newbie - how to change WP key index in MS XP Home?

Some time ago I set up a home network and chose WEP key index 3. I set
up a few PC and laptops including one that runs Microsoft XP Home.

Now I have a device that won't let me specify the WEP key index - it
just takes the first. I can change the router, the Linux PCs, the XP
Pro - but I have searched high & low and cannot see how to change the
WEP key index under XP home.

Can someone please help? I know that this ought to be obvious, but ...

On 23 Apr 2007 05:36:38 -0700, Baron Samedi <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote in <(E-Mail Removed). com>:

>Some time ago I set up a home network and chose WEP key index 3. I set
>up a few PC and laptops including one that runs Microsoft XP Home.
>
>Now I have a device that won't let me specify the WEP key index - it
>just takes the first. I can change the router, the Linux PCs, the XP
>Pro - but I have searched high & low and cannot see how to change the
>WEP key index under XP home.
>
>Can someone please help? I know that this ought to be obvious, but ...

Switch to WPA with a strong passphrase -- WEP is too easily cracked to
be of any real value.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

On Apr 23, 11:07 pm, John Navas <spamfilt...@navasgroup.com> wrote:
> On 23 Apr 2007 05:36:38 -0700, Baron Samedi <Papa.Legba....@gmail.com>
> wrote in <1177331798.759053.87...@y80g2000hsf.googlegroups. com>:
>
> >Some time ago I set up a home network and chose WEP key index 3. I set
> >up a few PC and laptops including one that runs Microsoft XP Home.
>
> >Now I have a device that won't let me specify the WEP key index - it
> >just takes the first. I can change the router, the Linux PCs, the XP
> >Pro - but I have searched high & low and cannot see how to change the
> >WEP key index under XP home.
>
> >Can someone please help? I know that this ought to be obvious, but ...
>
> Switch to WPA with a strong passphrase -- WEP is too easily cracked to
> be of any real value.
>
> --
> Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
> John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
> Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
> Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

1) I would prefer to, but I seem to recall that XP did not support
WPA.
2) the new deveice does not support WPA
3) thanks for helping. Do you know where I can see the WEP key index
in XP home and just change "3" to "1"?

On 23 Apr 2007 16:49:50 -0700, Baron Samedi <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote in <(E-Mail Removed). com>:

>On Apr 23, 11:07 pm, John Navas <spamfilt...@navasgroup.com> wrote:
>> On 23 Apr 2007 05:36:38 -0700, Baron Samedi <Papa.Legba....@gmail.com>
>> wrote in <1177331798.759053.87...@y80g2000hsf.googlegroups. com>:
>>
>> >Some time ago I set up a home network and chose WEP key index 3. I set
>> >up a few PC and laptops including one that runs Microsoft XP Home.
>>
>> >Now I have a device that won't let me specify the WEP key index - it
>> >just takes the first. I can change the router, the Linux PCs, the XP
>> >Pro - but I have searched high & low and cannot see how to change the
>> >WEP key index under XP home.
>>
>> >Can someone please help? I know that this ought to be obvious, but ...
>>
>> Switch to WPA with a strong passphrase -- WEP is too easily cracked to
>> be of any real value.

>1) I would prefer to, but I seem to recall that XP did not support
>WPA.

WPA _is_ supported in Windows XP
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/815485>

>2) the new deveice does not support WPA

Good reason to get a different device. Seriously. Would you wear a
condom with a hole in it?

>3) thanks for helping. Do you know where I can see the WEP key index
>in XP home and just change "3" to "1"?

