WIreless Duplicate Name Error

13 Jul 2006 11:21 AM

Mike

I have two Dell 1505 laptops with XP Media 2005. I'm using a Lynksys
wireless system. I was setting these up and on the first laptop when I was
trying to get it to connect, I remember entering the Lynksys name into the
SSID field. I finally got it to connect. WHen I went to set up the other
laptop, I get a windows error saying duplicate name on the network. I'm
thinking I shound't have put that into the SSID field and just left it blank.
Now I can't remember where that is to take it out to see if that is the
conflict. I think it would have grabbed the SSID automatically.

WHere do I go to change the SSID in XP Media. I don't have a wireless tab
when you right click on the network connection and select properties. Or what
would the duplicate name be if it isn't the SSID?

Thanks in advance for your help.

13 Jul 2006 12:10 PM

Malke

Mike wrote:

> I have two Dell 1505 laptops with XP Media 2005. I'm using a Lynksys
> wireless system. I was setting these up and on the first laptop when I was
> trying to get it to connect, I remember entering the Lynksys name into the
> SSID field. I finally got it to connect. WHen I went to set up the other
> laptop, I get a windows error saying duplicate name on the network. I'm
> thinking I shound't have put that into the SSID field and just left it
> blank. Now I can't remember where that is to take it out to see if that is
> the conflict. I think it would have grabbed the SSID automatically.
>
> WHere do I go to change the SSID in XP Media. I don't have a wireless tab
> when you right click on the network connection and select properties. Or
> what would the duplicate name be if it isn't the SSID?

The SSID is the name of your wireless network. You set in the router
configuration, not on the computers. Since you have a Linksys, connect one
of the laptops (preferably to the router with ethernet instead of wireless
for this one time). Go to the router's configuration screen by entering
http://192.168.1.1 into a browser addressbar. Enter the username and
password you used when you set up the router. Refer to your manual if you
need to. Now go to the wireless settings and you will see the SSID. If you
left it as "Linksys" (default) change it to something else that is
recognizable. This is also where you set your encryption. Wireless
computers will automatically find the SSID; you do not set this on the
computer. You must enter the encryption key in the computer to connect -
like having a key to a door.

The error message you are getting means that your laptops apparently have
the same computer name. All computers on a network must have unique names.
On one of the computers go to the Control Panel System applet and click on
the Computer Name. Change the name to something else. Do not name your
computers the same as a user account. IOW, if you have a user account
"Mike" do not name your computer "Mike".

Here are some links with basic wireless setup information:

Wireless - Basic Configuration - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Config.html
Wireless - Basic Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html
MVP Barb Bowman on wireless security - http://tinyurl.com/56fc5

Malke

--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"