Wireless Connectivity with XP doesn't work but does with OpenSuse 10.3

I had an old netgear router and was having some problems with the wireless signlal (on all computers using it) so I replaced the router with an Airlink 101 that they had at Fry's for cheap.

So I brought the thing home, set it up. I set it up using a WPA2 password encryption. My wife can get her Macbook to connect up no problem (and without the problems I was having with the Netgear), I can get my desktop (with a wireless card) to connect up no problem, but I can't get my Toshiba running Windows XP (Service Pack 2) to connect. It attempts to connect, never asks me for the password encryption (even though in the list it recognizes the network as being password protected and with the correct WPA2 label), and eventually a little bubble will popup from the system tray saying, "windows was unable to find a certificate to log you onto the network".

The strange part, though, is if I reboot my system and boot (on the same comp) into OpenSuse 10.3, my comp has no problem at all finding the network, getting the password, and logging on.

The wireless is integrated into my laptop. I have yet to try the wireless in XP on another network...

Any ideas?

or not... lol

So I finally figured out how to get this going on Windows XP... I went to my wireless Network (right click) Propertied, Wireless Networks Tab... Finding the Network that I knew to be mine, I clicked on properties and had to manually tell it what type of security it needed to find. Turns out I can't used WPA2 I guess, so I changed the wireless router security to WPA-PSK, manually changed my computer to the same, and it all works now... But had to do it all manually to fix it, even if I went to a security-free wireless network on my router before, I couldn't get it to go...

I guess once I used to0-high security level in the first place I just confused the hell out of Windows XP and it never figured it out after that... oh well

Clear the network out of the "Preferred Networks" list in Windows XP and then try to connect again. That way an old setting isn't kept. You probably thought of that already.

I also have had problems with certain wireless routers, on certain laptops running Windows XP Home and XP Pro; connecting using WPA2 and have had to drop back to WPA PSK to get it to work as well. I wonder if there's something weird about how certain routers do WPA2? Or something missing or wrong software/driver on Windows XP? It seems I remember they had to update some things in XP to add WPA and WPA2. I wonder if somehow we didn't get that update or it got corrupted?

I played around (and continue to do so) with wireless on Fedora Core 8 Linux. There's some weirdness in there as well, but it works. Their "NetworkManager" thing is interesting. I had troubles with a Belkin MIMO PC Card. It just couldn't stay connected to my wireless network. They store the WPA/WPA2 pass phrase in the Gnome Keyring thing (I believe) so when you boot up FC8 you have to enter your password for the Keyring and then it retrieves the stored pass phrase and connects you to the wireless network. Sometimes when it disconnects though it doesn't seem to know to go back to the Keyring again, and it prompts you directly in a pop up box for the WPA/WPA2 pass phrase.

It's fun to play with on a laptop though. And I work on a lot of wireless wifi and cellular router gear so I'd like to bring my laptop with Linux along to work on them. I did have better luck on this laptop when I replaced the Belkin Card with a Linksys Card. That one was a fun chase as well. I had to chase down a firmware and use a firmware cutter program to cut out the Version 4 Firmware which has to be uploaded to the card (Broadcom based B43 driver in Linux Kernel) every time it starts.

I guess sometimes with Linux you just have to love a challenge to be able to use it. Getting DVD video to play was a similar challenge. Fedora doesn't want to include the codecs in there for that stuff. And they go on a open source / free codec rant. Which is fine for open source politics. But I don't think all the DVD videos are going to change to suit Fedora Core or any other Linux. (Side Note: had a similar problem in Windows XP awhile back. MS did the same thing and dropped the Codec out of Windows at some point in time. Then you had to go buy SOMETHING to get the Codec back again.)

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Alan Spicer
http://www.marinetelecom.net

Originally Posted by Airdawg10

I had an old netgear router and was having some problems with the wireless signlal (on all computers using it) so I replaced the router with an Airlink 101 that they had at Fry's for cheap.

