Win98SE and WPA-PSK incompatibility

I am having a problem getting my Win98SE notebook to connect wirelessly to my
Netgear router, which has WPA-PSK security enabled. After extensive googling
and reading on this newsgroup I realise that such an old OS as Win98SE is
apparently incompatible with WPA-PSK. My current set-up is: Netgear Wireless
ADSL Firewall Router DG834G with an iMac G5 connected through an Ethernet
cable and an iMac G4 which connects (successfully) wirelessly through its
built in Airport, Compaq Armada notebook running Win98SE with a Belkin PCMCIA
card which has in the past connected with the same model router (but one
which didn't have any security enabled) in another house.

I don't use the notebook a lot but I have found three options (apart from
throwing out the notebook!) and would be glad of some advice:

1. When I want to use the notebook, unplug my Netgear router and plug the
notebook into my old BT Voyager broadband modem using my old USB cable (the
notebook has no Ethernet slot). I'm not keen on this although it would be a
work-around.

2. Set the encryption on the router to WEP rather than WPA when I want to use
the notebook, and then switch back. I believe from my reading that Win98SE
would work with WEP? I can set up WEP on the router OK, but I'm not sure what
I would have to set up on the Belkin settings.

3. I have found some downloadable *WPA software* from McAfee:

<http://www.wirelesssecuritycorp.com/wsc/public/WPAAssistant.do>
which apparently enables a Win98 computer to use WPA. Is this a good idea,
and does anyone know if it would work, or is there a better way?

The notebook doesn't have to connect wirelessly, but with no Ethernet slot in
the notebook I believe there is no other choice, unless someone can advise
otherwise.

Incidentally, the Belkin card registers (beeps on turn-on) and is shown in
the taskbar, and its little green light is on. If I look at the card
properties, it shows: Belkin 11Mbps Wireless Notebook Network Adapter. If I
go to Start-Programs-Belkin PCMCIA WLAN Utility and select Belkin PCMCIA WLAN
Monitor my Router SSID is shown but I get an Authentication Error with a
message to Check Encryption Settings when I try to connect to the network.

I'm a novice at all this so having trouble fully grasping some of the
technical terms and issues.




--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church:
http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk

Sally Thompson <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I am having a problem getting my Win98SE notebook to connect wirelessly to my
> Netgear router, which has WPA-PSK security enabled. After extensive googling
> and reading on this newsgroup I realise that such an old OS as Win98SE is
> apparently incompatible with WPA-PSK. My current set-up is: Netgear Wireless
> ADSL Firewall Router DG834G with an iMac G5 connected through an Ethernet
> cable and an iMac G4 which connects (successfully) wirelessly through its
> built in Airport, Compaq Armada notebook running Win98SE with a Belkin PCMCIA
> card which has in the past connected with the same model router (but one
> which didn't have any security enabled) in another house.
>
> I don't use the notebook a lot but I have found three options (apart from
> throwing out the notebook!) and would be glad of some advice:

<snip>

> 3. I have found some downloadable *WPA software* from McAfee:
>
> <http://www.wirelesssecuritycorp.com/wsc/public/WPAAssistant.do>
> which apparently enables a Win98 computer to use WPA. Is this a good idea,
> and does anyone know if it would work, or is there a better way?

The link looks interesting.

An alternative could be Buffalo's Client Manager 2 (v2.1). This works
with many old (non-Buffalo) PCMCIA cards providing WPA-PSK/TKIP, even
WPA-AES for my Gericom card with RTL8180 chipset.

You haven't provided details about the Belkin card.

> The notebook doesn't have to connect wirelessly, but with no Ethernet slot in
> the notebook I believe there is no other choice, unless someone can advise
> otherwise.

You could look for a PCMCIA to ethernet (cable) adapter.

