Vista - Unable to Change WEP Passphrase

I have just purchased a new HP laptop with wireless network card; after much
fussing I was able to connect to internet successfully but only WITHOUT any
protection on the router. When I attempt to apply WEP it doen't get a signal
back from router. During process of trying solutions, I changed the
passphrase on the router to a 5-character word (it was an 8-character word
which has been working for more than a year with other wireless laptop) but
new laptop with Vista Home Premium wants 5 or 13 characters, so I changed in
the router. BUT the Properties of the linksys connection still shows the old
(8 character) password and even when I change it and save out, it goes back
to the old one. I have tried to get at those properties several ways but no
luck.

Help!

Note: I can get connected through this router if I hardwire the laptop AND
am successful wirelessly as long as connection isn't protected (obviously not
good idea.)

Thank you,
~Deborah

IDICWorld,

If you have played around with linksys routers long enough, even though you change your passcode, linksys has put a security feature into routers that make it still show the 8 dots (I presume) so that if you were to leave your router open and they were to get to the properties page, it still shows 8 instead of say 5 characters, its harder to guess and the user accessing wont know how many characters your password is. Now for instance you reset your password and come back to the page and it shows the 8 character password as dots, when you log out does it accept the old password or the one you just set? Because when I log into mine via 192.168.1.1 my password is a 9 char. password, but my router when you look on the Administration page shows 16 characters...odd right? Well my password still works with the 9 character password even though it shows 16.
Hopefully I'm not confusing you, and hope it helps...

greg486

First, WEP is not safe. It is like locking your door and putting the
key under the mat. You should use WPA2 or at least WPA for wireless
security.

You will need to make this change on your router and then on both
computers.



On Tue, 8 Jan 2008 13:28:04 -0800, IDICWorld
<IDICWorld@xxxxxx> wrote:
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

I would love to change this but the Linksys router (BEFW11S4 with updated
firmware) only gives me the option of WEP - I have searched their user guide
but it seems I haven't another option. SO - since WEP is better than
nothing, it's what I've got.

So - how do I get the passphrase to input and remain correct?
Thanks!

"Barb Bowman" wrote:

OK, so, THAT really made me feel like a total jerk... <smile> It turns out I
was trying to input the passphrase used to generate the key(s) - one I
realize my error, I input Key#1 and - there I was connected! SO - if anyone
out there is experiencing this issue -make sure you are inputing the correct
thing!

Now I will start another thread to deal with the other 2 big issues I am
having with this new laptop <smile> I don't know why I am surprized that I
have problems with EVERY new piece of hardware I buy, since it DOES happen
every time! <shaking head> ah well...
Thanks to all the Expert Help available here!
~Deborah

"IDICWorld" wrote:

thanks for the update.

Please consider replacing the router with a new one that provides
proper security (WPA2/WPA). You'll also get faster wireless speeds
with any router you buy since yours is 802.11b only.

On Tue, 8 Jan 2008 15:13:01 -0800, IDICWorld
<IDICWorld@xxxxxx> wrote:
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/