No. But if you are going to stay with unsafe networking (WEP), you
could just switch to Index 1 -- there's no advantage to Index 3

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

John Navas wrote:
> On 23 Apr 2007 16:49:50 -0700, Baron Samedi <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote in <(E-Mail Removed). com>:
>
> >On Apr 23, 11:07 pm, John Navas <spamfilt...@navasgroup.com> wrote:
> >> On 23 Apr 2007 05:36:38 -0700, Baron Samedi <Papa.Legba....@gmail.com>
> >> wrote in <1177331798.759053.87...@y80g2000hsf.googlegroups. com>:
> >>
> >> >Some time ago I set up a home network and chose WEP key index 3. I set
> >> >up a few PC and laptops including one that runs Microsoft XP Home.
> >>
> >> >Now I have a device that won't let me specify the WEP key index - it
> >> >just takes the first. I can change the router, the Linux PCs, the XP
> >> >Pro - but I have searched high & low and cannot see how to change the
> >> >WEP key index under XP home.
> >>
> >> >Can someone please help? I know that this ought to be obvious, but ...
> >>
> >> Switch to WPA with a strong passphrase -- WEP is too easily cracked to
> >> be of any real value.
>

Thank you very much for your reply, I do appreciate that you are
trying to help - but the way to do that is to answer the question
which I did ask, rather than the one which you think that I ought to
have asked.

I do realise that that comes over as sounding round, and I do not mean
it to do so, but I just want an answer to a question which I am now
coming to suspect I should have asked in a Windows group, rather than
this one.




> >1) I would prefer to, but I seem to recall that XP did not support
> >WPA.
>
> WPA _is_ supported in Windows XP
> <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/815485>

Good news indeed. When I first set up this network, WPA was only
supported on XP pro, not XP home.

My problem is still that, no matter how much I gogole, nor no matter
how much I click around on Windows settings 9and I am no newbie in
that respect), I cannot, for the life of me, see how to change the WEP
key index, or, to change to using WPA (I presume that they are on the
same or neighbouring tabs).

Can anyone help?


>
> >2) the new deveice does not support WPA
>
> Good reason to get a different device.

I just did - and it doesn't (appear to) support WPA< although the
documentation is rather cryptic (and there was no point in asking the
kid selling it). Look, let's try one thing at a time. First I must
get WEP working on Windows XP home, simply by changing the Key index
from 3 to 1 - but HOW? After that, I will worry about the new device.


> Seriously. Would you wear a condom with a hole in it?
A what?



> >3) thanks for helping. Do you know where I can see the WEP key index
> >in XP home and just change "3" to "1"?
>
> No. But if you are going to stay with unsafe networking (WEP), you
> could just switch to Index 1 -- there's no advantage to Index 3

That's the whole point - HOW do I make that change on XP home?


>
> --
> Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
> John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
> Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
> Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

Baron Samedi wrote:
> John Navas wrote:
>> On 23 Apr 2007 16:49:50 -0700, Baron Samedi <(E-Mail Removed)>
>> wrote in <(E-Mail Removed). com>:
>>
>>> On Apr 23, 11:07 pm, John Navas <spamfilt...@navasgroup.com> wrote:
>>>> On 23 Apr 2007 05:36:38 -0700, Baron Samedi <Papa.Legba....@gmail.com>
>>>> wrote in <1177331798.759053.87...@y80g2000hsf.googlegroups. com>:
>>>>
>>>>> Some time ago I set up a home network and chose WEP key index 3. I set
>>>>> up a few PC and laptops including one that runs Microsoft XP Home.
>>>>> Now I have a device that won't let me specify the WEP key index - it
>>>>> just takes the first. I can change the router, the Linux PCs, the XP
>>>>> Pro - but I have searched high & low and cannot see how to change the
>>>>> WEP key index under XP home.
>>>>> Can someone please help? I know that this ought to be obvious, but ...
>>>> Switch to WPA with a strong passphrase -- WEP is too easily cracked to
>>>> be of any real value.
>
> Thank you very much for your reply, I do appreciate that you are
> trying to help - but the way to do that is to answer the question
> which I did ask, rather than the one which you think that I ought to
> have asked.
>
> I do realise that that comes over as sounding round, and I do not mean
> it to do so, but I just want an answer to a question which I am now
> coming to suspect I should have asked in a Windows group, rather than
> this one.
>
>
>
>
>>> 1) I would prefer to, but I seem to recall that XP did not support
>>> WPA.
>> WPA _is_ supported in Windows XP
>> <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/815485>
>
> Good news indeed. When I first set up this network, WPA was only
> supported on XP pro, not XP home.
>
> My problem is still that, no matter how much I gogole, nor no matter
> how much I click around on Windows settings 9and I am no newbie in
> that respect), I cannot, for the life of me, see how to change the WEP
> key index, or, to change to using WPA (I presume that they are on the
> same or neighbouring tabs).
>
> Can anyone help?
>
>
>>> 2) the new deveice does not support WPA
>> Good reason to get a different device.
>
> I just did - and it doesn't (appear to) support WPA< although the
> documentation is rather cryptic (and there was no point in asking the
> kid selling it). Look, let's try one thing at a time. First I must
> get WEP working on Windows XP home, simply by changing the Key index
> from 3 to 1 - but HOW? After that, I will worry about the new device.
>
>
>> Seriously. Would you wear a condom with a hole in it?
> A what?
>
>
>
>>> 3) thanks for helping. Do you know where I can see the WEP key index
>>> in XP home and just change "3" to "1"?
>> No. But if you are going to stay with unsafe networking (WEP), you
>> could just switch to Index 1 -- there's no advantage to Index 3
>
> That's the whole point - HOW do I make that change on XP home?
>
>
>> --
>> Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
>> John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
>> Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
>> Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>
>
Having a fully patched XP SP2 Laptop that is capable of WPA2 and I have
no problems changing a Key Index for WEP using the windows utility.

