WinXP OK, but can't make WiFi connection with Win ME

I use a NetComm NB5Plus4W ADSL2+ modem combined with a wireless + 4 port
ethernet router to service my home network. I have a Windows XP notebook PC
equipped with a Linksys WPC54GS Wireless-G adapter that can access the
NetComm wireless router no trouble.

My problem arises when I tried to use that very same Linksys card in a
friend's notebook PC, a Toshiba Tecra 8000 using Windows ME, and connect it
to the same NetComm modem+router. I was able to install the Linksys software
OK (although I had to hunt down some .dll & .vxd files on the web). The
Linksys card can find the SSID of my wireless network easily and with
excellent strength, but cannot connect. The message is "Cannot associate with
the Access Point".

I am using 64bit WEP security, and I have entered the 10 character WEP
correctly, over and over again. The wireless mode is set to Infrastructure,
the Channel is set to Auto (the NetComm modem chooses 6), the Tx key is 1 (I
don't know what that means) and the Authentication is Open (ditto). As far as
I can see, all these settings are the same when I use the card successfully
on my WinXP notebook. I have tried varying these last two settings with no
result. All computers on this network are set for Windows to allocate the IP
automatically (I think that's called DHCP). All computers have firewalls, but
disabling these temporarily doesn't seem to help, although I am always
suspicious about these things when there are network problems.

If I use a LAN cable to make a wired connection between the Toshiba notebook
and the NetComm router, everything works fine (suggesting that firewalls are
not the problem), but I can't make the wireless connection work using the
Linksys card which I know works on another PC.

My WinXP notebook shows a network icon (the double monitor) in the System
Tray whenever the Linksys card is inserted, and its possible to make the
connection by "viewing the available networks" from this icon, without using
the Linksys sofware. There is no such icon in the Windows ME System Tray,
although there is a Linksys icon, so I have to try to make the connection
with the Linksys software. Is something missing?

I don't want to make adjustments to settings in my home network if at all
possible, because it works so well. There must be something in the Toshiba
WinME machine which is not right.

Any help would be appreciated.
Many thanks, giddylake

Hi

It is probably the WEP.

Might be some issue of HEX vs. ASCII.

Make sure that the type of string taken from the Router is actually
compatible with the Utility that you use in Windows ME.

If your friend wants Wireless and the Laptop is Windows 2000 capable, he his
probably better of upgrading. Windows 98 is Not a "friend" of current
Wireless.

Jack (MVP-Networking).



"giddylake" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:A5CBAB76-AE30-43C8-9B3C-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I use a NetComm NB5Plus4W ADSL2+ modem combined with a wireless + 4 port
> ethernet router to service my home network. I have a Windows XP notebook
> PC
> equipped with a Linksys WPC54GS Wireless-G adapter that can access the
> NetComm wireless router no trouble.
>
> My problem arises when I tried to use that very same Linksys card in a
> friend's notebook PC, a Toshiba Tecra 8000 using Windows ME, and connect
> it
> to the same NetComm modem+router. I was able to install the Linksys
> software
> OK (although I had to hunt down some .dll & .vxd files on the web). The
> Linksys card can find the SSID of my wireless network easily and with
> excellent strength, but cannot connect. The message is "Cannot associate
> with
> the Access Point".
>
> I am using 64bit WEP security, and I have entered the 10 character WEP
> correctly, over and over again. The wireless mode is set to
> Infrastructure,
> the Channel is set to Auto (the NetComm modem chooses 6), the Tx key is 1
> (I
> don't know what that means) and the Authentication is Open (ditto). As far
> as
> I can see, all these settings are the same when I use the card
> successfully
> on my WinXP notebook. I have tried varying these last two settings with no
> result. All computers on this network are set for Windows to allocate the
> IP
> automatically (I think that's called DHCP). All computers have firewalls,
> but
> disabling these temporarily doesn't seem to help, although I am always
> suspicious about these things when there are network problems.
>
> If I use a LAN cable to make a wired connection between the Toshiba
> notebook
> and the NetComm router, everything works fine (suggesting that firewalls
> are
> not the problem), but I can't make the wireless connection work using the
> Linksys card which I know works on another PC.
>
> My WinXP notebook shows a network icon (the double monitor) in the System
> Tray whenever the Linksys card is inserted, and its possible to make the
> connection by "viewing the available networks" from this icon, without
> using
> the Linksys sofware. There is no such icon in the Windows ME System Tray,
> although there is a Linksys icon, so I have to try to make the connection
> with the Linksys software. Is something missing?
>
> I don't want to make adjustments to settings in my home network if at all
> possible, because it works so well. There must be something in the Toshiba
> WinME machine which is not right.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
> Many thanks, giddylake

Dear Jack,
Thanks for your helpful reply. I don't think its the WEP. I turned off all
security on the NetComm Access Point (temporarily). The Linksys software
noticed this almost immediately, but it still would not connect. I found an
updated driver on the Linksys website, and installed it with a worse outcome
- the driver could not see the card & thought it was "inactive". So I'm in
the process of removing the new driver and reinstalling the old one.

