Hi, I just upgraded to windows 7 and cannot connect to the internet. My router uses WEP encryption and I always get a windows cannot connect error message however if I go tyo my neighbor's home who uses a routerwith WPA encryption I can get on the net without any problems. I did not have this problem before my upgrade. Any ideas how I can fix this?

Have you tried connecting to your router with no security enabled?If you can't connect, the router probably isn't compatible with Windows 7.If you can, try changing the SSID and the WEP key.

WEP is NOT safe. You need to change to at least WPA.Even if that means buying new hardware. --Barb BowmanMS-MVPhttp://www.digitalmediaphile.comhttp://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.comhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspxOn Thu, 4-Jun-09 13:16:09 GMT, Akins wrote:>>>Hi, >>I just upgraded to windows 7 and cannot connect to the internet. My router uses WEP encryption and I always get a windows cannot connect error message however if I go tyo my neighbor's home who uses a router with WPA encryption I can get on the net without any problems. I did not have this problem before my upgrade. Any ideas how I can fix this?

First of all is your computer a laptop or desktop; that will rule out compatibility. Next, is that yes wpa is much more secure and some could even argue stable, but what is your WEP encryption set too? I would play with those settings and see what works and doesn't. I like the idea of taking the security off to see if you can connect, but I have never had an incompatable router. Regardless of brand or type the only thing that has to be compatible is the wireless signal ( and that is pretty easy as long as its not A or B).

What nic androuter are you using?

Hi, may be this advice is of no use, because you already know. I also had the problem, using WEP (which surely is not the safest way) and a pass-phrase. After all I recognised, that I had to put in the pass-phrase in hex, not in ascii. I did this, and it worked fine (the hex-code of my pass-phrase I could see in the router-software). Best Regards Axel

So far, not a single answer to the simple question. Do any of you bother to READ the question, or do you just spout your own advice as a puppet? The question was: HOW TO ENABLE WEP IN WINDOWS 7. I have been an MCSE since 1997, and I believe you should ANSWER the question. The question was not: Is WEP a safe protocol to use? MANY legacy devices use WEP exclusively, and a user does not need to hear that YOU think WEP is unsafe. The user was asking for your KNOWLEDGE on how to connect legacy devices to Wi-Fi under windows 7 settings. The user did not as for your OPINION of the connection they have/NEED to use.

So far, not a single answer to the simple question. Do any of you bother to READ the question, or do you just spout your own advice as a puppet? The question was: HOW TO ENABLE WEP IN WINDOWS 7. I have been an MCSE since 1997, and I believe you should ANSWER the question. The question was not: Is WEP a safe protocol to use? MANY legacy devices use WEP exclusively, and a user does not need to hear that YOU think WEP is unsafe. The user was asking for your KNOWLEDGE on how to connect legacy devices to Wi-Fi under windows 7 settings. The user did not as for your OPINION of the connection they have/NEED to use. I was the first to reply and I think I offered a few suggestions without mentioning the insecurity of WEP.

actually, if you have certain N wireless NICs, they will not connect using WEP as support is not in the drivers. There are some Intel NICs for example. WEP was made optional in the final 802.11n specification. And some users do not know how unsafe WEP is. Most people would like the choice of securing their networks properly. Most MCSE's I know consider security to be important. YMMV. On Thu, 3 Jun 2010 03:20:05 +0000, Fademan wrote: >So far, not a single answer to the simple question. Do any of you bother to READ the question, or do you just spout your own advice as a puppet? The question was: HOW TO ENABLE WEP IN WINDOWS 7. I have been an MCSE since 1997, and I believe you should ANSWER the question. The question was not: Is WEP a safe protocol to use? MANY legacy devices use WEP exclusively, and a user does not need to hear that YOU think WEP is unsafe. The user was asking for your KNOWLEDGE on how to connect legacy devices to Wi-Fi under windows 7 settings. The user did not as for your OPINION of the connection they have/NEED to use. Barb Bowman http://www.digitalmediaphile.com

Akins, This is an annoying problem, but you can enable WEP on Windows 7. I am amazed you can connect to open services, but not a WEP network... Windows tries to protect you from connecting to the WEP access point by not letting it happen automatically, or asking for your password like it used to with other systems. You have to manually build the network profile. Assuming you just upgraded your pc, thus you know the laptop is compatible with the Access point, otherwise you may have other issues. Open the network and Sharing Center. Select "Set up a new connection or Network" Select "Manually connect to a wireless network" Enter Network name- this is case sensitive. Save. Now the problem you are likely having: Ether choose the change settings or find the network profile you just created under Manage Wireless Networks, and open it up. On the "Security tab" you will see Security Type is "No authentication (Open)". You likely have to set it to "Shared". Now you have to re-enter your security key. There may be a way around this more directly, but since you cannot choose shared key on the original setup, you are out of luck. I hope this works, and I really hope this is not the way microsoft really designed this functionality... I agree with the others, upgrade your device or reconfigure device for more security. I hope my response actually helped you and others get through your problem, not just directing you to go by more hardware.

I Had the same problem and this is what I did on 01 AUG 2010: 1. I accessed my router by using a wired connection. 2. I went to administration part 3. Under administration there was a choice for "Authentication and Encryption" 4. I click on "Authentication and Encryption" 5. It gave me a choice to disable security under that. 6. I disabled security and was able to connect to my router wirelessly. 7. After I connected wirelessly, I accessed my rourter and re enabled security. 8. I rebooted the computer (took out the cat5 cable) and it always connected to the wireless WEP connection with no problem. Hope that helps you

the issue with your solution is that WEP is not safe. WPA2-AES is the recommended encryption type. On Sun, 1 Aug 2010 19:11:23 +0000, kambiz33 wrote: > I rebooted the computer (took out the cat5 cable) and it always connected to the wireless WEP connection with no problem. Barb Bowman http://www.digitalmediaphile.com

Dear Barb I regular this forum for tech support for annoying issues and I am personally well aware of the issues with WEP security. At times I am still required to connect to WEP connections, that it is outside of my control to change. Your repetitive and unhelpful post only deteriorate the forum and make it less useful. Are you aware that this is one of the first things one comes across when googling for WEP issues in windows 7? But all people see if you spouting the problems with it, once is understandable but I believe you posted this AT LEAST 3 times, this will only reduce traffic to the website as people do not for help but only people telling them they are wrong. I hope you seek to improve this behavior.

Not everyone is personally aware of the WEP risks. And not everyone who visits here is an expert on wireless networking. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, though. On Mon, 27 Dec 2010 09:55:36 +0000, DigiWin wrote: >I regular this forum for tech support for annoying issues and I am personally well aware of the issues with WEP security Barb Bowman http://www.digitalmediaphile.com

I cannot help you but I can say that the responses so far have been depressing. I have the same issues as you do. When I take my laptop somewhere it can see the network O.K. but when I try to connect it just fails with no error message. Assuming that the problem is that Windows 7 does not like WEP and therefore you may not connect is just so crazy I cannot believe it. Here is a link which shows how to connect. I have not tried it but I may do if I can find no alternative. I would much prefer if windows 7 just came back and said "this is WEP do you wish to continue ?" This big brother approach just does not seem right. Regards Tom http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Set-up-a-security-key-for-a-wireless-network