to not to miss
off
any of the leading or trailing characters or to include any spaces.

It basically looks like this Dell wont work with WPA-PSK. Can
anyone
advise a work around that doesn't compromise security and doesn't
involve
a new router or using and Express card.

Thanks.






I think I'd ditch the 63 digit key for now and try setting it up with
something like 1234 as the key. That way you don't have to cut and
paste
anything in case that might be messing something up. Then if it
works
with the small key you could try a bigger one.

alien

alien


Not a bad idea either, though I'd probably try a 20-30 character
generated
WPA-PSK key.

Sometimes those full key lengths can blow things up.



Going along these lines, I read that you could use WEP but change the
password weekly. Of course I prefer WPA if available as would most
others.

There are tools available on the internet which will crack WEP in about
a minute. WEP is simply not secure.


No argument but the average person doesn't know how to use them
(packet sniffers) so I hesitate to say WEP is not secure. I'd rather
say it has weak security at least when compared to WPA. BTW, I read
a while back even WPA is crackable so when you define secure, you
better also relate that to what degree of security. Otherwise
someone else can come along and say WPA isn't secure either.

WPA is only insecure with a weak or short password (see below).

Bottom line is, secure or not secure depends on the situation. WEP
might be fine in a home network in a small populated place but I
wouldn't recommend it for an apartment, major city or for storing
sensitive files on the network.

Last I agree WEP is not a preferable level of encryption if WPA is
available but it's better than nothing <grin> .

If you are concerned about the security of your WEP network you should
consider upgrading its components to support at least WPA.

The only time you can crack the WPA pre-shared key is if it is a
dictionary word or relatively short in length. Conversely, if you want
to have an unbreakable wireless network at home, use WPA/WPA2 and a 63
character password composed of random characters including special
symbols. There is a suitable random key generator at
https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm

Then again you can limit the IP range on the router and use MAC Filters.


.

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