can't secure my wireless connection

i have a tried to secure my wireless connection but when i go to put my password in it causes the "send error report" thing to pop up. could it be because my router and network card are different brands? I have a belking wireless router, and a linksys wireless card in my laptop. i set up everyting in my router but when i try to get on the net with my laptop it will let me get to the part where i put my password in but when i click ok it doesn't work and wants to send an error report to microsoft. any suggestions, i've spent the last 5 hours researching and trying to get this to work. some people in the neighborhood is using my connection and slowing me down.

 

what os so you have? are you sure you have the correct p/w (although i don't think you'd get that error message)? is this a new connection (seeing how people in your neighborhood are using your connection)? how did you setup your router (by disk, or plugging straight into it)? have you tried resetting your router to default (which would mean setting it up again)? i'm thinking it's a problem with your laptop connection though (but, not positive). do you have another router to try, or do you have another wireless connection (laptop, etc) to try (this would eliminate, either the router or the laptop adapter). having different brands (ie - belkin, and linksys), shouldn't really have anything to do with it (but sometimes it can - i'll explain what i mean later).

so, i take it you can pick up the wireless signal from your router? if you are using xp (home or pro), what are you using to connect with (windows zero wireless home configuration - something like that), or your linksys adapter software?

what is the exact model # of your router? are you trying now to secure it as other people are on your connection? anyway, plz try to answer as much of this (in order), as we will get a better idea. g/l, sos

edit - most routers you can plug into it and set it up, instead of using the s/w that's included. if this is the case (that's why i want the model #, etc), we can look it up as well. anyway, this is how i setup my routers now, i don't use the installation disk, i just log into the router, change settings, save them, exit, and install router. hopefully there are no typos, or errors, it's been a long day. - sos

 

May be this can Help.

From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.
No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Brake" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Brake ).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).


Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass phrase.
Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible of one of the Wireless devices.

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one.

Setting Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

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