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Can't get WPA2-PSK on my XP Pro SP3 dropdown list to connect to my wireless modem

Anonymous
2011-02-18T15:02:13+00:00

Am I missing a fix?  On my other XP Pro SP3 it is showing WPA and WPA2 as additional selections along with WEP and it is connecting fine.  Both are Dell laptops.  Can anyone guide me to the fix for this?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-02-18T17:20:27+00:00

    Hi

    Your Wireless Router (Modem) has to be first configured first to maintain WPA2 connection.

    \

    Start with a wire connection to the Router and configure its Wireless security (specific instruction for your Router should be in its manual).

    In general.

    From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.

    No Security

    Switching Off SSID (same has No Security. SSID can be easily sniffed even if it is Off)

    MAC Filtering______(Band Aid if nothing else is available, MAC number can be easily Spoofed).

    WEP64____(Easy, to "Break" by knowledgeable people).

    WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).

    The three above are Not considered safe.

    Safe Starts here at WPA.

    WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Break).

    WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)

    WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).

    Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

    Note 2: If you use WinXP bellow SP3 and did not updated it, you would have to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft.http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357

    The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware.

    All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass phrase.

    Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible of one of the Wireless devices.

    I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

    If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one.

    Setting Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

    The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 - http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html

    Jack - Microsoft MVP, Windows Networking. WWW.EZLAN.NET

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-02-21T18:25:37+00:00

    Not sure if this will help but I had the same problem with a pretty old laptop running windows xp pro sp3. All I got in the dropdown box was WEP or disable, and which could not connect to my WPA2-PSK router. I updated the drivers for every bit of the laptop I could find, but still no luck.

    After alot of messing about I rang the manufacturer. It took 30 minutes on an 0844 number to Toshiba but the chap found an obsolete (to them anyway!) update for the Intel wireless (Intel didn't have it as manufactureres often tweak it before sale, so they don't always supply updates).

    After I installed that, it still only offered me WEP but it was now able to connect to my WPA2-PSK wi-fi router using just the WEP. WEP might be rubbish security but at least the damn thing connects now.

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