Just got a new laptop. We've had a secured wireless network set up at my house for over a year now (secured meaning you need a password to access it). When I tried to access this network for the first time from my new laptop, the network shows up but does not prompt me for a password. The only option is to try and connect to this network as if it didn't require a password (at which point it comes up saying that it cannot connect to the network). Any suggestions?

You can always try resetting (unplugging) your wireless router. Sometimes that helps.

^ As simple as that sounds, it normally helps solve the problem more often than not.

I tried that and it yielded the same result. I'll probably try it again tomorrow but I was just curious if there's some sort of setting that needs to be adjusted. My laptop is an HP running on Vista Home Premium if that helps at all.

You can always try resetting (unplugging) your wireless router. Sometimes that helps.

 

That's what I do, and it works everytime.

I tried that and it yielded the same result. I'll probably try it again tomorrow but I was just curious if there's some sort of setting that needs to be adjusted. My laptop is an HP running on Vista Home Premium if that helps at all.

 

You may have to set up a port(not sure on the terminology) for the lap top through your wireless router. Our router if it doesn't recognize what is trying to access the signal like lap top, or my xbox wireless adapter, then you can't connect, regardless of the password.

Is your wireless a B, G or N? Is it set for a mixed broadcast?

 

Also what is the card in the laptop?

Did you try the linksys support page?

 

http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/support

That is really odd is it just that laptop? Do you have another laptop you can try to connect with? Your original settings may have been altered if its not asking for a PW. I wonder how many other people can access your network.

I would try this....where the network shows up...right click and click on properties...see if you can't figure out anything from there

You may have to create the wireless profile from scratch. What that looks like exactly varies by the OS, but it'll usually be something like Add Network or Manage Wireless Profiles or something along those lines. You can set the security type and add a password there.

What type of encryption security do you have set up on the linksys, WEP, WPA, etc? Linksys routers can reset the router to factory defaults by inserting an ink pen or paper clip in a hole in the back of the router pressing a recessed switch. Some models have a red switch on the back instead. Just unplugging it won't do that. Once you have done that, there should be no security set up and you should be able to connect, once you reset up the isp information in the router. You can also access the router via your browser by going to 192.168.1.1. The default password is admin. Do not change the DHCP settings, or you'll lose connection to the router.

 

Note ... If you reset to defaults, you may also have to clone the MAC address of your laptop's NIC. Depends on your internet provider.

I've been setting up wireless networks for years, never had one problem, but about 7 months ago my mom got a new laptop. This laptop should have been simple to connect, just find the network, and connect to it. Only there were many many things wrong that it wouldn't connect, problems that no one but the place you bought it from could fix. I would bring it back if the problem seems too difficult to fix. They'll fix you right up. A bunch of my settings and preferences (hundreds) were so offset that they had to reset everything in my laptop.

I've been setting up wireless networks for years, never had one problem, but about 7 months ago my mom got a new laptop. This laptop should have been simple to connect, just find the network, and connect to it. Only there were many many things wrong that it wouldn't connect, problems that no one but the place you bought it from could fix. I would bring it back if the problem seems too difficult to fix. They'll fix you right up. A bunch of my settings and preferences (hundreds) were so offset that they had to reset everything in my laptop.

 

What if you're prompted for a password to get onto one network but not on another that should prompt you for a password using the same laptop on both?

What type of encryption security do you have set up on the linksys, WEP, WPA, etc? Linksys routers can reset the router to factory defaults by inserting an ink pen or paper clip in a hole in the back of the router pressing a recessed switch. Some models have a red switch on the back instead. Just unplugging it won't do that. Once you have done that, there should be no security set up and you should be able to connect, once you reset up the isp information in the router. You can also access the router via your browser by going to 192.168.1.1. The default password is admin. Do not change the DHCP settings, or you'll lose connection to the router.

 

Note ... If you reset to defaults, you may also have to clone the MAC address of your laptop's NIC. Depends on your internet provider.

 

WEP. If I reset the router, I'm assuming I'd have to recreate the network used by my house, create a new password to secure it, etc?