Secure XP wireless network - my Vista laptop can connect, my XP laptop can't?
My desktop machine runs XP and I can't enforce security on my wireless network without losing access by my XP laptop, while my Vista laptop can connect fine. What types of things could be causing this?1 person needs an answerI do too
February 21st, 2011 1:45pm

Either security is enabled on your wireless LAN or it is not. You can't have one device use security while another doesn't. Describe how you've tried to enable security on your router and on your PCs and what happened when you did.Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]--------------------------------https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Brian.TillmanIf a reply helps, please vote it as helpful. If a reply solves the issue, please mark it as an answer.
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February 21st, 2011 3:02pm

Thank you. I can't get past the Network Key on the XP machine. I've tried the password set in Cisco, the SSID, etc. The Vista machine just uses what I configured and gets it done.That XP dialog with Network Key: - what does that want?
February 21st, 2011 5:40pm

One possibility is that your XP machine is at Service Pack 2 (SP2) or older and your wireless router is using WPA2 encryption/protection. WPA2 was not supported in XP until Service Pack 3 (SP3). If this is your case, the choices are 1) to upgrade to Service Pack 3, 2) to install a patch into SP2 that will support WPA2, or 3) Reconfigure your wireless router to use a flavor of security supported by your XP machine. A couple of references:"How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack" < http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389 >"The Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2)/Wireless Provisioning Services Information Element (WPS IE) update for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 is available" < http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357 >Of course, if you have SP3, ignore all the above.HTH, JW
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February 22nd, 2011 1:44am

It's certainly not the SSID that you need to enter into the password field. You may have the option to enter the key as ASCII characters or as hexadecimal digits. If you don't match the option you chose in the router, even if it looks like you're using the correct key, it will be interpreted differently. As Wunders says, it may also be the encryption algorithm you configured in the router doesn't match what you're trying to use in the PC.Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]--------------------------------https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Brian.TillmanIf a reply helps, please vote it as helpful. If a reply solves the issue, please mark it as an answer.
February 22nd, 2011 10:32am

HiAssuming that the Wireless software and the hardware of the computer are capable to handle the level of security that you Router is configured to.Look at the Wireless preferred list, make sure that it is configured as you like it, then delete every thing that is in the preferred list.http://www.ezlan.net/wireless/wzc3.jpgTry again to log on.In general, http://www.ezlan.net/wireless.html Jack - Microsoft MVP, Windows Networking. WWW.EZLAN.NET
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February 22nd, 2011 3:46pm

JW, you are damn good. My laptop is SP2 because my SP3 upgrades have all hit an issue. And my router is a new Linksys so they use the new stuff. Those links appear to be the first step. Thank you sir.
February 22nd, 2011 6:40pm

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