If I try to connect to most secure wireless networks I do not get the option of putting in a password - I only get the error message: "Windows is unable to connect to the selected network. The network may no longer be in range. PLease refresh the list of available networks, and try again." I have tried to add in the network manually, but when I try to enter the password I get the error message "The network password needs to be 40bits or 104bits depending on your network configuration. This can be entered as 5 or 13 ascii characters or 10 or 26 hexadecimal characters." I have tried to connect at several different secure networks with the same problem. Very occaisionally it will ask me for the password right away - and when I put it in it is accepted and I can connect. I am working on a used laptop that I just bought. Everything else is weorking fine - but just this one problem System Info OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600 OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation System Name IBM-69D33D9A3F8 System Manufacturer IBM System Model TP-1P___ System Type X86-based PC Processor x86 Family 6 Model 9 Stepping 5 GenuineIntel ~1298 Mhz BIOS Version/Date IBM 1PET65WW (1.33 ), 29/06/2006 SMBIOS Version 2.31 Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32 Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1 Locale United States Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)" User Name IBM-69D33D9A3F8\User 1 Time Zone Eastern Standard Time Total Physical Memory 512.00 MB Available Physical Memory 160.67 MB Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB Page File Space 1.22 GB Page File C:\pagefile.sys corvi

They secured the network to stop outsiders from connecting. I guess it's working.

These are networks to which I HAVE THE PASSWORD. It will not allow me to put in the password. corvi

That doesn't mean they are set up for remote access.

Yes they are. One of them is in MY OWN HOME, and I had no problem connecting on my last laptop. Most of them are networks in cafe's that I frequent where they give you the daily password as you come in. Everyone else can connect. Why can't I? corvi

Then maybe only trusted hosts can connect. Or, something in your firewall settings isn't allowing the password prompt.

If only 'trusted hosts' were allowed in public networks - no-one would be able to connect. And my firewall is disabled. It is interesting that while I posted here becasue my computer has a problem, you have consistently replied that the problem is me. I have tried all the obvious solutions - adding the networks manually, checking my security settings etc. I think that the problem is that you don't know how to fix my problem, so I will go elsewhere. Thanks anyway corvi