> Incidentally, the Belkin card registers (beeps on turn-on) and is shown in
> the taskbar, and its little green light is on. If I look at the card
> properties, it shows: Belkin 11Mbps Wireless Notebook Network Adapter. If I
> go to Start-Programs-Belkin PCMCIA WLAN Utility and select Belkin PCMCIA WLAN
> Monitor my Router SSID is shown but I get an Authentication Error with a
> message to Check Encryption Settings when I try to connect to the network.

Apparently you have a Win98 driver for the Belkin card, which is...?

On Mon, 7 Aug 2006 17:01:34 +0100, Axel Hammerschmidt wrote
(in article <1hjpo6x.1u55kgf93jp8eN%(E-Mail Removed)>):

> Sally Thompson <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> I am having a problem getting my Win98SE notebook to connect wirelessly to
>> my
>> Netgear router, which has WPA-PSK security enabled. After extensive googling
>> and reading on this newsgroup I realise that such an old OS as Win98SE is
>> apparently incompatible with WPA-PSK. My current set-up is: Netgear Wireless
>> ADSL Firewall Router DG834G with an iMac G5 connected through an Ethernet
>> cable and an iMac G4 which connects (successfully) wirelessly through its
>> built in Airport, Compaq Armada notebook running Win98SE with a Belkin
>> PCMCIA
>> card which has in the past connected with the same model router (but one
>> which didn't have any security enabled) in another house.
>>
>> I don't use the notebook a lot but I have found three options (apart from
>> throwing out the notebook!) and would be glad of some advice:
>
> <snip>
>
>> 3. I have found some downloadable *WPA software* from McAfee:
>>
>> <http://www.wirelesssecuritycorp.com/wsc/public/WPAAssistant.do>
>> which apparently enables a Win98 computer to use WPA. Is this a good idea,
>> and does anyone know if it would work, or is there a better way?
>
> The link looks interesting.
>
> An alternative could be Buffalo's Client Manager 2 (v2.1). This works
> with many old (non-Buffalo) PCMCIA cards providing WPA-PSK/TKIP, even
> WPA-AES for my Gericom card with RTL8180 chipset.

Thanks for the reply. I think I've tracked down Buffalo Client Manager 2
(they are on Version 3 now) and will transfer it via my USB stick to see if
it works.

> You haven't provided details about the Belkin card.

Sorry, didn't realise those details would be useful. I think I have just
about everything else written down. It's a Belkin 802.11b/11 Mbps Wireless
Notebook Network Card, Model F5D6020 ver.2

>> The notebook doesn't have to connect wirelessly, but with no Ethernet slot
>> in
>> the notebook I believe there is no other choice, unless someone can advise
>> otherwise.
>
> You could look for a PCMCIA to ethernet (cable) adapter.

OK, thanks for the tip. There seem to be hundreds out there. Any particular
recommendation?

>> Incidentally, the Belkin card registers (beeps on turn-on) and is shown in
>> the taskbar, and its little green light is on. If I look at the card
>> properties, it shows: Belkin 11Mbps Wireless Notebook Network Adapter. If I
>> go to Start-Programs-Belkin PCMCIA WLAN Utility and select Belkin PCMCIA
>> WLAN
>> Monitor my Router SSID is shown but I get an Authentication Error with a
>> message to Check Encryption Settings when I try to connect to the network.
>
> Apparently you have a Win98 driver for the Belkin card, which is...?

See above :-)


--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church:
http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk

On Mon, 7 Aug 2006 15:39:32 +0100, Sally Thompson <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote in <(E-Mail Removed) et>:

>I am having a problem getting my Win98SE notebook to connect wirelessly to my
>Netgear router, which has WPA-PSK security enabled. After extensive googling
>and reading on this newsgroup I realise that such an old OS as Win98SE is
>apparently incompatible with WPA-PSK.

No Microsoft support for WPA, and OS support has ended. Highly
recommend upgrading to Windows XP, which works well, given enough
memory, even on my old ThinkPad 600 (266 MHz Pentium II).

