WZC disconnect issues

I've been having some issues with Windows XP WZC. I am trying to
connect to a network with SSID broadcasting off and 128 bit WEP. It was
working up until today. I always connected by adding the network to
the "preferred network" list, using the exact SSID, entering the WEP
key, and then clicking OK. It then shows that it's connected, but it
really isn't. I right click on the network connection icon in the
system tray, select my network from the list of available wireless
networks, enter the WEP key again, and click connect. At this point,
one of two things happens. Either a message "bubble" appears in the
bottom corner saying "One or more network connections are available..."
and I'm no longer connected, or else it will show that it's connected,
but in the Status>Support menu item it will show an "Invalid IP
Address." Either way, I can't connect.

I hope that was coherent enough to be understandable. FWIW, I have a
Netgear WG111 USB adaptor. Ideally, I'd like to know the standard
process for connecting to SSID broadcast disabled, WEP enabled network
with WZC. I can take screenshots if what I wrote wasn't understandable,
etc. I'll do anything to prevent using the Netgear provided "Smart
Wizard."

TIA
Drew

Drew B. wrote:

>I've been having some issues with Windows XP WZC. I am trying to
>connect to a network with SSID broadcasting off and 128 bit WEP. It was
>working up until today. I always connected by adding the network to
>the "preferred network" list, using the exact SSID, entering the WEP
>key, and then clicking OK. It then shows that it's connected, but it
>really isn't. I right click on the network connection icon in the
>system tray, select my network from the list of available wireless
>networks, enter the WEP key again, and click connect. At this point,
>one of two things happens. Either a message "bubble" appears in the
>bottom corner saying "One or more network connections are available..."
>and I'm no longer connected, or else it will show that it's connected,
>but in the Status>Support menu item it will show an "Invalid IP
>Address." Either way, I can't connect.
>
>I hope that was coherent enough to be understandable. FWIW, I have a
>Netgear WG111 USB adaptor. Ideally, I'd like to know the standard
>process for connecting to SSID broadcast disabled, WEP enabled network
>with WZC. I can take screenshots if what I wrote wasn't understandable,
>etc. I'll do anything to prevent using the Netgear provided "Smart
>Wizard."
>
>TIA
>Drew
>
>
>
I can't comment on problems associated with SSID disabled, but am sure
they are numerous.

Why do that? I provides no additional security -- just problems connecting.

WEP is better than nothing. WPA is rather good security. MAC address
filtering and SSID broadcast disabling is just troublesome for
legitimate users.

Drew B. wrote:

> I've been having some issues with Windows XP WZC. I am trying to
> connect to a network with SSID broadcasting off and 128 bit WEP. It was
> working up until today. I always connected by adding the network to
> the "preferred network" list, using the exact SSID, entering the WEP
> key, and then clicking OK. It then shows that it's connected, but it
> really isn't. I right click on the network connection icon in the
> system tray, select my network from the list of available wireless
> networks, enter the WEP key again, and click connect. At this point,
> one of two things happens. Either a message "bubble" appears in the
> bottom corner saying "One or more network connections are available..."
> and I'm no longer connected, or else it will show that it's connected,
> but in the Status>Support menu item it will show an "Invalid IP
> Address." Either way, I can't connect.
>
> I hope that was coherent enough to be understandable. FWIW, I have a
> Netgear WG111 USB adaptor. Ideally, I'd like to know the standard
> process for connecting to SSID broadcast disabled, WEP enabled network
> with WZC. I can take screenshots if what I wrote wasn't understandable,
> etc. I'll do anything to prevent using the Netgear provided "Smart
> Wizard."

Well, you can always disable WZCS on the machine, which won't pop-up the
preferred network or ask questions. You can config the card with the O/S
Device Manager and give the SSID and WEP key and it will hold and be keep
there.

Duane

Jerry Park <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I can't comment on problems associated with SSID disabled, but am sure
> they are numerous.

> Why do that? I provides no additional security -- just problems connecting.

In one building, it was done so that one "private" WAP with a different WEP
key wouldn't show up on the list when people looked for a WAP.

It was supposed to be a convenience that it didn't show up.
"I can't comment ..." applies here as well ;-)

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>Jerry Park <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>
>>I can't comment on problems associated with SSID disabled, but am sure
>>they are numerous.
>>
>>
>
>
>
>>Why do that? I provides no additional security -- just problems connecting.
>>
>>
>
>In one building, it was done so that one "private" WAP with a different WEP
>key wouldn't show up on the list when people looked for a WAP.
>
>It was supposed to be a convenience that it didn't show up.
>"I can't comment ..." applies here as well ;-)
>
>
>
Understood

>>>Why do that? I provides no additional security -- just problems connecting.

