I've decided to secure the wireless signal from my combined wired/wireless Belkin router. (Believe it's the one I've 'tagged' - but I'm at work at the moment)
I have two desktop XP PCs cabled to it, both connect to the net without problems, as does the Vista laptop when there is no encryption/security in place.
Going through the Router's settings (on IE, via one of the wired desktops) I can set up various encryption methods (WEP/WPA etc) - and apply the settings, but when I input the relevant encryption type and 'key' to the laptop Windows continually shows me that the "saved settings do not match" that on the network - the result is the same for whichever method (and key) I apply
This is an unusual problem. It's interesting that you can connect without encryption. A few thoughts, which you may well have considered already:
1) Does this happen even when you deliberately disconnect from the network, and reconnect?
2) The network key/passphrase is case sensitive; it is very easy to make a small slip with this, or some other tiny detail, when entering the key;
3) Is there the slightest chance your router has the same SSID (name) as a neighbour's? ....Sorry if this seems a daft question, but it is something to consider...
Hi flipsix3, many thanks for the extra details on this problem.
I'm sure you're right about correctly typing the passphrase! Got to ask the question, though, as it's something I've done myself. :) If even a simple phrase such as 'abcd' is blocked, we can rule that out.
If you're getting the 'Limited or no connectivity' message, without encryption, this does suggest something is not quite configured correctly. By contrast, a simple signal drop-out (no message) is more likely to be wireless blocking/interference.
So, first, another question: are you able to establish a wired connection between the laptop and the router - and then the internet? If you have problems with this too, please post details if you can.
And an interim suggestion: try a search on this forum, which is very lively, and may bring you a faster solution ;-)) ..... because this one is certainly a puzzle...
A couple more thoughts...
1) Could a firewall setting be blocking access?
2) This router has a button for WPS, a kind of quick-start way of enabling encryption. Is there a chance this could have been enabled at any point, and be clashing with manually entered settings..
No worries at all -I'm in the same boat! :)
As the wired connection works without issue, the field is narrowed to the wireless connection, and/or wireless security.
Connecting wirelessly without encryption is the next place to go, as the occasional 'limited or no connectivity' message does suggest a problem. Something is causing system conflicts or disconnection, possibly linked to the computer’s IP address.
So there are a couple of things to check (when/if there's time):
1) Login to your router configuration screen and go to LAN setup > LAN settings. Ensure DHCP server is set to 'on'. On the same screen, check that 'Lease time' is set to 'forever'
2) Check that the wireless adaptor is set to 'obtain IP address automatically'. To do this, click network icon in Notification Area > Click Network and Sharing > under Tasks area, left hand pane, click Manage Network Connections > right click your wireless adaptor icon > select Properties > select Internet Protocol v4 (TCP/IPv4) > click Properties button. (I'm an XP user, so hope I've given correct path for you)
3) Consider updating the wireless adapter driver within the device manager console. You can access this through Start > enter devmgmt.msc in the box > go to Network adapters > click '+' sign to see all network adapters. Double click the Wireless adapter to find the driver update option.
This is a fairly safe option, because if it doesn’t work, you can roll back the driver from the same place. To be doubly safe, I would still set a system restore point first.
If you are happy to try this, it may help solve the wireless security problem too.
A footnote: I've heard that Vista won't accept WEP security, so if you decide to retry this, WPA is the way to go (a much safer option).
Excellent news! Thank you for posting again, and for your kind feedback. Congratulations on solving this 'three pipe problem'! :))
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Apart from the laptop everything is wired (desktops, router, etc) no other wireless devices in general use
The only other wireless device (occasionally) connecting to it is a Nintendo Wii - but that's switched off at the wall for the most part and shouldn't interfere
Hi Eecom, when trying to set up I 'manually' disconnected (on the laptop) and then updated/applied the router settings via my wired desktop. I then input the passphrase (etc) into the laptop and attempted to reconnect - same result, and same error message returned each time.
I'll certainly give it another go and double-check the passphrase - although I tried two or three times with different ones. Hopefully my typing's not so bad as I'd mess it up every time ;-)
I did think the same thing on the network ID, although I saw no other similarly named options - just to be sure I renamed my SSID to something unique.
Interestingly (though perhaps not relevant?): Even running on unencrypted the laptop will occasionally seem to 'partially lose' the connection - the status will show something like 'limited connectivity' and - whilst clearly talking to the router - will not access the net. A quick reboot of the router (or network disconnect and reconnect on the laptop) will resolve this though.
I'll try to run through again at the weekend, from scratch, and post screenshots or something, just to be sure that we're all reading from the same page.
Thanks for the further thoughts Eecom, unfortunately I've not had the opportunity to sit down and thrash through some further "tests" yet (busy week, Christmas shopping and the like).
I'll try and run through it again in the next couple of days, but just some queries/comments on your points:
(1) Wired connection to the net, through the laptop/router combo, is fine (although not tried that when encryption is on, not that I can see that being a likely problem?)
(2) I'll take a look at the forum link
(3) I run software firewall (Zone Alarm) on all machines, and all connect fine with it (including laptop, wireless/wired when no encryption is on). Not running Windows firewall, and not aware that I've got anything else running, such as anything on the router...?
(4) I'd better double-check my router model number, I don't recall a button on it, but I'll make an effort to clarify
Thanks again for the input, and patience!
Thanks again for the help, and patience.
Did a bit of reorganising and tested things by making one desktop wireless (as well as the Wii)
Both were fine when I re-enabled WPA-PSK encryption - therefore refreshed drivers on the laptop's adapter and re-input encryption settings. Seems it must have been the driver (or, without realising I've used a different encryption method/key this time - and it was the problem)
Either way, all sorted
Thanks!
Do u use any wireless devices in your network setup
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