I'm attempting to join a wifi network with a 10 digit hexadecimal security key - the network is hidden. I know the SSID and the hex key for WEP. System - Windows 7 - 64 bit, RC Interface name: Wireless Network Connection Driver : Broadcom 802.11g Network Adapter Vendor : Broadcom Provider : Microsoft Date : 10/1/2008 Version : 4.176.75.23 INF file : C:\Windows\INF\oem3.inf Files : 2 total C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\BCMWL6 C:\Windows\system32\drivers\vwifib Type : Native Wi-Fi Driver Radio types supported : 802.11g 802.11b FIPS 140-2 mode supported : No Hosted network supported : Yes Authentication and cipher supported in infrastructure mode: Open None Open WEP Shared None Shared WEP WPA2-Enterprise TKIP WPA2-Personal TKIP WPA2-Enterprise CCMP WPA2-Personal CCMP WPA-Enterprise TKIP WPA-Personal TKIP WPA-Enterprise CCMP WPA-Personal CCMP Authentication and cipher supported in ad-hoc mode: WPA2-Personal CCMP Open None Open WEP C:\Users\username\>IPCONFIG /ALL Windows IP Configuration Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . :username-laptop Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection: Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 802.11g Network Adapt Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-23-4E-C0-3B-F8 DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::ed8e:a7e3:a17f:78cf%12(P IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.4(Preferred) Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0 Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, September 12, 2009 6 Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, September 13, 2009 6:4 Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1 DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1 DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 218112846 DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-12-3D-55-CB-00-23- DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1 NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection: Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Fast Eth Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-23-5A-17-01-6E DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes Tunnel adapter isatap.{83CD515E-B29B-4031-8A8A-8A43994E440F}: Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0 DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface: Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interf Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0 DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e50:14a2:301d:b4b erred) Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::14a2:301d:b4bc:615e%13(P Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : :: NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled Tunnel adapter isatap.{D727AB59-6B67-4C9F-9278-D5012EC6547F}: Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2 Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0 DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes In tne past, Windows had the ability to enter into WEP either a pass phrase or a hexidecimal key. In Windows 7RC, there seems to be no indication of what should be entered into the WEP key - it just says "network security key". If I enter my 10 digit hexidecimal key - I cannot connect. I have selected "open" as I have no encoding on my wireless LAN. Fortunately I live near a coffee house and since I drink coffee there, I don't feel too badly about connecting to the Internet to ask this question. I've searched and searched - I've read about how Windows 7 seems to make it difficult to connect to WEP wireless LAN's - but it should not do this - often when traveling to schools and other places, I need to use their open wifi - some of the systems are Unix, some Windows Server - with Vista and XP I never had a problem, and I could be sure that my "WEP" entry was used as a pass phrase or hex key. This definately should be improved - I really hope it is by the time of the release of Windows 7. I checked Windows Update and I see that there is another Broadcom wifi update. Since I cannot save this posting, I am going to submit it, and IF things change with the update, I will come back here and say so!

Show my existing wireless key:Go to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Network and Sharing Center > click the name (in Blue) alongside Connections: > Wireless Properties > Security Tab and put a tick in Show characters. Deleting the existing network then setting it up again may be the best: 1. Delete networkGo to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Network and Sharing Center > Manage Wireless Networks (in the left pane) and right-click the one you want to Remove. 2. Add a new networkGo to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Network and Sharing Center > Set up a new connection or network > Manually Connect to a Wireless Network > Next. Type in the Network Name (SSID), select Security Type and type in the key. You may also want to tick Start this connection automatically and Connect even if the network is not > Next. Subsequent connections will be automatic.

I don't know, what W7 with WEP does. But, using of WEP is completely useless. WEP networks can be hacked in minutes (google for Aircrack) . Hidden SSID also won't help. The best way to a secure wifi network is using WPA2 with AES encryption. SSID should be vissable.

I don't know, what W7 with WEP does. But, using of WEP is completely useless. WEP networks can be hacked in minutes (google for Aircrack) . Hidden SSID also won't help. The best way to a secure wifi network is using WPA2 with AES encryption. SSID should be vissable. If you had read the post properly you would have seen that DJRingJr wants WEP! He uses different networks including open networks so, in reality, he probably doesnt hold classified government or commercial secrets onthe computer. Also, bear in mind that older laptops and adapters can only use WEP, i.e. its successors didnt exist at the time.

BurrWalnut, Your reply was perfect. Thanks for showing me where the settings were! DJRingJr