Wireless issues & old laptop

annakat99

I've recently moved into a new house and I can't seem to connect my (6 year old) laptop the their wireless connection.

The access code is only x didgits long, and when I try to type it in, a message pops up saying that the passcode needs to be y didgits long (sorry - i can't remember the numbers)

I had a similar problem at another friends house where I couldn't log on. He is an IT bod and said it was something to do with my computer not recognising the encryption that he had on his server (?) but he could find no way around it.

So... can you clever people think of anything I can do to remedy this problem?

My laptop battery is pretty shot too, so I tend to have it plugged in when I'm working on it. When I was at my friend's house he lent me this clever gizmo that plugged into the mains and had an internet lead coming out of the bottom of it. It seemed to be able to pick up the wireless signal and transfer it to my computer through the lead. Do you know what this is and where i could buy one? Or are there any other clever / cheap fixes to get my computer onto the internet?

There's a lead that I can plug into inthe living room, but ideally I want to be able to use my laptop upstairs in my bedroom.

Thanks.

jayme1

the plug thing the other person used was a homeplug and you should be able to use them now.
you would connect one to the router and plug it into the wall socket then plug the other one in a wall socket in your bedroom and then connect the homeplug to your laptop, you then have to 'pair' the plugs together (by pressig a button on each of them at the same time)

homeplugs at amazon

cant help you with the wireless problem but it would be good for others if you tell us the OS of your laptop (XP?) and also the make and model of the router (wireless box)

Donnie

The most obvious solution is that the wireless card inside your laptop is only capable of handling the basic WEP encryption for your password. Whereas your router may be set for another level of encryption, such as WPA2-PSK.
To remedy this you will need to enter your router web interface configuration page in order to change the level of encryption to match the level on your laptop.

jayme1

I would not change any encryption settings esp. to WEP, only leave it on WPA or WPA2 (WPA2 is better).

annakat99

Thanks for the advice.
My housemate has changed the router for an older one (stronger signal) and I can now log in to it. Must have been an encryption thing. I'll remember those homeplug things if it happens again.
Hooray for internet!
Anna

Hammyman

If it is only using WEP encryption, world and dog can crack it in about 10 seconds using freely available software.