Wireless network Setup Wizard SSID Contains 1 or more invalid char

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?????

 

Hi
Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network settings,
http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html
As well as specific adjustment of each computer according to what is allowed
to be shared.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

I believe you have your terminology maybe mix up. SSID would be the name of
the wireless network, if this name is invalid then your notebook could not
connect to the wireless router or the internet through the router
wirelessly. If you are referring to the Workgroup name, this should be only
the letters A to Z, a to z, and numbers 0 to 9, no spaces and no
punctuation. For computer to see each other they must use the same workgroup
name. So you could use MyWorkgroup or HomeOffice but shouldn't use My
Workgroup, or My! Workgroup#$. Also be sure to check out the pages Jack gave
you.

--
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 warranties, and
confers no rights

 

How all that explains what exactly invalid characters are in the string
"network01" ?

--PA

 

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/community/columns/cableguy/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/img129/1485/wirelessproblemjz8.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/community/columns/cableguy/cg0804.mspx
for more detail.