>My current set-up is: Netgear Wireless
>ADSL Firewall Router DG834G with an iMac G5 connected through an Ethernet
>cable and an iMac G4 which connects (successfully) wirelessly through its
>built in Airport, Compaq Armada notebook running Win98SE with a Belkin PCMCIA
>card which has in the past connected with the same model router (but one
>which didn't have any security enabled) in another house.
>
>I don't use the notebook a lot but I have found three options (apart from
>throwing out the notebook!) and would be glad of some advice:
>
>1. When I want to use the notebook, unplug my Netgear router and plug the
>notebook into my old BT Voyager broadband modem using my old USB cable (the
>notebook has no Ethernet slot). I'm not keen on this although it would be a
>work-around.

USB is problematic on Windows 98. I'd suggest a PC Card Ethernet
adapter. Just about any will do that comes with a Windows 98 driver.
Newegg.com and Provantage are good online sources.

>2. Set the encryption on the router to WEP rather than WPA when I want to use
>the notebook, and then switch back. I believe from my reading that Win98SE
>would work with WEP? I can set up WEP on the router OK, but I'm not sure what
>I would have to set up on the Belkin settings.

Don't use WEP.

>3. I have found some downloadable *WPA software* from McAfee:
><http://www.wirelesssecuritycorp.com/wsc/public/WPAAssistant.do>
>which apparently enables a Win98 computer to use WPA. Is this a good idea,
>and does anyone know if it would work, or is there a better way?

Haven't used it myself, but it reportedly works fine.

--
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>

Sally Thompson <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>2. Set the encryption on the router to WEP rather than WPA when I want to use
>the notebook, and then switch back. I believe from my reading that Win98SE
>would work with WEP?

Windoze 98SE didn't have any native wireless support.
Encryption support comes with the wireless device.
What model and hardware version Belkin do you have?

>I can set up WEP on the router OK, but I'm not sure what
>I would have to set up on the Belkin settings.

Not much to setup on the Belkin. Just setup a profile in the wireless
client manager (or whatever it's called) and tell it to use WEP.
However, methinks the switching back and forth between WEP and WPA is
going to get old very quickly. I would do whatever it takes to make
everything use WPA encryption.

>3. I have found some downloadable *WPA software* from McAfee:
><http://www.wirelesssecuritycorp.com/wsc/public/WPAAssistant.do>
>which apparently enables a Win98 computer to use WPA. Is this a good idea,
>and does anyone know if it would work, or is there a better way?

WSC works. After the trial period ends, the remaining software allows
the use of WPA. I used it for WPA on one of my antique WinME laptops
until recently (when the hard disk blew).

The other wireless client manager that adds WPA (and 802.1x
authentication) is Funk Software (now part of Juniper):
http://www.juniper.net/customers/sup...oducts/oac.jsp
However, this costs about $50 after the 30 day trial.

>The notebook doesn't have to connect wirelessly, but with no Ethernet slot in
>the notebook I believe there is no other choice, unless someone can advise
>otherwise.

What maker and model laptop do you have?

Duz the notebook have a PCMCIA slot? If so, you can plug in either a
wired ethernet adapter or a wireless PCMCIA card. Verify that the
slot is either 16 bit PCMCIA or 32 bit CardBus. A 16 bit card will
fit in either slot, but a 32 bit CardBus card requires a CardBus slot
in the laptop.

Same with a USB port. However, be advised that if it's only USB 1.1
instead of 2.0, you'll be limited to about 11Mbits/sec connection
speed.

>Incidentally, the Belkin card registers (beeps on turn-on) and is shown in
>the taskbar, and its little green light is on. If I look at the card
>properties, it shows: Belkin 11Mbps Wireless Notebook Network Adapter. If I
>go to Start-Programs-Belkin PCMCIA WLAN Utility and select Belkin PCMCIA WLAN
>Monitor my Router SSID is shown but I get an Authentication Error with a
>message to Check Encryption Settings when I try to connect to the network.

