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If Something Goes Wrong

Resolving a hardware conflict

❖Use the PING command to verify a connection to the gateway at 192.168.1.1 (a default gateway for most wireless routers).

❖Click Start, then click Run...

❖Enter Cmd and press Enter.

❖Enter PING 192.168.1.1 at the command prompt, and press Enter.

❖If “Request Timed Out” or another error message appears in response, then the problem is probably Wi-Fi-related.

❖If you have enabled any security provisions (closed system, MAC address filtering, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), etc.), check the access point vendor's Web site for recent firmware upgrades. Problems with WEP keys, in particular, are frequently addressed in new firmware releases.

Special considerations for Windows XP

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption is not enabled on the wireless access point.

When you install a wireless access point device, Windows XP checks whether WEP encryption is enabled on the device. If it is not enabled, Windows XP adds the device to its list of available wireless networks, but does not create a wireless connection using the device, since the connection would not be secure. You can still, however, use the access point. To use an access point without WEP encryption, follow these steps:

❖Right-click the Wireless Network icon in the System Tray (far-right portion of the Windows Taskbar).

❖Click View Available Wireless Networks.

❖Select Allow me to connect to the selected wireless network, even though it is not secure.