What is 'Network Key'?

Question

Dell Inspiron E1505/NETGEAR WGR614v6/Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-Card   I have been having trouble connecting to wireless internet.  I downloaded the current update to the 1390 WLAN Mini-Card, I have reset my router, and now when I go the the Wireless Configuration Utility under the Control panel and get the Wireless Network Wizard I click on my router (NETGEAR) and then it says that 'This Network requires a network key'.  What information do I type in this box and where do I get the information?  I am not too computer literate so please use 'layman' terms if possible.  Thanks in advance!!!!

dbramlet · Answer

When the router was setup by you or for you and the secured network was created you were either assigned a network key (Like 10 number and or letters) so you should have written it down. With a linksys router I know you can click on IE and type 192.168.1.1 and go to the router setup page. Leave the username blank and type in admin for the password. Look under wireless and or security and you will see the network key assigned to the router and network. Write it down and just close out the window.

dallascowboyswo · Answer

When you press the reset button on the back it will then reset and then start the network setup wizard when it runs the setup wizard it will prompt you to put in a network key. This is what it is asking you to do. Just make a key that you can remember using numbers and letters. I believe it will also ask you for an ssid. This you should change from the default because anyone will be able to see you are using a netgear router if you leave the default. Once the wizard is complete you can manually change any of these settings by going into the web browser which is what the other poster is referring to. Here is link on entering the browser...

http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n101676.asp

Here are some other helpful links...

http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/wgr614v6.asp

Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Philips Drive
Dell Wireless 1500 802.11N Mini Card
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Pro SP2
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v3.1 (DD-WRT v23 SP2 std)
ZoneAlarm Pro v 7.0.337.000
Kaspersky AntiVirus v 6.0.2.614

ScullyRN · Answer

OK, I have gotten that figured out, but now the status on my wireless connection states 'acquiring network address', but always fails then says 'not connected, right click here for more options.'  What am I missing?  Please help!

dallascowboyswo · Answer

Can you access the internet wired to the router? Do you have any firewalls enable if so disable them and see if you can connect? Are you connecting to the proper ssid? Are you entering the network key correctly? If you are unable to connect to to a secure network you may have to disable security first and make sure you can connect, then enable security.

Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Philips Drive
Dell Wireless 1500 802.11N Mini Card
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Pro SP2
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v3.1 (DD-WRT v23 SP2 std)
ZoneAlarm Pro v 7.0.337.000
Kaspersky AntiVirus v 6.0.2.614

Message Edited by dallascowboysworldchamps on 06-19-2007 01:40 AM

ScullyRN · Answer

Yes, I can access the internet via the wired router that's my only internet connection (luckily).  I have my firewall disabled.  When you say am I 'connecting to the proper ssid' is that my Netgear router?  Also, I had asked as my previous question re: the network key.  My understanding was the network key is kind of like a password.  Am I correct?  The whole problem of being unable to connect wirelessly was due to me reinstalling my McAfee Security Product which I had been using with success and when I reinstalled it I couldn't access my wireless.  So, I had uninstalled the product software myself and tested my wireless connection without success and then McAfee helped me uninstall it with a Products Removal tool and I still couldn't connect wirelessly. So, I am baffled and not too technologically literate. Thanks.

dallascowboyswo · Answer

Yes the ssid is the id of your router. Netgear I believe is the default, but it could have been changed by you at setup. Yes the network key is a password that lets you connect. If cannot connect with security and by this I mean a network key then you need to disable that first and see if you can connect. So you need to enter the web browser of the router. The link on how to enter is in the previous post.

Connect a computer to the LAN port of the router using an ethernet cable.
Open up a browser and type in the following URL: http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 (depending on the model number of the router)
Type the Username as admin, and Password as password. Then click OK

These are default user name and passwords unless you changed them when you ran the setup wizard.

Once in you should make sure you disable the network key. Make sure you do not have mac address filtering enabled.

Then disconnect the wire and see if you can connect wirelessly. Make sure you have the network card enabled. To enable the network card you need to push FN+F2 for it enables and disables the the network card. If you still can not connect wirelessly then while still not connected with a wire you should go to Start/Run and type in cmd and press ok. You will get a black dos screen. Type in ipconfig /all and press enter. Copy the info given to notepad or Word and then save it and post it here in your next post so we can see what you configuration is.

Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Philips Drive
Dell Wireless 1500 802.11N Mini Card
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Pro SP2
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v3.1 (DD-WRT v23 SP2 std)
ZoneAlarm Pro v 7.0.337.000
Kaspersky AntiVirus v 6.0.2.614

ScullyRN · Answer

Here is the info. Thanks in advance for any help.

ScullyRN

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

C:\Documents and Settings\Janet>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Laptop

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

MediaState . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Cont

roller

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-15-C5-15-18-1F

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-Card

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-16-CE-6B-53-9D

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 12:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : ADM851X USB To Fast Ethernet Adapter

#11

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-05-1B-19-63-03

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.2

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, June 20, 2007 10:18:00 AM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, June 21, 2007 10:18:00 AM

C:\Documents and Settings\Janet> Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

C:\Documents and Settings\Janet>ipconfig/all

dallascowboyswo · Answer

Well first you need to take out your usb network card out and see if you can connect. Did you disable security in your router?. Disable the network key and mac address filtering.

Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Philips Drive
Dell Wireless 1500 802.11N Mini Card
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Pro SP2
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v3.1 (DD-WRT v23 SP2 std)
ZoneAlarm Pro v 7.0.337.000
Kaspersky AntiVirus v 6.0.2.614

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

What is "Network Key"?

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