I have a WLAN which is used by three clients, all running on XP. I use
WEP security, and MAC filtering. I have now bought a new Vista laptop
from HP, which can see the network, but when I try to connect, it tells
me it cannot connect because the signal is too weak - even when the
laptop is inches from the router.

I have also tried to obtain the MAC address of the wireless device in
the new laptop - in CMD, typing IPCONFIG - and I get the response "Media
State - media disconnected". I find this puzzling, as the HP Wireless
Assistant tells me the WLAN connection is on. The problems with
connectivity are the same whether I have MAC address filtering on or
off.

I need to get this sorted, as the laptop is a Christmas present!!!

Finally, the laptop does connect to the router wired, but that defeats
the object of a WLAN and a laptop!

Thanks

Denis


--
Denis8991
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

In my experience, Vista doesn't work well in WEP and Mac filtering. You may
just use one of them. Since other computers are XP, you may want to use WPA.

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"Denis8991" wrote in message
news

I have a WLAN which is used by three clients, all running on XP. I use
WEP security, and MAC filtering. I have now bought a new Vista laptop
from HP, which can see the network, but when I try to connect, it tells
me it cannot connect because the signal is too weak - even when the
laptop is inches from the router.

I have also tried to obtain the MAC address of the wireless device in
the new laptop - in CMD, typing IPCONFIG - and I get the response "Media
State - media disconnected". I find this puzzling, as the HP Wireless
Assistant tells me the WLAN connection is on. The problems with
connectivity are the same whether I have MAC address filtering on or
off.

I need to get this sorted, as the laptop is a Christmas present!!!

Finally, the laptop does connect to the router wired, but that defeats
the object of a WLAN and a laptop!

Thanks

Denis


--
Denis8991
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

Thanks for this. I have just remembered, that one of the laptops
already connecting is using Vista, and I am using MAC filtering for that
one, and WEP security. I just can't understand why I can't see the MAC
address of the wireless device in IPCONFIG.

Denis


--
Denis8991
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

Denis8991 wrote:
I have a WLAN which is used by three clients, all running on XP. I use
WEP security, and MAC filtering. I have now bought a new Vista laptop
from HP, which can see the network, but when I try to connect, it tells
me it cannot connect because the signal is too weak - even when the
laptop is inches from the router.

I have also tried to obtain the MAC address of the wireless device in
the new laptop - in CMD, typing IPCONFIG - and I get the response "Media
State - media disconnected". I find this puzzling, as the HP Wireless
Assistant tells me the WLAN connection is on. The problems with
connectivity are the same whether I have MAC address filtering on or
off.

I need to get this sorted, as the laptop is a Christmas present!!!

Finally, the laptop does connect to the router wired, but that defeats
the object of a WLAN and a laptop!

Thanks

Denis



Well, there is always the chance that the wireless hardware in the new
laptop is DOA. It does happen. Is there anyplace else where you might try
it out -- a local coffee shop with WIFI perhaps?

--
John McGaw
http://johnmcgaw.com

In the command windows type IPCONFIG /ALL and you will see the
mac address.



Denis8991 wrote:
Thanks for this. I have just remembered, that one of the laptops
already connecting is using Vista, and I am using MAC filtering for that
one, and WEP security. I just can't understand why I can't see the MAC
address of the wireless device in IPCONFIG.

Denis

Thank you for the responses. I took the laptop to work, and had the
same thing with the local unsecured network. I contacted HP who got me
to re-load the BIOS and the device driver, and it seems to work.

IPCONFIG /ALL works, and I now see the MAC address. However.....

When I click to "enter/select additional log on information", it comes
up with a dialog box to "Enter Credentials", with User Name, Password
and Logon Domain. I have tried many combinations without success - on
all the other PCs I have connected, all I've had to do is enter the WEP
key, so I'm not sure what the User name and Logon domain have to do with
it!

Any ideas?



Cy;1112279 Wrote:
In the command windows type IPCONFIG /ALL and you will see the
mac address.



Denis8991 wrote:
Thanks for this. I have just remembered, that one of the laptops
already connecting is using Vista, and I am using MAC filtering for
that
one, and WEP security. I just can't understand why I can't see the
MAC
address of the wireless device in IPCONFIG.

Denis




--
Denis8991
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

as was suggested previously, try WPA2 or at least WPA. you really
will be more secure and not open to data/identity theft and more as
you are with WEP. anyone that wants to break in to your network will
find tools to do so, even with MAC address filtering.

it sounds like the WEP configuration you setup is one that requires
authentication.

On Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:23:37 +0000, Denis8991
wrote:


Thank you for the responses. I took the laptop to work, and had the
same thing with the local unsecured network. I contacted HP who got me
to re-load the BIOS and the device driver, and it seems to work.

IPCONFIG /ALL works, and I now see the MAC address. However.....

