1390 wireless driver won't show WPA2-PSK [AES] encryption option

Question

I recently bought a new wireless router, a NetGear WNR3500. This router supports the WPA2-PSK [AES] encryption option,

which I have selected as the "strongest" security option. My other non-Dell laptop (running Vista) works fine with WPA2-PSK [AES].

My daughter's Dell Inspiron E1505 contains a Dell 1390 wireless minicard, and it runs Windows XP sp3. Recently when

she visited us, I tried to get her laptop to connect to my wireless router, but could not, as the Dell wireless admin tool

(or the driver) did not support the needed WPA2-PSK [AES] encryption option (at least I could find no way to select that).

I went to the Dell suport site to look for a later driver for the E1505, but the latest Dell-provided driver was supplied by

file R174291.exe, which corresponds to driver version 4.170.25.12. I installed this driver, and tried again, but no joy.

In searching the Dell support forum, and the Web, I found a reference to file R242906.exe, which corresponds to driver version

5.60.18.9 (whew! driver time-warp). I installed this version, despite misgivings that the E1505 was not listed as a model

that needed/supported this update. The driver installed OK, provided the new choice of the WPA2-PSK [AES] encryption option,

and we were able to set the encryption key and sucessfully get logged in and using the wireless network......

until 5-20 minutes of use later, a BSOD pointing to "bcmwl5.sys", the name of the Broadcom device driver. Repeatedly.

My question: is the latest Dell-supported driver (the official one, embedded in R174291.exe) supposed to support

WPA2-PSK [AES] encryption option correctly? Is this a known problem? Am I missing any other piece of this puzzle?

Thanks for any assistance,

Terry

PudgyOne · Answer

Terry,

If my memory serves me correctly, XP supports WPA Security but I cannot remember if it supported WPA2 and if it did, I think it only supported PSK(TKIP) Security.

Try broadcasting your SSID. (I usually recommend changing the name to make connecting easier)

I use WPA-PSK(TKIP) Security (Personal)

Mixed mode(I have a wireless print server and USB wireless adapters)

Best channels are 1, 6 or 11. I use channel 11.

Save and exit. Power everything off for 30 seconds. Turn on the ISP Modem/router first. Wait 30 seconds, then turn on the Netgear router. Restart your computer and try to connect to your new network. Now try the rest of the computers. If using any wireless printers, etc..., then will need to be redone.

I have had USB Adapters, iPods, and all my computers and a printer hook up to a wireless print server with no problems.

Rick

PudgyOne · Answer

Terry,   I forgot, my password is 12 characters long.     Rick

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

1390 wireless driver won't show WPA2-PSK [AES] encryption option

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