XP wireless will not allow WPA
Customer calls and tells me he can no longer access the internet.
Now this is about 1 or 2 weeks after I removed a spyware infection.
All I did was remove antivir, and install avg free and avg anti-spyware (and remove the infection of course).
When I get there, the wireless icon shows the no wireless network within range message.
Looking at the config more closely, I see that under encryption, I can only select none, or WEP encryption. Where did the WPA encryption go?
I had setup the netgear WG111v2 adapter, a few months ago, so that it uses windows XP and WPA–PSK TKIP encryption… so whats going on?
After a few reboots, and looking at the device manager (without any progress), I try using the netgear utility… and it works… it allows me to connect to the wireless network…
Given that I don’t want to waste any more time, I tell the customer what has happened, and I cannot explain why the windows wireless doesn’t work properly, but to keep an eye on how the PC performs.
He says the PC has caused him lots of problems, and if it breaks down again, he will just toss it, and get a laptop instead.
With the cost of hardware nowadays, I’m afraid I’ll be seeing this happening a lot more often.
Interesting times. I think this the first
time that laptops have been really
cheap compared to desktops and
become a viable alternative for the same
or similar price..
It’s probably the first time too
that most machines still on the
shelf are woefully undergunned
to use the latest OS (As of Tuesday)
if indeed they can run it at all.
Especially the “Ultimate” version.
I have a hard time with
the approach of buying laptops
as a main machine.Especially
for business use.
It can be a nightmare if anything
fails. Sure it may be free,but how
long will it take to repair/replace
under warranty.
Nothing like a big desktop
for power.storage capacity
and quick repairs when
disaster strikes.
Use a laptop for mobile,but
keep a desktop as base HQ.
By this I mean proper desktops
not junk from H Norman, DSE
etc.
I agree, David.
Generally speaking, a desktop is a better long-term solution than a laptop. Even if you compare the junk Hardley Normal and Dicky Smithy desktops, with the junk $799 laptops from the same place.
As I say to most of my customers: get a laptop only if you have a valid reason (it needs to move around, you live in a shoebox, and you DON’T have small kids with sticky fingers!).
Otherwise, be prepared for large maintenance costs once the warranty expires.