Hello all, I recently setup a wireless network using a linksys router and enabled WPA2 on the router and disabled the SSID broadcast.The problem is, it connects but will only send and received 1 packet at a time and will not connect to anything online. I have an option on the netwok card for my laptop to enable WPA or WPA-PSK. When I changed it form WPA-PSK to WPA it would not reconnect. I tried manually entering the ip adress, subnet and dns servers and it will connect, but only sends and receives 1 packet at a time and won't connect to the internet, If I try to have the router assign an IP address it just stays on acquiring network address,but oddly continues to send and receive 1 packet at a time. I'm completely confused, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi tonybox, hi everyone I have been struggling with a similar situation, router: WRT54G v5.0 (EU), adapter: WPC54G v3.0, for a couple of months about a year ago. In the long run I called Linksys support, honestly very polite people and they provide good support, and we eventually came up with the very same solution. If I had thought of it myself earlier, it would have saved me a (free) call to their support desk but than again I wouldn't be able to tell about their helpfulness: The Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2)/Wireless Provisioning Services Information Element (WPS IE) update for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 is available (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357/en-us) Since you haven't shared with us, the exact make/brand and model of the Wireless NIC/PC Card/USB Stick, it's impossible to determine if the Wireless adapter does support WPA2 at all. And therefor the above patch doesn't necessarily apply or fixes your problem to. My first impression from what you have provided us, no it doesn't support WPA2. :-( There could also be some other (advanced) security issues, while configuring the router, you haven't told us about that can be related to the problems you are having. Such as MAC-address filtering. Nevertheless my first impression is that the Wireless network adapter attached, or in your laptop, doesn't support WPA2. Best Regards and Wishes, The Count, Co-webmaster of mesich.com

I got it to work!!! I just uninstalled the network adapter in device manager and when it was recognized again I put in all the info for a static ip and all is good now. The options for my broadcom wifi card in my laptop only allow for WPA and WPA-psk not WPA2. Does anyone know if there could be problems with using the router with WPA2 and the wifi card with WPA_PSK? Thanks again!

WPA and WPA-PSK don't really refer to the same thing as WPA vs WPA2. WPA vs. WPA2 is like WEP vs. WPA. They're two different encryption formats. WPA vs. WPA-PSK refers to how encryption keys are obtained. PSK = Pre-shared key you enter on both the access point and the wifi client. WPA = obtains key from a Radius server. That's why WPA didn't work, and you had to use WPA-PSK. "Enough, enough bowing down to disillusion! Hats off & applause to rogues & evolution! The ripple effect is too good not to mention. If you’re not affected, you’re not paying attention!"

Ok, thanks for the help. So what your saying is that WPA( or more specifically WPA-PSK in my case) and WPA2 are not compatible, because I thought I read somewhere that they were. I just want to ensure my network and data are secure, so I am better off setting the router to WPA-PSK so that it will be compatible with the WPA-PSK of my laptop?

I'm saying WPA and WPA2 are not compatible. PSK is irrelevant to that discussion. PSK is how the master key is obtained. You can use WPA2-PSK so long as your WAP and wifi card both support it. But if it makes you feel better, WPA-PSK is pretty darn safe. Just change your PSK regularly, and be sure to use a random 63 character key. You can easily get a truly random key generated for you. https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm "Enough, enough bowing down to disillusion! Hats off & applause to rogues & evolution! The ripple effect is too good not to mention. If you’re not affected, you’re not paying attention!"

Thanks heropsycho2177, I think I understand now. Unfortunately my laptop wifi card does not support WPA2, so I'll use WPA. One last question on your opinion between TKIP and AES. What are the differences and which provides the most security?