On Windows 2000, I'll look into it. That will take longer!

Many thanks for your efforts. Any more comments would be appreciated, but in
the meantime, I'll persist & look into Win2000 for this geriatric Toshiba.
Regards ... giddylake

"Jack (MVP-Networking)." wrote:

> Hi
>
> It is probably the WEP.
>
> Might be some issue of HEX vs. ASCII.
>
> Make sure that the type of string taken from the Router is actually
> compatible with the Utility that you use in Windows ME.
>
> If your friend wants Wireless and the Laptop is Windows 2000 capable, he his
> probably better of upgrading. Windows 98 is Not a "friend" of current
> Wireless.
>
> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>
>
>
> "giddylake" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:A5CBAB76-AE30-43C8-9B3C-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I use a NetComm NB5Plus4W ADSL2+ modem combined with a wireless + 4 port
> > ethernet router to service my home network. I have a Windows XP notebook
> > PC
> > equipped with a Linksys WPC54GS Wireless-G adapter that can access the
> > NetComm wireless router no trouble.
> >
> > My problem arises when I tried to use that very same Linksys card in a
> > friend's notebook PC, a Toshiba Tecra 8000 using Windows ME, and connect
> > it
> > to the same NetComm modem+router. I was able to install the Linksys
> > software
> > OK (although I had to hunt down some .dll & .vxd files on the web). The
> > Linksys card can find the SSID of my wireless network easily and with
> > excellent strength, but cannot connect. The message is "Cannot associate
> > with
> > the Access Point".
> >
> > I am using 64bit WEP security, and I have entered the 10 character WEP
> > correctly, over and over again. The wireless mode is set to
> > Infrastructure,
> > the Channel is set to Auto (the NetComm modem chooses 6), the Tx key is 1
> > (I
> > don't know what that means) and the Authentication is Open (ditto). As far
> > as
> > I can see, all these settings are the same when I use the card
> > successfully
> > on my WinXP notebook. I have tried varying these last two settings with no
> > result. All computers on this network are set for Windows to allocate the
> > IP
> > automatically (I think that's called DHCP). All computers have firewalls,
> > but
> > disabling these temporarily doesn't seem to help, although I am always
> > suspicious about these things when there are network problems.
> >
> > If I use a LAN cable to make a wired connection between the Toshiba
> > notebook
> > and the NetComm router, everything works fine (suggesting that firewalls
> > are
> > not the problem), but I can't make the wireless connection work using the
> > Linksys card which I know works on another PC.
> >
> > My WinXP notebook shows a network icon (the double monitor) in the System
> > Tray whenever the Linksys card is inserted, and its possible to make the
> > connection by "viewing the available networks" from this icon, without
> > using
> > the Linksys sofware. There is no such icon in the Windows ME System Tray,
> > although there is a Linksys icon, so I have to try to make the connection
> > with the Linksys software. Is something missing?
> >
> > I don't want to make adjustments to settings in my home network if at all
> > possible, because it works so well. There must be something in the Toshiba
> > WinME machine which is not right.
> >
> > Any help would be appreciated.
> > Many thanks, giddylake
>
>
>

Then may be the problem is in these mix& match VXDs you've installed
with the Linksys drivers.
The driver and application must just install, without needing any additions.
If this does not happen, ask Linksys support.

Another option for Win9x can be powerline adapters. They connect to PC via
usual ethernet, and are infinitely easier to setup: no confusing WEP, keys,
passwords, etc visible to the user. IMHO this is well worth the price.
The modern powerline adapters have speed about 80 mbps, but even the old
generation (12 mbps) are enough for home internet connection.

