Wireless WEP issue

I have three computers on a home network. The number one computer is cabled to the wireless router, while the other two have wireless connections. The number one system runs XP Home, the number 2 runs XP Pro, while the number 3 runs W2k.

I cannot get the number 2 computer to see the other two (or vice versa). The other two are working fine. The number 2 can see the wireless network. Also, when I turn off WEP, all three systems see each other, but that would be a totally unsecure system. I have tried a few things with the number 2 system, such as adding SP2 which improves networking, re-installing various things, etc. The workgroup name appears to be identical for all three systems, and again, all is well without WEP. The WEP key is the same for all three with this odd exception: When I type in the key, it is all accepted, but when the textbox loses focus, the key is truncated. I assume this is a security feature such that the length of the key does not remain visible (the characters are not visible).

It is possible that the hardware is damaged, as there is some visible damage to the antenna of the access point, but that doesn't seem likely, since turning WEP off (on all three systems) allows the computer to connect.

Does anybody have any suggestion as to what I should try next?

Only thing I can think of:

Try changing the wireless channel/ssid in case someone near you is also running on the same channel, especially if you are using the default channel. My router was set to the same channel as my neighbor and sometimes I could see my connection, sometimes I would see theirs.

Sorry, check out this article too and see if perhaps it applies to you:


XP Firewall Problem

Do you have shared folders on each machine? For my laptop to see my W2K machine I have created an account. When you type in the ip address of the server, the login dialog pops up, then I can see the printer and shared folders.
If you see connected on #2, then WEP is not the issue.

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Originally Posted by nothingofvalue

Sorry, check out this article too and see if perhaps it applies to you:


XP Firewall Problem

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I was aware of this, but I will check again. I don't believe it is the answer, because all works well without WEP, but that one system will not see the others with WEP enabled.

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Originally Posted by dglienna

Do you have shared folders on each machine? For my laptop to see my W2K machine I have created an account. When you type in the ip address of the server, the login dialog pops up, then I can see the printer and shared folders.
If you see connected on #2, then WEP is not the issue.

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I'm not sure that I understand the final sentence. The connection on the #2 system says that it is unable to connect. Is that what you mean?

I have done roughly the same as you for connecting to the W2K machine, and it works fine. There are shared folders on all three systems. The #2 system just won't play nicely with the other two.

Also, at times I see no networks, at other times I see my neighbors. I could have the channel setting conflicting with his, but the W2K system is on the same channel (I better check this, but I'm pretty sure it is true), and it is working fine.

That's what I meant, about being connected or not.

Did you run the Wireless Networking wizard? I had a system that wouldn't connect until I ran it, despite installng the drivers from the CD install program.

Are you sure there isn't a switch to turn off wireless networking (if it's a laptop)
That was the cause of two problems that I've diagnosed.

Can you cable #2 into the router?

The other thing is that WPA encryption is better than WEP. You just have to enter a passphrase into each machine. The router changes the key, but passes it to computers that supply the right passphrase.

unless security is not a major concern, i wouldn't bother using WEP. it is relatively easy to break the encryption with airsnort/wepcrack/netstumbler/etc.

it would be much more secure to restrict access to the network via MAC addresses.

Ok, both of those comments are good ones. I can't really cable the #2 computer, it would be a major pain. Is WPA available on W2k? Restricting by MAC address would almost always cover this situation, and I have been tempted to do so. However, I have four systems that might be on the network, and could have guests who would want access to it. It seems to me that the four systems would be easy to do, but adding and removing guests would be a chore. Naturally, I could just add guests, and not remove anybody until all the slots fill up (I forget how many MAC addresses I can have registered on the router, but it is limitted).

With WEP and WPA turned off, but the addresses limited, is the system secure? How difficult is it to spoof a MAC address? I guess it would be pretty darn hard to steal them, it would be easier to steal a password. I'd like to hear something about this if anybody would care to expound on it.

Cracking WEP takes pretty long, I have heard. Your neighbors could do it over time. WPA is pretty secure, and I think it can be downloaded for W2K, I don't have a wireless card in my workstation. If people see a secured network, they won't necessarily try to connect to it, but if they see an unsecured one, then they are more abt to try to get in.

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Originally Posted by dglienna

Cracking WEP takes pretty long, I have heard.

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ever heard of wardriving?

just another reason to protect your network from unwanted people.

Airsnort and other software seems to be able to crack WEP keys pretty fast.

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AirSnort requires approximately 5-10 million encrypted packets to be gathered. Once enough packets have been gathered, AirSnort can guess the encryption password in under a second.

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Originally Posted by dglienna

Cracking WEP takes pretty long, I have heard. Your neighbors could do it over time. WPA is pretty secure, and I think it can be downloaded for W2K, I don't have a wireless card in my workstation. If people see a secured network, they won't necessarily try to connect to it, but if they see an unsecured one, then they are more abt to try to get in.

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I suspect that my neighbors might have a hard enough time picking their noses without trying to pick my security.

Same here. Nobody could sit outside to collect a million packets. They'd be reported immediately, and most likely, their equipment (and their vehicle) would be confiscated. :)

My new router has WPA, so I used that, but I have never met anyone that had problems, unless they were using NO SECURITY. That's an open invitation.