XP SP1 w/ Netgear

[NautTboy]

Anyone out there using a netgear router?

I'm trying to help a friend who has a netgear router which he sets up with phrase word.

With XP SP2, you could just put in the phrase.
With XP SP0/1, it doesn't work. It only wants the hex key.

I have a linksys, which is very easy.

Hope I post in the right spot.

[makai]

Sorry, I don't use Netgear, but if the router's minimal system requirements specify XP SP2, then you will have to update to SP2 in order for it to work as you wish. Check the router documentation. If he can get by with just using hex input, then he can stay at SP1. Good luck.

[rkawakami]

I believe that the wireless utility setup/configuration program dictates whether or not a "passphrase" can be used and not the OS (but I could be wrong). In any case, the passphrase is really converted into a hex string. The problem that I see, is that if your friend is going to be connecting to different wireless systems, not all of them may use a passphrase system. And even if they do, there's no guarantee (as far as I know) that the passphrase is going to be converted identically.

To me, your friend should just stick with a random string of hex characters and be sure to record it somewhere. Or, pick an easily remembered string like F0E1D2C3B4A5... (alternate descending and ascending hexadecimal characters). But then again, that might defeat the purpose of an encryption key if somebody can easily guess it .

[SHoTTa35]

i think he's talking about a WPA key where you can just use keys like jameshouse123 for the password instead of typing e246a242c43a3 WEP password which is harder to remember.

To the OP, all newer routers support WPA (and the stronger WPA2) methods. Windows XP SP3 will support WPA2 (for SP2 you need a patch to make it compatible)

[NautTboy]

I think Shotta might be right. It might be WPA instead of WEP.

I tried putting in his password/phrase in my linksys and it gave me the hex. That hex didn't work either.

I might just go check it out myself.