Laptop won't work with WPA encryption

Question

I bought a new router (Linksys E2500) because the old router (Linksys E1200) WiFi would keep cutting out. I setup the new router using the same settings as the old router (WPA/WPA2 encryption, same password, same SSID). All of my devices were able to connect to the new router no problem, except for my moms laptop. Her laptop would connect to the router, but there would be limited connectivity (no intranet or internet access). After playing with it for a bit, I found that it would get full internet access if I changed the encryption to WEP.

Since the new router supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, I was able to change the 2.4GHz to use WEP and the 5GHz band to use WPA/WPA2 Personal Mixed Mode encryption (because of enabling WEP, WiFi Protected Setup was disabled). I came across this post on Linksys' forum which describes the exact same problem I'm having (my moms laptop uses the Atheros wireless card), however, the one suggestion about changing to Wireless G mode and changing the encryption to WPA-Personal doesn't work.

I'm wondering why this wireless card will not work with the WPA/WPA2 Personal Mixed Mode encryption? Does anyone know of any other possible ways to get it to work (without having to buy a new wireless card)? Also, is it okay to keep it as both WEP and WPA/WPA2 Personal encryption?

Solution

It looks like the driver for my moms laptop was outdated. I downloaded the latest driver for the Artheros AR5007 wireless card from http://www.atheros.cz/atheros-wireless-download.php?chipset=21&system=3 and now it works no problem connecting via WPA2-Personal encryption.

Comments

[martineau]

You should add this to your question -- not as an answer.

[Spiff]

@martineau If you solve your own problem before anyone else does, it's proper and encouraged to add your solution as an Answer and even accept your own Answer.

[martineau]

@Spiff: You are indeed correct -- never mind ub3rst4r...

[Yuhong Bao]

Or a 802.11b device that was updated to support TKIP, which was the purpose of TKIP. Sadly these ended up being mostly clients, not APs.