Yep. That's what I would expect from a WPA encryption failure.

Hint: You'll get less general answer if you kindly supply the makers
and model numbers of your hardware.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Sally Thompson <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On Mon, 7 Aug 2006 17:01:34 +0100, Axel Hammerschmidt wrote
> (in article <1hjpo6x.1u55kgf93jp8eN%(E-Mail Removed)>):
>
> > Sally Thompson <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

<snip>

> > An alternative could be Buffalo's Client Manager 2 (v2.1). This works
> > with many old (non-Buffalo) PCMCIA cards providing WPA-PSK/TKIP, even
> > WPA-AES for my Gericom card with RTL8180 chipset.
>
> Thanks for the reply. I think I've tracked down Buffalo Client Manager 2
> (they are on Version 3 now) and will transfer it via my USB stick to see if
> it works.

NB! Version 3 will not work with non-Buffalo cards. You must use version
2.1 (or 2.0).

> > You haven't provided details about the Belkin card.
>
> Sorry, didn't realise those details would be useful. I think I have just
> about everything else written down. It's a Belkin 802.11b/11 Mbps Wireless
> Notebook Network Card, Model F5D6020 ver.2

Hmm! Atmel chipset. But try the Buffalo client (v2.1) anyway.

> >> The notebook doesn't have to connect wirelessly, but with no Ethernet
> >> slot in the notebook I believe there is no other choice, unless someone
> >> can advise otherwise.
> >
> > You could look for a PCMCIA to ethernet (cable) adapter.
>
> OK, thanks for the tip. There seem to be hundreds out there. Any particular
> recommendation?

They're all the same. PC Cards (and PCMCIA) are obsolete. Try and find
one that's cheap.

On Mon, 7 Aug 2006 19:55:15 +0200, (E-Mail Removed) (Axel
Hammerschmidt) wrote in <1hjpt9d.khg5nzkugptqN%(E-Mail Removed)>:

>> OK, thanks for the tip. There seem to be hundreds out there. Any particular
>> recommendation?
>
>They're all the same. PC Cards (and PCMCIA) are obsolete. Try and find
>one that's cheap.

While most are sufficiently serviceable for this application, they
aren't "obsolete" and there are differences between different products.

--
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>

Sally Thompson <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I am having a problem getting my Win98SE notebook to connect wirelessly to my
>Netgear router, which has WPA-PSK security enabled. After extensive googling
>and reading on this newsgroup I realise that such an old OS as Win98SE is
>apparently incompatible with WPA-PSK. My current set-up is: Netgear Wireless
>ADSL Firewall Router DG834G with an iMac G5 connected through an Ethernet
>cable and an iMac G4 which connects (successfully) wirelessly through its
>built in Airport, Compaq Armada notebook running Win98SE with a Belkin PCMCIA
>card which has in the past connected with the same model router (but one
>which didn't have any security enabled) in another house.
>

>The notebook doesn't have to connect wirelessly, but with no Ethernet slot in
>the notebook I believe there is no other choice, unless someone can advise
>otherwise.
>
Or you can get a usb to ethernet adaptor.. I have them on my lap-top
they work great...
--
>Sally in Shropshire, UK
>bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
>Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church:
>http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk
>

John Navas <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On Mon, 7 Aug 2006 19:55:15 +0200, (E-Mail Removed) (Axel
> Hammerschmidt) wrote in <1hjpt9d.khg5nzkugptqN%(E-Mail Removed)>:
>
> >> OK, thanks for the tip. There seem to be hundreds out there. Any
> >> particular recommendation?
> >
> >They're all the same. PC Cards (and PCMCIA) are obsolete. Try and find
> >one that's cheap.
>
> While most are sufficiently serviceable for this application, they
> aren't "obsolete" and there are differences between different products.

