Intel 2200BG & WPA-PSK encryption

Question

My wife and I recently purchased an Inspiron 600m with the Intel 2200BG internal wireless and until now I've been baffled by the connection issues she's been having at home.  I've tried 3 different wireless routers (Linksys, Netgear, & Belkin) configured using WPA-PSK TKIP or AES encryption and have had the same results with all 3.   The Intel PROSet software shows that it's connected to the router, but Windows fails to get an IP address.  We've been getting around the issue by hitting Fn-F2 to turn the wireless off and then back on again and for some reason the second time around it will grab an IP from the router.   I'm currently using a Latitude D600 with the Dell TrueMobile 1350 B/G internal wireless and have had no problems connecting to any of the 3 wireless routers.  What kick-started my thinking on either the internal card being 'bad' somehow or the software not working correctly is that she can connect to either of her work WLANs without issue (both use WEP 128-bit).   This morning I reconfigured my Netgear router to use WEP 128-bit and her laptop connects without fail every time.  We recently had a co-worker have to get his wireless card replaced because he was having similar issues (he also has a Latitude D600) so I'm starting to wonder if her laptop is suffering the same fate.   Any ideas?   Thanks, Ash

Short_Bus · Answer

Yes, that was part of my troubleshooting this morning was to allow Windows to manage the connections, but that still didn't help.  I even tried removing the PROSet application so that only the device drivers were installed and then WPA disappeared completely as an option -- only WEP remained.

volcano11 · Answer

Have you tried letting Windows manage the wireless connection instead of the Intel utility?  Have you loaded the latest drivers for the Intel card off the Intell web site? Steve

volcano11 · Answer

What about the latest drivers from the Intel site? Steve

Short_Bus · Answer

I actually just downloaded those today and then noticed the Dell updated their download site as well, so I've retrieved the latest version from Dell (appears to be the same ver # as Intel) and will install tonight and see.

Thanks!
Ash

Short_Bus · Answer

No doubt!  I've tried both flavors of WPA-PSK (AES & TKIP) with the same results.  The only way it will consistently connect is if I use WEP.

NemesisDB · Answer

if it's failing to get an IP address, you could always try using a static address.

NemesisDB · Answer

Get the latest drivers from intel 9.x.x.25 (or dell if it's the same version).  Other than that, make sure you're using the same type of WPA-PSK ... either TKIP or AES (cause if you pick the wrong type, it ain't going to work).

Short_Bus · Answer

Tried the static IP address route as well, but no soup. After installing the latest 2200BG drivers from Dell, it looks like it might be OK now. After reconfiguring the router back to WPA-PSK w/TKIP I reconfigured the laptop connection and restarted several times and it reconnected and got an IP every time. I then shut it down a couple times, let it sit a second to compose itself, and fired it back up with success each time.

Not sure what changed in the drivers, but I'll take it !

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Intel 2200BG & WPA-PSK encryption

Was this post helpful?