How to input the WEP password connecting a Windows 7 device to a network with wireless MAC filtering
9WARNING - I will NOT be held responsible for any damages the software(s) and methods shown in this video may cause to yours or someone else's computer, hardware, software, and/or data, including loss of use of such devices and/or loss of data and/or loss of profits from the resulting inability to use such devices and data. Any information or program you choose to put into use from this video is done AT YOUR OWN RISK. As a precaution, I recommend backing up any irrecoverable data before installing and using ANY new software(s), including those shown in this video.
This video will show you how to solve the problem of Windows 7 receiving the following error message when trying to connect wirelessly to a wireless router with WEP encryption and wireless MAC filtering:
Connect to a network
Windows was unable to connect to ROUTER NAME
Troubleshoot problems
Tell me more about Internet connection problems
This error is often encountered on Windows 7 devices when, despite having the wireless MAC address of the problem device registered in the wireless MAC filter list of the router, the Windows 7 device will show a yellow / orange exclamation mark (!) on the wireless indicator reception bars with the prompt: 'Not connected. Connections are available.' When opening up the Wireless Network Connections list and attempting to connect to the wireless network in question, instead of being prompted for the WEP password / passkey, the user is instead immediately presented with the error message listed above. This, despite other devices being able to access the wireless network without problem.
This issue was originally discovered trying to connect an eMachines 355-13667 PAV70 NetBook with Windows 7 Starter to a NetGear WGR614v9 Wireless-G Router with WEP encryption and wireless MAC filtering enabled.
For those who would rather read one short paragraph than watch a step-by-step walkthrough video, essentially this issue can be solved by first clicking OPEN NETWORK AND SHARING CENTER at the bottom of your Wireless Network Connections list, selecting MANAGE WIRELESS NETWORKS in the upper left of the screen, followed by removing all previous entries related to the network you are trying to connect to. From there, access your wireless router's setup options and temporarily disable wireless MAC filtering. Using the Windows 7 device, attempt to connect wirelessly to your wireless network. You SHOULD now be prompted for a network security key. Enter this information, confirm that the connection has been established, and once this has been confirmed, once again access your router's setup options, re-enable wireless MAC filtering, and you should now be able to establish connections wirelessly to this network using your Windows 7 device even with wireless MAC filtering enabled.
If you have no idea how to access your router or how to enable or disable wireless MAC filtering, the video 'How to access your Wi-Fi wireless router & restrict access to only approved devices by MAC filtering' can be found here:
http://youtu.be/fAh05haqdus