Regards,
--PA


"giddylake" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:1D3CC94C-E8D9-4C48-A413-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Dear Jack,
> Thanks for your helpful reply. I don't think its the WEP. I turned off all
> security on the NetComm Access Point (temporarily). The Linksys software
> noticed this almost immediately, but it still would not connect. I found an
> updated driver on the Linksys website, and installed it with a worse outcome
> - the driver could not see the card & thought it was "inactive". So I'm in
> the process of removing the new driver and reinstalling the old one.
>
> On Windows 2000, I'll look into it. That will take longer!
>
> Many thanks for your efforts. Any more comments would be appreciated, but in
> the meantime, I'll persist & look into Win2000 for this geriatric Toshiba.
> Regards ... giddylake
>
> "Jack (MVP-Networking)." wrote:
>
>> Hi
>>
>> It is probably the WEP.
>>
>> Might be some issue of HEX vs. ASCII.
>>
>> Make sure that the type of string taken from the Router is actually
>> compatible with the Utility that you use in Windows ME.
>>
>> If your friend wants Wireless and the Laptop is Windows 2000 capable, he his
>> probably better of upgrading. Windows 98 is Not a "friend" of current
>> Wireless.
>>
>> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>>
>>
>>
>> "giddylake" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:A5CBAB76-AE30-43C8-9B3C-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >I use a NetComm NB5Plus4W ADSL2+ modem combined with a wireless + 4 port
>> > ethernet router to service my home network. I have a Windows XP notebook
>> > PC
>> > equipped with a Linksys WPC54GS Wireless-G adapter that can access the
>> > NetComm wireless router no trouble.
>> >
>> > My problem arises when I tried to use that very same Linksys card in a
>> > friend's notebook PC, a Toshiba Tecra 8000 using Windows ME, and connect
>> > it
>> > to the same NetComm modem+router. I was able to install the Linksys
>> > software
>> > OK (although I had to hunt down some .dll & .vxd files on the web). The
>> > Linksys card can find the SSID of my wireless network easily and with
>> > excellent strength, but cannot connect. The message is "Cannot associate
>> > with
>> > the Access Point".
>> >
>> > I am using 64bit WEP security, and I have entered the 10 character WEP
>> > correctly, over and over again. The wireless mode is set to
>> > Infrastructure,
>> > the Channel is set to Auto (the NetComm modem chooses 6), the Tx key is 1
>> > (I
>> > don't know what that means) and the Authentication is Open (ditto). As far
>> > as
>> > I can see, all these settings are the same when I use the card
>> > successfully
>> > on my WinXP notebook. I have tried varying these last two settings with no
>> > result. All computers on this network are set for Windows to allocate the
>> > IP
>> > automatically (I think that's called DHCP). All computers have firewalls,
>> > but
>> > disabling these temporarily doesn't seem to help, although I am always
>> > suspicious about these things when there are network problems.
>> >
>> > If I use a LAN cable to make a wired connection between the Toshiba
>> > notebook
>> > and the NetComm router, everything works fine (suggesting that firewalls
>> > are
>> > not the problem), but I can't make the wireless connection work using the
>> > Linksys card which I know works on another PC.
>> >
>> > My WinXP notebook shows a network icon (the double monitor) in the System
>> > Tray whenever the Linksys card is inserted, and its possible to make the
>> > connection by "viewing the available networks" from this icon, without
>> > using
>> > the Linksys sofware. There is no such icon in the Windows ME System Tray,
>> > although there is a Linksys icon, so I have to try to make the connection
>> > with the Linksys software. Is something missing?
>> >
>> > I don't want to make adjustments to settings in my home network if at all
>> > possible, because it works so well. There must be something in the Toshiba
>> > WinME machine which is not right.
>> >
>> > Any help would be appreciated.
>> > Many thanks, giddylake
>>
>>
>>

Yes you are going to need drivers design for Windows ME, and the drivers
should just install. Hunting down drivers on the net, may result in drivers
that don't work. Also you'll most likely need to use the hex equivalent. You
say you've turn off all security have you rebooted? Often the access point
will need to be restarted for security changes to take effect.

--
David Hettel

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group for everyone
to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions addressed directly to me in
E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

DISCLAIMER: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, made in relation to the accuracy, reliability
or content of this post. The author shall not be liable for any direct,
indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of, or
inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this post and confers
no rights.



