Changing WEP to WPA - linksys

Hi everyone,
I tried to change the level of security on my laptop from WEP to WPA using the "Change advanced settings" but afterwards, I was unable to connect to the internet. I removed the only available network from the list and added it again and was able to connect, but only with WEP security. I'm using a Linksys WRT54G and was wondering if I'm going about changing it to WPA correctly.

Do I have to plug my laptop into the router and go to the 198.XXX.XXX page and change the security settings from there? Or can the router remain plugged into the desktop and change it via there? Also, I was reading about downloading the Windows hotfix for WPAPSK, would that also be required for the laptop? I guess I don't understand if the level of security is actually "within" the router's settings (after we set it) or if it's on each computer that connects to the router, that is, we have to change the level of security on each computer.

Thanks in advance for your help

 

Need to change the security on the router to WPA first then change the client settings on any pc that connects wirelessly to it.

 

Yes, You do need to make the change to the router to. YOU MUST DO THIS THROUGH A WIRED CONNECTION. As you make changes you will loose your wireless. Till you get bot PC and router setup with the same key. Wile you are in there set the radio for "G Only" If you have no 11b products.

 

Log in to the router (preferably via wire as you'll need to reset wireless)- so go to 192.168.1.1 and than change settings to WPA 2 PSK (AES). Than change your laptop settings as well- if your XP is update you can use WPA.

You don't need to set WEP, WPA or WPA2 on the laptop- it' the router who decides what is the security scheme- you just need to set the same passphrase on both. So set the WPA2 and if it doesn't work fall back to WPA.

Regards

 

changing the encryption type on the laptop wont change the router. If it did then all someone would have to do is change the excryption type without logging into the router. Login as they have stated above.

 

Thanks for the (quick!) replies everyone. Could I just clarify something please? Once I change the security setting on the router via my wired desktop, I should then turn on my laptop, see the available wireless networks, select it, and then change its security settings and passphrase etc. via the "Change advanced settings" to match those that I just changed at the 192.168.1.1 site? Then I should restart my laptop and will I have to enter the passphrase each time or is it automatic? When it was on WEP I was connected automatically.

Thanks again for your help.

 

It should be automatic after you setup your laptop for WKA.

I just did all that you outlined last week and it was a huge pain as I never updated the firmware on my LinkSys router in the 2 years that I've had it. Updating the firmware made a huge difference.

 

What's WKA? How do I setup my laptop for WKA? Do you mean once I turn on the laptop it'll automatically list the wireless network in my house and under advanced settings it'll be for WPA? I'm sorry, I don't quite understand.

 

He probably meant WPA. WKA isn't anything as far as I know. And yes, it will automatically connect to a WPA protected network just as it connected to your WEP protected network. Windows will save the password if you ask it to.
It's really not too hard. You can do it all without a reboot of anything but the router.
For Windows, after you have set your router up to use WPA encryption and rebooted the router with the wired connection as outlined above, you just browse for the wireless network (I assume you can see your network when browsing for wireless connections), connect, and Windows should ask you for a password. Enter the password you set WPA up to use, and tell Windows to always automatically connect to that network. You should then be done.

 

Sorry to be such a pest, but by reboot router, do you mean I have to reset my router by pressing that orange button and then log on to the 198.XXX site? Or do I just turn on desktop, turn on modem and router, change settings on the 198.XXX page to WPA encryption, save settings and then turn on laptop and follow the steps you just outlined? Thanks for your help.

 

You should just save the settings on the router, and it should reboot itself. You may want to just unplug it for a few seconds and plug it back in. Any buttons on routers usually reset all config data, so are a BAD thing to randomly hit, unless the router is completely non-responsive or you screwed up a config so you can't connect any more.
What you should probably do is just change the settings to WPA and such from the desktop machine, reset the router, and then try to connect to the router from your laptop.

 

You usually do not need to reboot router- router will reboot wireless by itself. It's not D-Link you know... Anyway just for your knowledge- there ia a reset button on the back of the router- if you need just press it with a tip of a pen. If for some reason you have serious problems press and hold it for 5 seconds- this reverts to default factory settings (including SSID, remember it forgets your password and all settings so do it only if you really need)

 

I got it to work with WPA PSK and then disconnected and turned off my wireless. When I just tried to connect now, my laptop says I have limited or no connectivity while my desktop has a popup that says: Windows - System Error, There is an IP Address conflict with another system on the network. What did I do wong? Thanks for your help (again).

 

Are you sure you are connected to your own router? Do you use fixed IP addresses or are they automatically assigned?

 

Do you have both your computers set to automatically aqure IPs? Is the DHCP on the router on? Are the IPs assigned for the specific MAC adresses? (If not it is a good idea to do it btw).

 

1.) Plug in your laptop to the router using an Ethernet Cable.
2.) Type the IP address of your router into your web browser and hit Enter.
3.) Click on the Wireless Security Tab
4.) Select WPA-TKIP encryption from a drop down menu.
5.) Click Apply Changes
6.) Log out and exit the web browser.
7.) Pull out the Ethernet Cable
8.) Windows XP should pick up the wireless signal. Click on the bubble, the highlighted network should say WPA encrypted network or something similar.
9.) Click on connect, punch in your WPA key and your laptop should be connected.