Disabling SSID should mean there is no traffic unless a client is
connected to the WAP. This means there is much less chance of a hacker
finding a little-used AP in the first place. That's a good thing,
IMHO.

But I agree that disabling SSID does create many and varied connection
problems.

Ok, I set the router to broadcast its SSID. I also unchecked the "Allow
Windows to configure my wireless settings" box. Now I can connect to my
router if I turn WEP off, but as soon as I turn it back on I am no
longer allowed to connect. I can see the list of available networks,
and if I enter the preper WEP key, nothing happens. I really just want
to amke sure I'm doing this right:

1. Right click on Wireless Network Connection icon
2. Select "View Available Wireless Networks"
3. Select my network from the list
4. Enter the WEP key
5. Click Connect
6. Nothing happens.

Am I connecting correctly? Any help is greatly appreciated.

On 7 Jul 2005 19:35:54 -0700, "Drew B." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Ok, I set the router to broadcast its SSID. I also unchecked the "Allow
>Windows to configure my wireless settings" box. Now I can connect to my
>router if I turn WEP off, but as soon as I turn it back on I am no
>longer allowed to connect. I can see the list of available networks,
>and if I enter the preper WEP key, nothing happens. I really just want
>to amke sure I'm doing this right:
>
>1. Right click on Wireless Network Connection icon
>2. Select "View Available Wireless Networks"
>3. Select my network from the list
>4. Enter the WEP key
>5. Click Connect
>6. Nothing happens.

Wrong. WZC displays a status message while it's doing it's thing. My
guess(tm) is that it says "obtaining IP address" and eventually barfs
with some like "Limited connectivity" message. How close did I get?

>Am I connecting correctly? Any help is greatly appreciated.

I managed to decode that you have a Netgear WG111 USB adapter and no
clue what access point or router you're using. Don't you think it
might be helpful to know what hardware you're using?

Dive into the config for your unspecified router and set the WEP key
to use a Hex key instead of ASCII. Same thing when WZC asks for a WEP
key. That should work.

The problem is that Microsloth didn't know about there being two ways
to convert from ASCII to Hex. WZC is rather smart and will go through
all the different 64/128 bit and Hex/ASCII combinations until it finds
a matching encryption key, but duz not go through the two different
algorithms. Useing a Hex key instead of ASCII avoids this problem.

Note: This issue is rapidly becoming an FAQ. Is there some web site
that I can point to with a proper explanation or do I have scribble my
own? I couldn't find anything useful.


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831.336.2558 voice http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
# (E-Mail Removed)
# (E-Mail Removed) AE6KS

Drew B. wrote:

> Ok, I set the router to broadcast its SSID. I also unchecked the "Allow
> Windows to configure my wireless settings" box. Now I can connect to my
> router if I turn WEP off, but as soon as I turn it back on I am no
> longer allowed to connect. I can see the list of available networks,
> and if I enter the preper WEP key, nothing happens. I really just want
> to amke sure I'm doing this right:
>
> 1. Right click on Wireless Network Connection icon
> 2. Select "View Available Wireless Networks"
> 3. Select my network from the list
> 4. Enter the WEP key
> 5. Click Connect
> 6. Nothing happens.
>
> Am I connecting correctly? Any help is greatly appreciated

Obviously, WZCS is not working it's a piece of crap in the first place,
which is on Win 2k too but is disabled. The junk is disabled on my XP pro
machine because it was a PITA that couldn't even hold the settings
properly. Nor would the card's utility hold its settings either. I dumped
both of them and went right to the O/S Device Manager for the card,
installed the driver and configured the card's settings too and the
wireless connection became as solid as rock just like it was solid as a
rock when the machine was running the Win 2K O/S. WZC is for a roaming
situation. If your not walking around trying to connect to other networks,
then why do you need it?

Duane

The router is a 3Com 3CRWE454G72. The key is a 128 bit and is already
hexidecimal. I guess I should be more specific about what happens when
I click Connect. The window closes and it automatically chooses the
access point of its choice, although it is never able to connect and
gets stuck with an "Invalid IP Address" in the Support tab, even if
it's an unsecured network. I'll take some screenshots tomorrow if this
isn't understandable.

I was also unable to find any information about this topic elsewhere.
(GIMF, you know)