*****READ******
Ok, if you have not tried accessing the routers control panel via default ISP address from your webbar, then we might have a shot at getting this working.
1. On your desktop that is direct connected to the router for sure, open internet explorer. The following steps I am going to show you how to setup WEP for the security on your router. WPA is way to iffy and sporadic, and often fails in VISTA and other runtimes. WEP is much more stable and once its setup it will be alot easier for your laptop to connect to the local network that you have created.
2. Connect a computer to any one of the four LAN ports of the NETGEAR router
3.Open an Internet explorer and type the router IP address which would be either http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 (by default, refer to your product documentation ti determine the default IP address.) in the address bar and press Enter.
The Login window will be prompting for a Username and Password. The default Username is admin and the default Password is password
4. Click Wireless Settings under Setup menu.
5. Under Security Options, Select WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
6. Select Authentication type as Automatic and Encryption Strength as 64-bit (or 128-bit) - You must later configure your wireless computers with the same setting.
7. DIRECTLY ABOVE THE KEY 1 BOX AND SELCTION AREA IS A BOX THAT HAS PASSPHRASE LABELED NEXT TO IT ON THE LEFT AND ON THE RIGHT OF THE BOX SAYS GENERATE. CLICK GENERATE AND THIS WILL GENERATE 4 KEYS. AS FOR THE PASSPHRASE BOX JUST MAKE UP A EASY PASSPHRASE YOU CAN REMEMBER AND WRITE THIS DOWN ALONG WITH THE 4 KEYS WHICH WERE GENERATED
8. Here you can either put keys in manually or hit the Generate Button to AUTOMATAICALLY GENERATE 4 KEYS. IF YOU WISH TO DO THIS MANUALLY THEN Select Key 1 and enter any 10 hexadecimal digits - any combination of 0-9, A-F (26 digits if you selected 128-bit as the encryption strength) and Apply the settings. Please note down these values - You must later configure your wireless computers with the same setting.
****YOU MUST HIT APPLY NOW TO APPLY THESE SETTINGS*****
*******VERY IMPORTANT TO RECORD THESE VALUES AND KEYS AS YOU WILL NEED THEM LATER*************
Now we will move on to configuring a access control list/access point.
***********Note: Before you enable access control list, you need to know the MAC address (aka Physical address or Hardware address) of all your wireless computers. Once you enable access control list, any wireless client (card) with a MAC address not listed will NOT be allowed to connect with the router.***************************
1. Connect a computer to any one of the four LAN ports of the NETGEAR router.
2. Open an Internet explorer and type the router IP address which would be either http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 (by default, refer to your product documentation ti determine the default IP address.) in the address bar and press Enter.
The Login window will be prompting for a Username and Password. The default Username is admin and the default Password is password
******IF STILL IN THE NETGEAR CONTROL PANEL FROM SETTING UP WEP SECURITY SKIP STEPS 1 AND 2 AND PROCEEED TO STEP 3.********************************************************
3. Click Wireless Settings under Advanced menu
4. Click Setup Access List
5. Click on the Add button
6. Enter the a descriptive Device Name (like HallDesktop) and the MAC address of the wireless card, and click Add.
7. Repeat the last 2 steps to add all wireless clients to the allowed list.
8. When you have completed adding all the wireless MAC address allowed to connect to wirelessly with your router, Check Turn Access Control On
9. Click Apply. Your settings will be saved and only the wireless clients with MAC address listed in the allowed list will be allowed to connect with your router
OK NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR HOME NETWORK ALL SETUP AND READY TO GO. GRAB YOUR LAPTOP AND TRY TO CONNECT TO THE NETWORK, IT WILL THEN ASK FOR THE PASSPHRASE AND THE WEP KEY. PLUG THESE IN AND YOU ARE ALL SET TO GO