"Pavel A." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Then may be the problem is in these mix& match VXDs you've installed
> with the Linksys drivers.
> The driver and application must just install, without needing any
> additions.
> If this does not happen, ask Linksys support.
>
> Another option for Win9x can be powerline adapters. They connect to PC via
> usual ethernet, and are infinitely easier to setup: no confusing WEP,
> keys,
> passwords, etc visible to the user. IMHO this is well worth the price.
> The modern powerline adapters have speed about 80 mbps, but even the old
> generation (12 mbps) are enough for home internet connection.
>
> Regards,
> --PA
>
>
> "giddylake" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:1D3CC94C-E8D9-4C48-A413-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Dear Jack,
>> Thanks for your helpful reply. I don't think its the WEP. I turned off
>> all
>> security on the NetComm Access Point (temporarily). The Linksys software
>> noticed this almost immediately, but it still would not connect. I found
>> an
>> updated driver on the Linksys website, and installed it with a worse
>> outcome
>> - the driver could not see the card & thought it was "inactive". So I'm
>> in
>> the process of removing the new driver and reinstalling the old one.
>>
>> On Windows 2000, I'll look into it. That will take longer!
>>
>> Many thanks for your efforts. Any more comments would be appreciated, but
>> in
>> the meantime, I'll persist & look into Win2000 for this geriatric
>> Toshiba.
>> Regards ... giddylake
>>
>> "Jack (MVP-Networking)." wrote:
>>
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> It is probably the WEP.
>>>
>>> Might be some issue of HEX vs. ASCII.
>>>
>>> Make sure that the type of string taken from the Router is actually
>>> compatible with the Utility that you use in Windows ME.
>>>
>>> If your friend wants Wireless and the Laptop is Windows 2000 capable, he
>>> his
>>> probably better of upgrading. Windows 98 is Not a "friend" of current
>>> Wireless.
>>>
>>> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "giddylake" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:A5CBAB76-AE30-43C8-9B3C-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> >I use a NetComm NB5Plus4W ADSL2+ modem combined with a wireless + 4
>>> >port
>>> > ethernet router to service my home network. I have a Windows XP
>>> > notebook
>>> > PC
>>> > equipped with a Linksys WPC54GS Wireless-G adapter that can access the
>>> > NetComm wireless router no trouble.
>>> >
>>> > My problem arises when I tried to use that very same Linksys card in a
>>> > friend's notebook PC, a Toshiba Tecra 8000 using Windows ME, and
>>> > connect
>>> > it
>>> > to the same NetComm modem+router. I was able to install the Linksys
>>> > software
>>> > OK (although I had to hunt down some .dll & .vxd files on the web).
>>> > The
>>> > Linksys card can find the SSID of my wireless network easily and with
>>> > excellent strength, but cannot connect. The message is "Cannot
>>> > associate
>>> > with
>>> > the Access Point".
>>> >
>>> > I am using 64bit WEP security, and I have entered the 10 character WEP
>>> > correctly, over and over again. The wireless mode is set to
>>> > Infrastructure,
>>> > the Channel is set to Auto (the NetComm modem chooses 6), the Tx key
>>> > is 1
>>> > (I
>>> > don't know what that means) and the Authentication is Open (ditto). As
>>> > far
>>> > as
>>> > I can see, all these settings are the same when I use the card
>>> > successfully
>>> > on my WinXP notebook. I have tried varying these last two settings
>>> > with no
>>> > result. All computers on this network are set for Windows to allocate
>>> > the
>>> > IP
>>> > automatically (I think that's called DHCP). All computers have
>>> > firewalls,
>>> > but
>>> > disabling these temporarily doesn't seem to help, although I am always
>>> > suspicious about these things when there are network problems.
>>> >
>>> > If I use a LAN cable to make a wired connection between the Toshiba
>>> > notebook
>>> > and the NetComm router, everything works fine (suggesting that
>>> > firewalls
>>> > are
>>> > not the problem), but I can't make the wireless connection work using
>>> > the
>>> > Linksys card which I know works on another PC.
>>> >
>>> > My WinXP notebook shows a network icon (the double monitor) in the
>>> > System
>>> > Tray whenever the Linksys card is inserted, and its possible to make
>>> > the
>>> > connection by "viewing the available networks" from this icon, without
>>> > using
>>> > the Linksys sofware. There is no such icon in the Windows ME System
>>> > Tray,
>>> > although there is a Linksys icon, so I have to try to make the
>>> > connection
>>> > with the Linksys software. Is something missing?
>>> >
>>> > I don't want to make adjustments to settings in my home network if at
>>> > all
>>> > possible, because it works so well. There must be something in the
>>> > Toshiba
>>> > WinME machine which is not right.
>>> >
>>> > Any help would be appreciated.
>>> > Many thanks, giddylake
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>