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So it turns out that one of my laptops equipped w/ an Intel 3945abg chipset is too retarded to be able to connect to my Linksys WRT54GL router running WPA2-TKIP+AES.
No amount of drivers updates and Windows XP hotfixes have remedied this. Anyone else having similar issues w/ this chipset?

Guess I'm stuck WEP + MAC filter for now.

If it's a Mini-PCI or Mini-PCIe card, think about replacing it. My laptop came equipped with a Mini-PCIe Broadcom wireless card, and I'm opting to grab a Mini-PCI one with Bluetooth capabilities... my laptop has a Bluetooth enable/disable button, but no Bluetooth device...

Plus, I hate installing any 'external' devices to the lappy unless I absolutely have to. Per example, the NIC on my laptop just crapped, and I HATE having to use a USB one...

...only exception is my mouse... touchpads suck

You sure you did install the WPA2 update for XP? Just making sure that is all

The laptop is a Gateway NX100X using a craptastic Intel 3945abg card in mini-PCIe format (doubly craptastic). So now I have to get myself another one.

Hey Ed, let me check when I get home this afternoon. I think I have one.

Cool.... looks like I'm having the same issues w/ another 3945abg at work as well... that and my own broadcom 4318e card sucks - unable to reconnect to a WPA network once it disconnects (only a restart fixes this so far)
I'm in WiFi hell.

I've patched the crap out of everything. I hate being stuck in an encryption that can be cracked in 3mins.

Well, bad news. It's an Intel 3945 also. I pulled it out of a laptop that had a broken LCD. I can stick it back in the laptop and see if it will work with my router since I'm running wpa too.

Give me an hour to check it out.

I found another 3945abg in a thinkpad x60 that exhibits the same problems today. Looks like I'm ordering a couple of Gigabyte cards based on the Atheros 5005 chip. We'll see how that goes.

I swapped the Broadcom out earlier w/ an Intel 2200bg and it had the same problems.

wow, same problem here. My dell works fine, the intel, no go.

Wow, looks like yet another monkey wrench in my plans. I ordered a couple of Gigabyte Atheros based cards and tried to put them into my Thinkpads - NO DICE. Why? Lenovo hard codes specific "certified" parts into its BIOS and will generate an unauthorized hardware msg upon bootup if you use anything else.

Guess that's one way of forcing the consumer to buy direct.

Compaq/HP also does this Ed ;\

At least Compaq/HP sometimes puts in Atheros based wireless cards.
I tested those babies out and they work like a dream w/ WPA2 TKIP+AES.

I didn't know what the encryption system on my network was until I checked tonight. WPA2 AES. The Windows Wireless Zero config doesn't even pick it up, but if I use the Broadcom Wireless Utility, it works fine.

Yeah, WZC has a problem managing the wireless card's power post negotiation so the connection drops like crazy. I never knew exactly how bad the performance was until now.

Where'd you get the Broadcom client btw?

I got it in two places. The first one was from downloading the wireless drivers from the manufacturer. But they're an outdated version, 40.10.40.0. You can also get this version from Softpedia here.

The Wireless Utility I had to get from HP here. It comes with the above drivers, but if you want an updated version, you have to download it seperately. It may be from the HP site on an Acer laptop, but it works fine, oddly.

I'll drop links from Acer to the wireless drivers they provide. I don't see a problem with them working on any other laptop, as long as it has a broadcom chipset of course.

The outdated drivers with Broadcom Wireless Utility integrated: [url]ftp://ftp.work.acer-euro.com/notebook/aspire_5100/driver/Wireless%20Lan%20Driver%20802bg%20Broadcom%20Ver.4.10.40.0.zip[/url]

The version I'm using now, without Broadcom Wireless Utility: [url]ftp://ftp.work.acer-euro.com/notebook/aspire_5100/driver/802BG_Broadcom_4_100_15_7.zip[/url]

Atheros drivers? [url]ftp://ftp.work.acer-euro.com/notebook/aspire_5100/driver/Wireless_Atheros_V5.3.0.67_XP_XB63_XB62(WHQL).zip[/url]