Both Dell and Apple have gone from PC Cards to PC Express. We are after
all discussing a laptop interface. And as far as someone considering
wireless as an alternative, I respectfully disagree that the differences
has any significence.

"Sally Thompson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) al.net...
> On Mon, 7 Aug 2006 17:01:34 +0100, Axel Hammerschmidt wrote
> (in article <1hjpo6x.1u55kgf93jp8eN%(E-Mail Removed)>):
>
> > Sally Thompson <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> >> I am having a problem getting my Win98SE notebook to connect wirelessly
to
> >> my
> >> Netgear router, which has WPA-PSK security enabled. After extensive
googling
> >> and reading on this newsgroup I realise that such an old OS as Win98SE
is
> >> apparently incompatible with WPA-PSK. My current set-up is: Netgear
Wireless
> >> ADSL Firewall Router DG834G with an iMac G5 connected through an
Ethernet
> >> cable and an iMac G4 which connects (successfully) wirelessly through
its
> >> built in Airport, Compaq Armada notebook running Win98SE with a Belkin
> >> PCMCIA
> >> card which has in the past connected with the same model router (but
one
> >> which didn't have any security enabled) in another house.
> >>
> >> I don't use the notebook a lot but I have found three options (apart
from
> >> throwing out the notebook!) and would be glad of some advice:
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> >> 3. I have found some downloadable *WPA software* from McAfee:
> >>
> >> <http://www.wirelesssecuritycorp.com/wsc/public/WPAAssistant.do>
> >> which apparently enables a Win98 computer to use WPA. Is this a good
idea,
> >> and does anyone know if it would work, or is there a better way?
> >
> > The link looks interesting.
> >
> > An alternative could be Buffalo's Client Manager 2 (v2.1). This works
> > with many old (non-Buffalo) PCMCIA cards providing WPA-PSK/TKIP, even
> > WPA-AES for my Gericom card with RTL8180 chipset.
>
> Thanks for the reply. I think I've tracked down Buffalo Client Manager 2
> (they are on Version 3 now) and will transfer it via my USB stick to see
if
> it works.
>
> > You haven't provided details about the Belkin card.
>
> Sorry, didn't realise those details would be useful. I think I have just
> about everything else written down. It's a Belkin 802.11b/11 Mbps
Wireless
> Notebook Network Card, Model F5D6020 ver.2
>
> >> The notebook doesn't have to connect wirelessly, but with no Ethernet
slot
> >> in
> >> the notebook I believe there is no other choice, unless someone can
advise
> >> otherwise.
> >
> > You could look for a PCMCIA to ethernet (cable) adapter.
>
> OK, thanks for the tip. There seem to be hundreds out there. Any
particular
> recommendation?

the ones i have used for a long time were Xircom (which i think got bought
by Intel). These were not cheap new, but since they were common should be
easy to find 2nd hand?

i have used these things since the days of windows 3.1 - the awkward bit
with all of the different design is the cable / connector.

The better ones use both slots of a dual PCMCIA slot, and had an RJ-45 jack
inside the card. The one i have here is CardBus (so 32 bit) model RBE-100.

all the various network adaptor vendors seemed to make these things, so
there are plenty of others around.
>
> >> Incidentally, the Belkin card registers (beeps on turn-on) and is shown
in
> >> the taskbar, and its little green light is on. If I look at the card
> >> properties, it shows: Belkin 11Mbps Wireless Notebook Network Adapter.
If I
> >> go to Start-Programs-Belkin PCMCIA WLAN Utility and select Belkin
PCMCIA
> >> WLAN
> >> Monitor my Router SSID is shown but I get an Authentication Error with
a
> >> message to Check Encryption Settings when I try to connect to the
network.
> >
> > Apparently you have a Win98 driver for the Belkin card, which is...?
>
> See above :-)
>
>
> --
> Sally in Shropshire, UK
> bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
> Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church:
> http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk
--
Regards

(E-Mail Removed) - replace xyz with ntl