Wireless connection ACTIONTEC status open - how to secure please!!

Question

Can somebody please assist a new user to wireless connection. Have now set up and working my Dell Inspiron 1501 notebook. Using a router and adapter attached to my PC Tower system bought from Virginmedia to use with my existing motorola surfboard 4100 cable modem as this was what they recommended and I got what I thought was a good package and yes it works. However, a question why is it only able to be set with an OPEN access ACTIONTEC is the product set up via the Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-Card installed on the laptop, have copied below my configuration using wireless if this helps.

I would like to make it a secure connection but not sure how to obtain a Network Key or how to find how what it is to input. Any assistance would be very much appreciated. If it's not clear what I want to do then please let me know.

From a novice user at this stage but want to learn more.

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C:\Documents and Settings\Sheila Richardson>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : SCR_LAPTOP
        Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : domain.actdsltmp

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

        Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Cont
roller
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-19-B9-68-5F-96

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.actdsltmp
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-Card
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-19-7E-7E-23-3C
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.4
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
                                            194.168.4.100
        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 14 July 2007 16:52:30
        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 15 July 2007 16:52:30

C:\Documents and Settings\Sheila Richardson>ipconfig/all^A

volcano11 · Answer

Have you read your router's user manual?  You need to log on to your router from a wired ethernet connection and set up the wireless security.  If possible you should use WPA -PSK.  Once you have it enabled, you will have to enter an encryption key on the router.  Write down this key, because you will be asked for it the first time you try to connect by wireless from the 1501.    Steve

SCRich44 · Answer

Unfortunately, some hours ago now I mucked something in the settings up completely and lost all connection both on my Inspiron 1501 laptop and my packard bell tower pc. Only just managed to reinstall connection Packard Bell with all ACTIONTEC router & adapter connections re-established on the Tower PC, now no wireless connection available on laptop. I've rebooted laptop and tried to reinstall several times. Basically I think I'm stuck again. Your urgent assistance as the laptop will not recongise any wireless networks?? Oh help a confused novice at wirelss connection.

Thanks in advance for any good clear down to earth instructions.

Oh by the way I missed a bit the wirless connection doesn't display on the Packard Bell pc either now. What next I wish I'd not started this and left well alone while it was working. I'll await to hear from you.

Message Edited by SCRich44 on 07-15-2007 03:51 PM

SCRich44 · Answer

Thanks for the warning. However, all I was wanting to do was to set the 'open' connection on the wireless laptop to 'secure' I just don't want to try it again I'll leave it now I've fixed the connection again on both the Inspiron 1501 and Tower PC. Would rather have an internet connection than not at all.

My settings are now and working. So unless I get any toward emails, or threats then I'll leave it as is. Thanks anyway.

______________________________________________________________________________

C:\Documents and Settings\Sheila Richardson>ipcong/all
'ipcong' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Sheila Richardson>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : SCR_LAPTOP
        Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : domain.actdsltmp

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

        Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Cont
roller
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-19-B9-68-5F-96

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.actdsltmp
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-Card
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-19-7E-7E-23-3C
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.4
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
                                            198.6.1.3
        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 15 July 2007 21:36:57
        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 16 July 2007 21:36:57

C:\Documents and Settings\Sheila Richardson>ipcong/all

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volcano11 · Answer

When a user 'mucks around' with settings, and can't say exactly what they did, it is awfully hard to help, escpecially over the internet.  I guess you should start by running the ipconfig /all command on each computer and posting the results.   Steve

volcano11 · Answer

A secure network does not protect from emails with bad things in them.  It protects you from someone logging on to your network, searching your files, finding all kinds of personal information (like credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc.) and then using that to steal your money or, even worse, your identity.   Steve

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Wireless connection ACTIONTEC status open - how to secure please!!

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