Windows 7: Secured wireless router, now Windows 7 laptop can't connect.

HAVOC · 25 Jan 2013

I went to a friends house to put a password on their wireless router (Netgear WGT624 v4). I also turned off SSID broadcasting. After that I plugged everything back in as normal.

There is one desktop, two laptops, iPhone, iPod, PS3 (wireless) and an XBox 360 (wireless), everything connects fine when I input the name of the network and password, except for one laptop. It "sees" the router and allows me to enter the password and "connect automatically" is selected, but after a couple seconds it will say can't connect.

braddersz · 25 Jan 2013

what wireless encryption are you using?.

What is the laptops Make and model?

HAVOC · 25 Jan 2013

WPA2-AES
On the laptop is Windows 7 (I think Home Premium, didn't bother to check). It's a HP laptop but also didn't check on the model number. I'm going back there later today to see if I can get it to connect.

Dwarf · 25 Jan 2013

For some strange reason (and I'm not sure why), some devices can only connect if SSID broadcasting is enabled - I've come across this with one of my devices. I note that you have enabled WPA2 on the router and are using a password, but is it a secure one? Also, you should look at enabling MAC filtering on the router to ensure that only authorised devices can connect. This means that other devices, even if using the correct SSID and password, won't be able to connect unless they are on the authorised list.

braddersz · 25 Jan 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Dwarf

For some strange reason (and I'm not sure why), some devices can only connect if SSID broadcasting is enabled - I've come across this with one of my devices. I note that you have enabled WPA2 on the router and are using a password, but is it a secure one? Also, you should look at enabling MAC filtering on the router to ensure that only authorised devices can connect. This means that other devices, even if using the correct SSID and password, won't be able to connect unless they are on the authorised list.

Bare in mind that this will require someone to logon to the router, and input the devices MAC address. Each time they connect a NEW device.

I would suggest changing the Wireless Encription to WPA-PSK. - Then set a 10 digit code

And as stated above. Some wireless cards are unable to talk to wireless SSID's that are hidden.
Although id suggest updating the driver. To see if this has any effect.

Dwarf · 25 Jan 2013

I would strongly urge you not to lower the security level to WEP as, although it is better than nothing, it is very dated and easily circumvented. An updated driver might be all that is needed in many cases to enable WPA2 support.

Kari · 25 Jan 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Dwarf

For some strange reason (and I'm not sure why), some devices can only connect if SSID broadcasting is enabled - I've come across this with one of my devices.

This is especially true with HP laptops; I have a lot of experience setting up HP laptops on network and, as Dwarf mentioned, for some strange reason there's normally no problems when SSID is broadcasted and found but the same laptop might lose connection even after it is initially connected when SSID is shown and then later hidden.

Kari

HAVOC · 25 Jan 2013

Thanks for all the info. If I remember correctly, the router would only allow WEP, WPA, WPA2 (maybe outdated firmware?). I don't think WPA-PSK was an option. The password is 11 digits long.
I did check "connect if SSID is not broadcasted" on the laptop. I'll see about updating the driver.

Would it be secure if I enable SSID broadcast and then just use MAC addresses to connect eveything? I may go this route if updating the wireless driver has no effect.

I'll be going there in a couple hours. Bringing my netbook with me to connect to the router. The computers in that house are so slow it becomes a chore to do anything.

HAVOC · 25 Jan 2013

Edited the first post. It's not a Linksys, it's a Netgear router.

HAVOC · 25 Jan 2013

Tried WEP. The HP laptop connects fine. Then it won't connect anymore (all I did was a restart, and ran Malwarebytes). She kept getting a "svcupdate" error. Always had to hold the power button down to restart the laptop, now it restarts normally. The HP is a Pavilion dv6-2155dx
I then tried different network settings and nothing worked. Reverted back to no security settings and it connects no problems.
It's Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit (with system pack 1).

Windows 7: Secured wireless router, now Windows 7 laptop can't connect.

Secured wireless router, now Windows 7 laptop can't connect. problems?