Windows 7 and wireless networking

stevemcol

Hi

Is there a known compatibility problem with win7 and wireless routers.
A friend said he can't connect to his netgear router and believes he needs to wait for a firmware update. Seems odd. Why would win7 alter the basic networking protocols?

I have googled but with limited / contradictory results.

BillScarab

Nothing I've heard of.

Has he got the right secrutiy settings on his laptop to conenc to the router?

dogmaryxx

Only 1 listed Netgear 802.11g 108Mbps Wireless Router

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Browse.aspx?type=Hardware&category=Networking&subcategory=Wireless%20Routers&page=3

davb

The only thing I have heard (not seen) is that 'some' routers may have an issue with WEP and Windows 7. This is a router issue, as Win 7 does support WEP - but it may tie in with what your friend said.
The obvious answer to this is to use WPA or WPA2, as WEP is next to useless anyway.

busenbust

Why would win7 alter the basic networking protocols?

Networking protocols have indeed been altered (for better?), but that is in addition to, and does not (should not) affect compatibility between Windows 7 and wireless networking/routers. Perhaps this issue is affecting that individual Netgear router model?

A friend said he can't connect to his netgear router and believes he needs to wait for a firmware update.

Possibly, but....Is said friend able to rule out the OS as the root cause of the problem?

What exactly is the problem? Unable to connect to the access point, unable to find network, unable to authenticate with wireless protocol?

GunJack

dogmaryxx wrote: »

Only 1 listed Netgear 802.11g 108Mbps Wireless Router

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Browse.aspx?type=Hardware&category=Networking&subcategory=Wireless%20Routers&page=3

According to that ms page, nearly all netgears listed are ok with 7, except one obscurely-named model. Put list into alphabetical order

stevemcol

Thanks all

Just wanted to make sure there wasn't a general problem before I got involved. I'll pop round and try to help him in the next couple of days.
He says he can connect via LAN but not wireless. Somone on a forum has told him it's a known problem.

I'll get him to try it with security down initially.

edit, it's a WGT624 by the way.

busenbust

edit, it's a WGT624 by the way.

I've set up two friends with the exact same model and absolutely no problems (wireless too). Nice router too :cool:

See my above post

busenbust

I'll get him to try it with security down initially

Good idea, and if all working remember to turn back on.

stevemcol

Never did get round to looking at this but he's just told me it's Win7 64 bit. It does look like there may be a known problem.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Details.aspx?type=Hardware&p=Netgear Super-G 802.11g 108Mbps Wireless Router&v=Netgear&uid=WGT624&pf=2&pi=38&c=Networking&sc=Wireless Routers&os=64-bit

busenbust

edit, it's a WGT624 by the way.

busenbust wrote:

I've set up two friends with the exact same model and absolutely no problems (wireless too). Nice router too :cool:

See my above post

Never did get round to looking at this but he's just told me it's Win7 64 bit. It does look like there may be a known problem.

^In which case you might very well be correct; both my friends' setups were Win 32-bit.