So I brought the thing home, set it up. I set it up using a WPA2 password encryption. My wife can get her Macbook to connect up no problem (and without the problems I was having with the Netgear), I can get my desktop (with a wireless card) to connect up no problem, but I can't get my Toshiba running Windows XP (Service Pack 2) to connect. It attempts to connect, never asks me for the password encryption (even though in the list it recognizes the network as being password protected and with the correct WPA2 label), and eventually a little bubble will popup from the system tray saying, "windows was unable to find a certificate to log you onto the network".

The strange part, though, is if I reboot my system and boot (on the same comp) into OpenSuse 10.3, my comp has no problem at all finding the network, getting the password, and logging on.

The wireless is integrated into my laptop. I have yet to try the wireless in XP on another network...

Any ideas?

"unable to find a certificate" that's an interesting one. I would have thought you would have gotten a pass/phrase - key code error on the WPA2. Certificate might mean 802.1X or whatever is turned on somewhere? In the router or in Windows? Or at least that install of Windows thinks it is.

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Alan Spicer
http://www.marinetelecom.net

yeah, the "unable to find certificate" thing I think was just saying I didn't have authorization. XP never asked me for my key, so it just denied me access... But manually changing the security protocol got it to work in the end...

If you really want to use WPA2 encryption on your network, try downloading this update from Microsoft’s web site: Windows XP WPA2 Hot Fix KB893357. The link is explains it all: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357
I also had a problem using WPA2 on my network and a friendly Supportrix Technician helped me fix it. He guided me download this update and install it into my PC’s. I think they also offer assistance with a lot of other devices and computer concerns. They really offer excellent technical support at a reasonable price. You should check them out.
http://www.supportrix.com/SUPPORTRIX/Main.php?do=_HOME
Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Airdawg10

yeah, the "unable to find certificate" thing I think was just saying I didn't have authorization. XP never asked me for my key, so it just denied me access... But manually changing the security protocol got it to work in the end...

Some other wireless adapter doesn't really support WPA2 so even you will get the patch from microsoft it still wont work because the wireless adapter of your laptop doesn't support that type of wireless security.

Originally Posted by shaken

Some other wireless adapter doesn't really support WPA2 so even you will get the patch from microsoft it still wont work because the wireless adapter of your laptop doesn't support that type of wireless security.

You're correct Shaken. Check on your laptop's documentation if the wireless adapter built into it supports WPA2 encryption. Furthermore, check on your laptop manufacturer's or wireless adapter manufacturer's website if they have available updates (drivers and utility) that would help your adapter support WPA2 security.

Originally Posted by onecheat

You're correct Shaken. Check on your laptop's documentation if the wireless adapter built into it supports WPA2 encryption. Furthermore, check on your laptop manufacturer's or wireless adapter manufacturer's website if they have available updates (drivers and utility) that would help your adapter support WPA2 security.

Oh good Onecheat how did you know about that information??

Originally Posted by shaken

Oh good Onecheat how did you know about that information??

Thank's for the compliment. Aside from the Microsoft patch that was advised by the supportrix tech, I've also worked with networking devices for a while and normally the first step in dealing with these kinds of concerns is to check for the devices' and their features' compatibility. Also, it's usually best to use the manufacturer's drives for your device instead of the generic drives included in Windows. Not only 'coz it's programed by the manufacturer but 'coz it's usually the latest/updated.

Originally Posted by onecheat

Thank's for the compliment. Aside from the Microsoft patch that was advised by the supportrix tech, I've also worked with networking devices for a while and normally the first step in dealing with these kinds of concerns is to check for the devices' and their features' compatibility. Also, it's usually best to use the manufacturer's drives for your device instead of the generic drives included in Windows. Not only 'coz it's programed by the manufacturer but 'coz it's usually the latest/updated.

"Supportrix" what's that?? is it a networking company? sorry if I ask that first time to hear about them.

Sorry for the late reply.
I think they are a tech-support company who offer paid technical assistance for a wide range of computer and peripheral concerns. I wasn't able to browse on their site that much, though. I think they are a good, not to mention cheaper, alternative if your tired of the support you get from the manfacturer of your products, especially if you prefer to troubleshoot yourself instead of calling your local technician.

Ah really do they provide great tech support?? how much does it cost?