Having some trouble setting up my laptop's wireless connection

> "Rod" <rod@no.spam> wrote in message
> news:%23FKli$0iHHA.4976@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>> I've just done a wipe and load of Windows Vista onto my laptop. It is
>> working great, but when I did the setup I plugged it in using a RJ-45
>> cable. Now I want to use the wireless on my home network. Of course I
>> hide the SSID, and I am using WPA, but Vista is asking me things I haven'
>> the foggiest about, such as if it is WPA, or WPA2, or etc. I don't even
>> know how I can find this out.
>>
>> So, how do I find out the answers to the questions that Vista is asking
>> me, concerning connecting to my home's wireless network?
>>
>> Rod
>>

>
> You need to check your wireless access point/router to determine what type
> of encryption your currently using, ie. WPA or WPA2. Its probably easier
> to simply start over and generate a new key/etc with Vista, save that off
> to a flash drive and reconfigure your wireless access point/router...
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/com...uy/cg0406.mspx
>
> Use a long random key. Its also a good idea to *NOT* cloak the SSID
> broadcast. You only run into connectivity issues and it serves no good
> purpose as far as security is concerned...
>
> Wireless security recommendations...
>
> http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.or...sSecurity.html
>
> What wireless access point/router are you using?
>
> --
>
> Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
>
> Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
> mutual benefit of all of us...
> The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights...
>

> "Rod" <rod@no.spam> wrote in message
> news:%23FKli$0iHHA.4976@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> > I've just done a wipe and load of Windows Vista onto my laptop. It is
> > working great, but when I did the setup I plugged it in using a RJ-45
> > cable. Now I want to use the wireless on my home network. Of course I hide
> > the SSID, and I am using WPA, but Vista is asking me things I haven' the
> > foggiest about, such as if it is WPA, or WPA2, or etc. I don't even know
> > how I can find this out.
> >
> > So, how do I find out the answers to the questions that Vista is asking
> > me, concerning connecting to my home's wireless network?
> >
> > Rod
> >

>
> You need to check your wireless access point/router to determine what type
> of encryption your currently using, ie. WPA or WPA2. Its probably easier to
> simply start over and generate a new key/etc with Vista, save that off to a
> flash drive and reconfigure your wireless access point/router...
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/com...uy/cg0406.mspx
>
> Use a long random key. Its also a good idea to *NOT* cloak the SSID
> broadcast. You only run into connectivity issues and it serves no good
> purpose as far as security is concerned...
>
> Wireless security recommendations...
>
> http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.or...sSecurity.html
>
> What wireless access point/router are you using?
>
> --
>
> Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
>
> Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
> mutual benefit of all of us...
> The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights...
>

> Sooner:
>
> May I ask you a question about the reason for NOT cloaking the SSID? I have
> a desktop running XPSP2 directly connected to my wireless router, a laptop
> running XPSP2 connected wirelessly and two PDAs connected wirelessly. I've
> never broadcast my SSID and have always been able to connect using the PDAs
> and XP laptop with no problem.
> It seems to me that any form of protection (no matter how small) is better
> then none. So I'm not quite sure I understand the reasoning behind your
> suggestion for not broadcasting the SSID. Could you clarify? Thanks :-)
>
> "Sooner Al [MVP]" wrote:
>

> > "Rod" <rod@no.spam> wrote in message
> > news:%23FKli$0iHHA.4976@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> > > I've just done a wipe and load of Windows Vista onto my laptop. It is
> > > working great, but when I did the setup I plugged it in using a RJ-45
> > > cable. Now I want to use the wireless on my home network. Of course I hide
> > > the SSID, and I am using WPA, but Vista is asking me things I haven' the
> > > foggiest about, such as if it is WPA, or WPA2, or etc. I don't even know
> > > how I can find this out.
> > >
> > > So, how do I find out the answers to the questions that Vista is asking
> > > me, concerning connecting to my home's wireless network?
> > >
> > > Rod
> > >

> >
> > You need to check your wireless access point/router to determine what type
> > of encryption your currently using, ie. WPA or WPA2. Its probably easier to
> > simply start over and generate a new key/etc with Vista, save that off to a
> > flash drive and reconfigure your wireless access point/router...
> >
> > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/com...uy/cg0406.mspx
> >
> > Use a long random key. Its also a good idea to *NOT* cloak the SSID
> > broadcast. You only run into connectivity issues and it serves no good
> > purpose as far as security is concerned...
> >
> > Wireless security recommendations...
> >
> > http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.or...sSecurity.html
> >
> > What wireless access point/router are you using?
> >
> > --
> >
> > Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
> >
> > Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
> > mutual benefit of all of us...
> > The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
> > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> > rights...
> >

> Aahh... Just answered my own question. :-)
> See link:
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/net...hiddennet.mspx
>
>
> "Mike" wrote:
>

>> Sooner:
>>
>> May I ask you a question about the reason for NOT cloaking the SSID? I
>> have
>> a desktop running XPSP2 directly connected to my wireless router, a
>> laptop
>> running XPSP2 connected wirelessly and two PDAs connected wirelessly.
>> I've
>> never broadcast my SSID and have always been able to connect using the
>> PDAs
>> and XP laptop with no problem.
>> It seems to me that any form of protection (no matter how small) is
>> better
>> then none. So I'm not quite sure I understand the reasoning behind your
>> suggestion for not broadcasting the SSID. Could you clarify? Thanks :-)
>>
>>