Brainfade wrote:
> I have the EXACT problem, using he Wireless Network Setup Wizard, I get to
> the 1st step where it says "Give your network a name using up o 32
> characters", I put in a name, eg NETGEAR, or whatever, I ALWAYS get the
> message "The network name (SSID) contains 1 or more characters that are not
> valid. Please type a different network name." I am ONLY using letters, no
> spaces, commas etc, just letters, I have tried numbers to but I keep getting
> that message, btw, all my other wifi stuff works perfecty, my laptop connects
> & runs fine on my wifi network, as does mt N93 phone & my mates laptop, just
> trying to get beyond the first step of the network wizard is VERY frustrating!
>
> "Danny" wrote:
>
>> I recently clean installed windows XP Home on both my desktop and notebook
>> computers. After the usual driver issues and a few visits to windows update
>> I've managed to get just about everything back in order. Both computers
>> connect to the wireless router I have and work fine on the internet, but I
>> cannot get either of them to "see" each other on the network to share files.
>> I've tried using the wireless network setup wizard, and it works fine on my
>> desktop, but when I try to enter the network name ( ssid ) on my laptop I
>> keep getting an error message " The network name ( ssid ) contains 1 or more
>> characters that are not valid. Please type a different network name." I've
>> tried everything I can think of. On my desktop I just named it network01, on
>> the laptop I've tried combinations of letters and numbers, just letters, just
>> numbers, only a few characters, 32 characters. No matter what I do I get the
>> same error message.
>> Any help?????
Ignore the wizard. Check/make the settings manually.
First point: you must choose and set the network SSID in the ROUTER,
not in any of the computers that eventually will connect to the wireless
network. All the "wizard" does is create a file of configuration
settings to save you the time of typing them in manually. Importantly,
the wizard will not work with devices that do not have a USB port or
that do not support "Windows Connect Now" technology. Notwithstanding
Microsoft's wishes, that includes many (most?) SOHO wireless routers.
For more information, read this, especially the Introduction:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/com...uy/cg0604.mspx
See your router's User Guide for instructions on how to access your
router's configuration utility (do this while connected to the router --
at least temporarily -- via Ethernet cable) and how to set the SSID.
Pick a unique name for your network (not your last name or address or
the manufacturer's default name).
Second point: if you are able to surf the Internet, you are connected
to a wireless network (assuming that you aren't otherwise connected to
the Internet). This may or may not be YOUR wireless network.
Determine if you are using either Windows WZC to configure the wireless
adapters rather OR a utility provided by the adapter mfr. but not both.
See
http://www.ezlan.net/wzc.html
If you are using WZC, hover the mouse over the wireless connection icon
in the notification area (next to the clock). Assuming that you are
connected to the network (e.g., able to surf the 'net), you should see a
"balloon" that says something like the one shown here:
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/1...problemjz8.png
The name in parentheses after "Wireless network connection" is the name
(SSID) of the wireless network to which you are connected. Is it a name
you created (NOT "Netgear" or "Linksys" or "2Wire" or the like)? If
yes, good, you are connected to YOUR wireless network and now all you
have to do is to configure the security settings for your network. If
you don't recognize the SSID, or if its one of the manufacturer default
names, chances are that you've connected to someone else's network
(unless, of course, you failed to change the default SSID of your own
network).
Once you can reliably connect to your own router, set up security.
Again, start by configuring your router. See the User Guide for
details. Use WPA2 or WPA-PSK (might be called WPA Personal) rather than
WEP. After security on the router is configured, you must enter the
passphrase on each computer. Do this by going to the list of preferred
networks in the wireless connection properties dialog, selecting your
network and clicking the "advanced" tab and then the "association" tab.
If you have already connected to your network, its SSID should
already be included in the list of "preferred networks." Delete all
other entries in the list. See
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/com...uy/cg0804.mspx
for more detail.
--
Lem MS MVP -- Networking
To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
Similar Threads
Linear Mode
