Wireless problems

I'm trying to connect to my wireless connection that I have setup at home. One of my laptops connects just fine, but that laptop is new. My old laptop, however, won't connect. :cry

So, here's the problem:
The laptop is a Toshiba Satellite running Microsoft Windows XP. I've run updates to make sure it's got everything it needs, and apparently, it's as update as it can get.

So, when I try connecting to my wireless network, it tells me "Windows was unable to find a certificate to log you on to the network [Network name]"

So, I go online and I read that I have to go in to advance settings and disable IEEE 802.1x authentication, which I go and do and then it finally allows a pop up box where I can type in the network key, but when I type in the network key (which I know is right) it tells me:
"The network password needs to be 40bits or 104bits depending on your network configuration. This can be entered as 5 or 13 ascii characters or 10 or 26 hexadecimal characters"

I go back on line and it turns out that this has to do with the network settings, which I have set to WPA2-Personal Encryption Type: AES

Buuut, my Toshiba laptop doesn't have those settings. Under network authentication it only has the following options:
Open
Shared
WPA
WPA-PSK

and under data encryption it only has these options:
AES
TKIP
Disabled

My Toshiba wireless network adapter is an Atheros AR5005G Wireless Network Adapter. My other computer (the one that can connect to the wireless network) has Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter.

I'm not sure if that would fix the problem, but I want to install AR9285 onto my Toshiba laptop, but don't know of a reliable website that offers the download, or if anyone has a better suggestion.

I could just change the settings to the wireless network, but when I do, then I can't connect on either computer.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

You have two possible options:

* Reset your Wi-Fi router and reconfigure it to WPA or WPA-PSK (not WPA2) security. Your new notebook will still detect the signal - you'll just have to click on it in the list of available wireless networks and re-enter your network password. Ditto for your old Toshiba since you'll be using a security protocol it will recognize.

* If you don't want to reset/reconfigure the router, buy a USB Wi-Fi stick for the Toshiba that will work with WPA2. If you go this route, go into CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM > DEVICES and disable the old (internal) wireless card.

USB Wi-Fi cards aren't that expensive - many with 4-5 star user reviews are available aon NewEgg for under $20.

Hope this helps.

 

Thank you for your help but I think I figured out what the problem was.

Although I thought I had updated everything, apparently I missed one important update. Not sure how that happened. :-o

I think the problem was that I was running on Windows XP Service Pack 2, because as soon as I updated to Windows XP Service Pack 3 the problem was quickly resolved.

Now I'm just trying to figure out how that happened because I know I went to Windows Update several times to check for updates, so I thought that was done.

But I won't worry too much about it. I'm just happy the problem was resolved and thank you for your quick reply.

 

No problem.

As for XP not catching and installing the SP3 update, I've noticed the same issue on many of the older PCs coming into my shop for service. Not sure why Windows Update is missing it; however my guess is due to Microsoft's waning support of XP.

 

i ran into a similar problem.

wife's laptop running winXp.
It's only used very occasionally unless we are away from home.

we had to go to Sydney twice within about a month.

Last time we used laptop it was ok.

Got to Sydney & the bloody thing would not work.
- no net access by wireless / or ethernet.

I don't know what was wrong with pc? wireless networks in sydney.
Got back to Brisbane, still couldn't access internet but a connection was
shown in 'wireless networks'...
Then reconfigured wireless router with WPA & rebooted router, etc

worked fine, she's back into facebook & all is rosy.

ian c