depaw
@rr.com
| Vista won't Connect to WPA
I have a Dell dimension desktop running XP Home SP2 connected to a Belkin wireless router. I have a Gateway laptop running Vista Home. I can connect to the wireless network using WEP encryption but not WPA. I have tried to set the router to WPA-PSK and set the same on the laptop and am sure that the security key is the same on the router and the laptop, but Vista just tells me that it is unable to connect. When I run the Vista diagnose and repair it basically just tells me to try it again, but no luck.
Any ideas?
Thanks. |
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docrice
join:2008-03-31
Fremont, CA
| One thing you can check is on the access point (I don't like using the term "router" since access points don't always include routing functionality). If there's a logging function that you can access via the admin console, you can see what might be happening from there. You might even be able to set the logging to a higher debug level and see more explicit messages which can help you troubleshoot.
Another area you can check is the Windows event log, which on Vista is a lot more granular (in a good way).
Ideally, however, it'd be much better to verify whether you can see the 4-way handshake take place by sniffing the communication via a Radiotap interface (typically on Linux with the proper drivers). With Windows, you can't get this kind of functionality unless you purchase AirPCap (at least $200) or buy a much more expensive solution like AirMagnet.
Which wireless card are you using on the Vista machine? If it's an older card, it may need a firmware update to support WPA. Another thing to check - WPA or WPA2? TKIP or AES / CCMP? Also, some access points require entering the WPA key as a hex value and not ASCII (some allow both). You should also check to see what the firmware / software version of your access point is and compare it to what's currently offered by Belkin for download. There might be a bug (although such a device having a bug in its WPA implementation would seriously question the reputation of the vendor). |
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depaw
@rr.com | Thanks, I will give your suggestions a try. |
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circle
Premium
join:2005-08-01
Appleton, WI | reply to depaw
What is the model and version number of the Belkin device?
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There's no place like 127.0.0.1 |
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Octavean
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-31
New York, NY
| reply to depaw
Funny thing,….
I actually had the same problem briefly last night.
I have a Belkin Wireless G Router (I forget what model and firmware) and when I first got it I set it up using WEP for like a day or two. I then disable the wireless feature and used the Belkin wireless / wired Router as only a 4 port switch (using a Linksys Router for the actual WAN connection) . I ran it that way for a few months. Anyway, last night I setup wireless on the Belkin using WPA and setup my daughter’s Wii to use it.
That worked no problem without a hitch, basically the Wii just worked and still does.
I then setup a Compaq V2000 series laptop with Windows XP Home and a cheap wireless PCMCIA card which worked fine.
I then tried, briefly, to setup a new Acer Laptop with built in wireless adaptor (I forget make and model) with Vista Home Basic as the OS and just couldn’t get it to work. I checked a number of the basics but the gray area for me was that Acer had their own application for wireless configuration which I found intrusive and annoying.
I'll probably setup her Nintendo DS for WiFi and take another whack at the Acer Laptop today but I feel as if I need to bypass the Acer software. At the very least the Acer software is slowing my progress. |
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docrice
join:2008-03-31
Fremont, CA
| One of the problems that I see with pre-loaded OS configurations from various vendors is the supplicant that they install which interferes with the operation of WZC. Granted, WZC is pretty limited in what it can do, and I don't necessarily recommend it over other supplicant software (Access Connections on IBM / Lenovo, the occasional TrueMobile software on Dells for Dell WLAN devices, Intel PROSet, Juniper Oddyssey, etc.).
You may wish to check to see if there's a service conflict there and disable one. I'm under the impression that the Acer software is necessary for the WLAN card on those machines to operate since it's hooked directly with the driver. |
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Octavean
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-31
New York, NY
| Understood,….
I may try looking up some documentation on the Acer software. A conflict of some sort really does seem likely to me. Just a few days before this I setup WiFi access on a Toshiba A205-S5864 laptop using a Westell 327W (I think that’s right) Verizon wireless DSL modem and it was very easy,…..even though I had no information on what settings the Westell was using.
The Toshiba was using Vista Home Premium with SP1 where SP1 was factory installed.
BTW, the Belkin model I’m using is “F5D7230-4” with Firmware Version 9.01.05. |
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tenmachan123
join:2008-04-24
moderated:
April 25th, @07:16AM
| reply to depaw
WPA security should already be supported by default by Windows Vista..
The WPA security is case sensitive, so make sure to enter it correctly on the Vista computer. Try deleting all the wireless networks saved on the laptop by going to "Manage Wireless Networks" then add your own wireless network (SSID & WPA-PSK security). Set the laptop to automatically connect to your SSID. Then power off the laptop and the router. After a few seconds, power on the router and the laptop and see it it will detect your SSID and automatically connect to it.
You may also try connecting your laptop to a different router's SSID with WPA-PSK security and see if it will connect or not. Also, try connecting a different Vista laptop to your own SSID with WPA-PSK security and see if it will connect or not. These are just to further isolate the problem. |
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