Wireless works if no security set

[chicagotech]

1. Try to reset wireless router.
2. Try to use windows WZC.

Or check this search result.
Can't access the Internet after a ...
Try to reset the router to the factory default and re-configure it.
... After that happened, I discovered that I could access the server, ...


--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com

> When I try and connect to my thinkpads (xp home) wireless connection it
> tells me the radio is powered on but not associated. I'm using a linksys
> router wrt54gs. When I search for networks I can see ours but cannot
> connect to it. Everything was fine until the big wind last Sunday turn
> the power off all over ohio. When the power came on then this laptop
> would not reconnect to our network. I have gone over and over all the
> settings in the current profile to make sure they match up with the router
> settings. Still no luck. I am using ThinkVantage Access Connections
> software.
>
> When I run ipconfig /all from a dos window I don't get the usual good
> stuff like dns server, ip address, subnet, default gateway. Instead it
> says media disconnected.
>
> When the radio is on but not "associated" what does that mean? Gota be a
> dumb question correct?
> Hmmmm!
>
> Thankyou for any help.

[chicagotech]

Thankyou to both Robert & Pavel for the come back.
I disconnected the cable modem and router and reset them. I have gone into
the router and reset to factory settings.
I'm getting good signal from the radio now. However all the connection does
is "acquiring network address" . In the thinkvantage software I have keyed
in the ip address, submask, and gateway address. My cable company says set
to "obtain ip address automatically" that doesn't work either. I'm lost.
My encryption on the laptop matchs the encryption in the router. I have
another laptop and 2-other desktops on this wireless network and they work
just fine. Unbelievable.

[chicagotech]

> Well Jack I tried removing the encryption from the router and the laptop
> connection--yes it worked. My wife is surfing again. However when I chg
> back to the WEP encryption --no workee. Really strange. So I'm working
> on that problem now. You sure gave me a bunch of links with a ton of
> info. Thankyou again.

Hi
Try something else (Not WEP).
From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.
No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Break" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Break).
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.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

[chicagotech]

Jack, Pavel--I have xp home sp3 on all machines. I know this is a stupid
question but I must--How do I disable this thinkvantage software? I have
spent all morning on this. I have learned though I can not connect to my
router with anything but just ole wep 64 bit encryption. My wireless
desktop in our other bedroom does not offer the wpa encryption. No doubt I
will have to update the card or get a new one. But like before, I can get to
the router with all machines except this thinkpad. I want to just use the
windows control thing instead of this thinkvantage access connections
software.

Thankyou for your continued support and patience.


> Not sure if this is relevant in this case -
> Someone posted recently about a similar security config issue,
> IIRC this was because of reverted WPA2 patch in XP SP2 or SP3.
> After restoring this patch the problem was solved.
>
> What SP you have? Have you tried system restore or uninstall some KB
> updates?
>
> --PA