Trouble connecting new Laptop to old wireless

I have had a wireless router for a few years. I've used my Dell laptop, Touch and kids access it with their laptops when they visit. I bought new HP Pavilion 3128ca and when I followed the instructions for connecting to wireless it gives me an error that I need 13 characters in the password for the router - I have 12 in the password now and it works for everything else.

I also have a new HP printer CA 780 wireless and it gives back the same error when I try to connect it to the router.

How do I get by this?

Phil

Phil6049 said:

I have had a wireless router for a few years. I've used my Dell laptop, Touch and kids access it with their laptops when they visit. I bought new HP Pavilion 3128ca and when I followed the instructions for connecting to wireless it gives me an error that I need 13 characters in the password for the router - I have 12 in the password now and it works for everything else.

I also have a new HP printer CA 780 wireless and it gives back the same error when I try to connect it to the router.

How do I get by this?

Phil

Hello Phil6049, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

We need more info. I would guess by your own description that you have your wireless security set to WEP. This is to old for Windows Seven. You need to use WPA2-Personal (WPA2-PSK) wireless security to be compatible with your new devices.

Cheers!
Robert

Thanks for the reply. The router is a Linksys WRT54G v.3. Do you think that will have to be replaced or can it be configured to the newer security.

Phil

Phil6049 said:

Thanks for the reply. The router is a Linksys WRT54G v.3. Do you think that will have to be replaced or can it be configured to the newer security.

Phil

According to the manual for one of the versions of the WRT54G, this router is compatible with WPA2-Personal (sometimes referred to as PSK or Shared Key).

You will need to log in to your router, select WPA2-PSK, create a new key from between 8 and 63 characters. Then go to each of your computers, make sure they are each included in the "Workgroup", select WPA2-Personal, and enter the new KEY.

You will not need any of the new Windows 7 "HomeGroup" features, so you can remove any HomeGroup created by Windows 7.









Cheers!
Robert