Unable to connect using WPA2

[Lula]

I am new to wireless so please bear with me. I set up my wireless router with
the help of my internet service provider but they automatically set it up to
WEP. I have my PC connected to the router via ethernet cable and also have a
laptop which connects via wireless card. Both connected fine. On checking the
internet the suggestion seems to be that WPA2 is better and also that I
should change the SSID. I went into the relevant site for my router and
changed the SSID and also the security code from WEP to WPA-ESK/WPA2-ESK. The
shared key that is recorded on my router came up. I then went onto the laptop
and found the "new" SSID and input the shared key. It tried to "connect" for
several minutes then went back to the screen. This happened each time I tried
it. As we need to use the laptop I went back and changed the code back to WEP
and again input the new "key" that came up. I got a message that it had
connected but it hadn't - everything was still shoing us not connected but a
"disconnect" option appeared?? Don't know if I am missing some part of it.
Now can't use the laptop at all. I understand that it may be that the laptop
doesn't take WPA2 - it is a few years old - but don't understand why I can't
get access using WEP now. Dop I have to take the "key" that comes up or can I
change it to some password of my own - or is this down to the router type? Am
confused - Any help would be appreciated.

[Jef Roe]

"Lula" <Lula@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7EE5729B-93A4-4109-9A62-157EC874A403@microsoft.com...
>I am new to wireless so please bear with me. I set up my wireless router
>with
> the help of my internet service provider but they automatically set it up
> to
> WEP. I have my PC connected to the router via ethernet cable and also have
> a
> laptop which connects via wireless card. Both connected fine. On checking
> the
> internet the suggestion seems to be that WPA2 is better and also that I
> should change the SSID. I went into the relevant site for my router and
> changed the SSID and also the security code from WEP to WPA-ESK/WPA2-ESK.
> The
> shared key that is recorded on my router came up. I then went onto the
> laptop
> and found the "new" SSID and input the shared key. It tried to "connect"
> for
> several minutes then went back to the screen. This happened each time I
> tried
> it. As we need to use the laptop I went back and changed the code back to
> WEP
> and again input the new "key" that came up. I got a message that it had
> connected but it hadn't - everything was still shoing us not connected but
> a
> "disconnect" option appeared?? Don't know if I am missing some part of it.
> Now can't use the laptop at all. I understand that it may be that the
> laptop
> doesn't take WPA2 - it is a few years old - but don't understand why I
> can't
> get access using WEP now. Dop I have to take the "key" that comes up or
> can I
> change it to some password of my own - or is this down to the router type?
> Am
> confused - Any help would be appreciated.

Sounds like you have got WEP encryption keys mixed up with WPA encryption.
When you set the WPA key did you pick a nice long series of letters and
numbers normally something like 8 to 63 characters (letters numbers or
punctuation).

If you have got yourself and the router in a muddle you can set the router
back to defaults and start again and change one part at a time, the SSID or
the encryption type.. Either get the router manual out or look one up on
tinternet. If not available, you should see a small hole on the back or
underside of the router, this is used to reset it to defaults. Switch the
router off. Find a paper clip and straighten out one end. Push it fairly
firmly into the small hole and at the same time turn the router on while
still maintaining pressure on the clip for at least 10 seconds. Release the
clip and the router should be back to factory settings. Interrogate the
firmware and reset your keys to WEP. Report back when you have got to this
stage.

[Lem]

Lula wrote:
> I am new to wireless so please bear with me. I set up my wireless router with
> the help of my internet service provider but they automatically set it up to
> WEP. I have my PC connected to the router via ethernet cable and also have a
> laptop which connects via wireless card. Both connected fine. On checking the
> internet the suggestion seems to be that WPA2 is better and also that I
> should change the SSID. I went into the relevant site for my router and
> changed the SSID and also the security code from WEP to WPA-ESK/WPA2-ESK. The
> shared key that is recorded on my router came up. I then went onto the laptop
> and found the "new" SSID and input the shared key. It tried to "connect" for
> several minutes then went back to the screen. This happened each time I tried
> it. As we need to use the laptop I went back and changed the code back to WEP
> and again input the new "key" that came up. I got a message that it had
> connected but it hadn't - everything was still shoing us not connected but a
> "disconnect" option appeared?? Don't know if I am missing some part of it.
> Now can't use the laptop at all. I understand that it may be that the laptop
> doesn't take WPA2 - it is a few years old - but don't understand why I can't
> get access using WEP now. Dop I have to take the "key" that comes up or can I
> change it to some password of my own - or is this down to the router type? Am
> confused - Any help would be appreciated.

"ESK" is not a standard abbreviation used in connection with wireless
encryption. Because the letter "E" is not near the letter "P" on a
standard QWERTY keyboard, this doesn't seem like a typo (what you
*should* be using is WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK).

What are the choices you are given when you go to configure the router's
configuration mode? And it would help if you identified the make and
model of the router.

--
Lem

Apollo 11 - 40 years ago:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/40th/index.html