1.rt click on the wireless icon in sys tray.
2.click on "Status".
3.click on the "Properties" tab in the pop-up window.
4.click on the "wireless networks" tab in the next pop-up window.
5.Highlight the network you wish to access and click on "properties".
6.On the "properties" pop-up you will see the details of that network
including your WEP Key and "Key Index (advanced)" and I can either input
manually 1-4 in the box or I can use the up and down arrows. Then press
"OK".


If your new device doesn't appear to support WPA I would suggest you
check to see if there is a driver upgrade to provide this functionality.

On 23 Apr 2007 16:49:50 -0700, in alt.internet.wireless , Baron Samedi
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>1) I would prefer to, but I seem to recall that XP did not support
>WPA.

Supports it fine (with SP2 anyway).

>2) the new deveice does not support WPA

yuck - swap it.

>3) thanks for helping. Do you know where I can see the WEP key index
>in XP home and just change "3" to "1"?

Probably depends on your client software - don't think you can do it
with WZC.
--
Mark McIntyre

On 23 Apr 2007 21:58:38 -0700, Baron Samedi <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote in <(E-Mail Removed) .com>:

>John Navas wrote:

>> >> Switch to WPA with a strong passphrase -- WEP is too easily cracked to
>> >> be of any real value.
>
>Thank you very much for your reply, I do appreciate that you are
>trying to help - but the way to do that is to answer the question
>which I did ask, rather than the one which you think that I ought to
>have asked.
>
>I do realise that that comes over as sounding round, and I do not mean
>it to do so, but I just want an answer to a question which I am now
>coming to suspect I should have asked in a Windows group, rather than
>this one.

The "problems" with asking for free support are that you don't have the
right to demand anything, and that when you get snotty about it, people
stop trying to help you. I personally think messing with WEP is like
rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, and thus isn't a good use of
my time. Likewise trying to help people that can't be bothered to give
careful and polite consideration to whatever advice is provided.

>> Seriously. Would you wear a condom with a hole in it?

>A what?

condom n.
a thin sheath, usually of very thin rubber, worn over the penis
during sexual intercourse to prevent conception or sexually
transmitted disease.

Using WEP for security is like using a condom with a hole in it for sex.

>> No. But if you are going to stay with unsafe networking (WEP), you
>> could just switch to Index 1 -- there's no advantage to Index 3
>
>That's the whole point - HOW do I make that change on XP home?

XP Home only allows one key, but does let you specify the index of that
key (1-4). The confusing thing is that XP Home 1-4 may correspond to
0-3 in other implementations.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>