When I click to "enter/select additional log on information", it comes
up with a dialog box to "Enter Credentials", with User Name, Password
and Logon Domain. I have tried many combinations without success - on
all the other PCs I have connected, all I've had to do is enter the WEP
key, so I'm not sure what the User name and Logon domain have to do with
it!

Any ideas?



Cy;1112279 Wrote:
In the command windows type IPCONFIG /ALL and you will see the
mac address.



Denis8991 wrote:
Thanks for this. I have just remembered, that one of the laptops
already connecting is using Vista, and I am using MAC filtering for
that
one, and WEP security. I just can't understand why I can't see the
MAC
address of the wireless device in IPCONFIG.

Denis


--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

Thanks Barb. I do understand that WPA gives a higher level of security,
and I have tried it, but it makes no difference. What I can't
understand is that I have three XP computers and one Vista computer
already connected to the network wirelessly by simply entering the WEP
Key, yet the new Vista PC requires a user name, password and logon
domain.


Barb Bowman;1116831 Wrote:
as was suggested previously, try WPA2 or at least WPA. you really
will be more secure and not open to data/identity theft and more as
you are with WEP. anyone that wants to break in to your network will
find tools to do so, even with MAC address filtering.

it sounds like the WEP configuration you setup is one that requires
authentication.

On Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:23:37 +0000, Denis8991
wrote:


Thank you for the responses. I took the laptop to work, and had the
same thing with the local unsecured network. I contacted HP who got
me
to re-load the BIOS and the device driver, and it seems to work.

IPCONFIG /ALL works, and I now see the MAC address. However.....

When I click to "enter/select additional log on information", it comes
up with a dialog box to "Enter Credentials", with User Name, Password
and Logon Domain. I have tried many combinations without success -
on
all the other PCs I have connected, all I've had to do is enter the
WEP
key, so I'm not sure what the User name and Logon domain have to do
with
it!

Any ideas?



Cy;1112279 Wrote:
In the command windows type IPCONFIG /ALL and you will see the
mac address.



Denis8991 wrote:
Thanks for this. I have just remembered, that one of the laptops
already connecting is using Vista, and I am using MAC filtering
for
that
one, and WEP security. I just can't understand why I can't see
the
MAC
address of the wireless device in IPCONFIG.

Denis


--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
'Previous Columns by Barb Bowman'
(http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx)
'Barb's Connected World' (http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/)
'digitalmediaphile' (http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com)


--
Denis8991
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

on the Vista machine, it sounds like you have checked the 802.1x
authentication setting.

On Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:20:20 +0000, Denis8991
wrote:


Thanks Barb. I do understand that WPA gives a higher level of security,
and I have tried it, but it makes no difference. What I can't
understand is that I have three XP computers and one Vista computer
already connected to the network wirelessly by simply entering the WEP
Key, yet the new Vista PC requires a user name, password and logon
domain.


Barb Bowman;1116831 Wrote:
as was suggested previously, try WPA2 or at least WPA. you really
will be more secure and not open to data/identity theft and more as
you are with WEP. anyone that wants to break in to your network will
find tools to do so, even with MAC address filtering.

it sounds like the WEP configuration you setup is one that requires
authentication.

On Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:23:37 +0000, Denis8991
wrote:


Thank you for the responses. I took the laptop to work, and had the
same thing with the local unsecured network. I contacted HP who got
me
to re-load the BIOS and the device driver, and it seems to work.

IPCONFIG /ALL works, and I now see the MAC address. However.....

When I click to "enter/select additional log on information", it comes
up with a dialog box to "Enter Credentials", with User Name, Password
and Logon Domain. I have tried many combinations without success -
on
all the other PCs I have connected, all I've had to do is enter the
WEP
key, so I'm not sure what the User name and Logon domain have to do
with
it!

Any ideas?



Cy;1112279 Wrote:
In the command windows type IPCONFIG /ALL and you will see the
mac address.



Denis8991 wrote:
Thanks for this. I have just remembered, that one of the laptops
already connecting is using Vista, and I am using MAC filtering
for
that
one, and WEP security. I just can't understand why I can't see
the
MAC
address of the wireless device in IPCONFIG.

Denis


--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
'Previous Columns by Barb Bowman'
(http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx)
'Barb's Connected World' (http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/)
'digitalmediaphile' (http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com)
--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

Barb Bowman;1117679 Wrote:
on the Vista machine, it sounds like you have checked the 802.1x
authentication setting.

Thanks for the quick response! I have looked, and there is no
authentication setting selected. I have now got as far as adding the
wlan in the "Managing Wireless Networks" section, and I now have entered
the WEP Key in the appropriate place having told it that the network has
WEP Encryption. I then go ahead and try to connect, and I still get the
"Enter Credentials" box come up, asking for User Name, Password and
Domain. I cannot get past that, and I know they are not settings on my
network - it seems to be a Vista thing.

HP are sending me a Vista CD (didn't get one with the laptop), so that
I can reload the operating system - would that help?


--
Denis8991
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com