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Windows Vista forum: Is Linksys router incompatible with Vista?

by: slambeau August 25, 2008 10:55 PM PDT

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Is Linksys router incompatible with Vista?

by slambeau - 8/25/08 10:55 PM

I am trying to hook up 2 laptops to my home wireless network. My main Desktop, a Dell, OS is Windows XP professional as is my other desktop one is connected wirelessly with a Linksys Ultra RangePlusN Model# WRT160N router. I have two university students both with Vista (one is on an Acer and the other a Dell) who are unable to connect although they have internal wireless adapter capabilities. Linksys says they are aware of the problem with Vista. One of the students bought her Dell Inspiron at Best Buy with Vista 2 months ago and the Geek squad wants to charge over $150 to come to the house or $119.00 for over the phone service to properly configure my router. Has anyone out there dealt with this problem? Is there a problem with Vista or the way my router is configured. Thanks, will give more info if needed.


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It's compatible.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 8/26/08 7:05 AM

In Reply to: Is Linksys router incompatible with Vista? by slambeau

I have yet to find the router (any in fact) that is incompatible. I do however find many reasons (too many to list here) for it to not connect. The most common is the old advice about disabling SSID broadcast.

-> Head to our Networking Forum and its sticky (link below) and try it per the forum sticky. Read http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7589_102-0.html?forumID=62&threadID=264135&messageID=2584349

That's the setup I use everywhere and never an issue due to the router.

Bob


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I have heard

by Jimmy Greystone - 8/27/08 7:53 AM

In Reply to: It's compatible. by R. Proffitt Moderator

I have heard from reliable sources that there are some issues with Vista's UPnP and some routers. Usually a firmware update will fix the problem.

I haven't run into it myself, but I've only run a Vista machine with a Linksys WRT54GS v1.1 running the Tomato custom firmware, which I can say seems compatible. At least versions 1.19-1.21 seem compatible.


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In our Networking Forum Sticky.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 8/27/08 9:48 AM

In Reply to: I have heard by Jimmy Greystone

We do note the firmware update item. Thankfully after hundreds of setups I have yet to encounter a single incompatible router. HOWEVER the setup software on CD is an entirely different matter. But who uses that?


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Sadly

by Jimmy Greystone - 8/27/08 10:28 AM

In Reply to: In our Networking Forum Sticky. by R. Proffitt Moderator

Sadly, all too many people. I can say that when setting up the DSL modem for my AT&T DSL service, you are all but forced to use the supplied CD. There are instructions on setting this all up without it, but they are NOT easy to find, even if you're looking for them, and they're only found on AT&T's website. So unless you have an existing Internet connection or knew what to expect ahead of time, it's easy to think that's your only option.

I generally agree with you, but it is sometimes easy to forget that what is largely second nature to you and me, is not necessarily so for others. Many people are incredibly intimidated by the very idea of networking, even if it's just connecting one computer to a router. Given that it costs money to basically duplicate what someone can do via the router's web interface, router makers wouldn't be making those setup discs if they didn't think people were using them as more than coasters.


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Sadly (more.)

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 8/27/08 11:12 AM

In Reply to: Sadly by Jimmy Greystone

The makers of this stuff have failed us. However they have created a great revenue stream for Eek Fraud and other companies that are changing a fee that while may seem at first exorbitant it's for all the backup they need when they send out the poorly trained staff.

Most consumers expected a lot better. I know I am constantly surprised to see bad documentation in today's products and sometimes none at all.
Bob


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Vista router incompatibility

by ktcmojo - 8/27/08 1:12 AM

In Reply to: Is Linksys router incompatible with Vista? by slambeau

I had the same problem. You need new drivers and for the router. I asked someone at circuit city to burn me a copy and it worked fine with Vista.


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It's just a setup issue.

by bknowledge - 8/27/08 12:02 PM

In Reply to: Is Linksys router incompatible with Vista? by slambeau

Linksys routers work fine with Vista. My Dell has never dropped a connection. The real issue is that linksys routers can be a real pain to setup the wireless. So use the desktop(wired) to log into the router web-interface and take it one step at a time.
Change the SSID name but leave it visible and leave the wireless security turned off. Save, then try to connect with a laptop using wireless.
Once you get the laptops connected you can turn on the wireless security & mac filtering. Just remember to save after each change to the setting and reconnect with the laptops.
You should be fine and the laptops will connect without issue. Linksys may be a pain to setup but once running there is never any problems.


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Re: It's just a setup issue.

by slambeau - 8/27/08 10:32 PM

In Reply to: It's just a setup issue. by bknowledge

I was able to get one of the Vista laptops online wirelessly by configuring the router as an unsecured network but the other Vista laptop refuses to connect to an unsecured network. Period. It decides what is a secure network. I know that the network is unsecured but I am in the middle of nowhere and that is not an issue. I am a little peeved that Vista will make that decision for you and I do not think that it can be overwritten. Sorry just venting a little. So that laptop is connected by an ethernet cable to the router and the other laptop is wirelessly connected. My two desktops are also connected. Thanks all for your feedback.


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