Ibook G4 having problem with airport connection when using secure network

Question

Hi,
I am currently using a brand new Macbook. I am connected wirelessly to a Comcast network through my Netgear Wireless-N 150 router model WNR 1000. The problem I am having is with the 4 year old ibook when I go to use the airport and connect to my existing network it says the password is incorrect. I spent time troubleshooting this with Netgear and basically we found out that the ibook does connect with the network when there is no security at all.
I erased the hard drive on this ibook to prepare it for sale and it is back to the factory settings. Is there some kind of firmware or drivers I am missing to use the airport as described?? I want to be able to show the buyer that the internet works etc. I also may want to install a few things on the ibook before the sale.
Thanks a mil
Message was edited by: omshanti

Answer 1

Did you reset the wireless router to see if by default, it has a different
wireless security then, than however it presently is set up?
The question you pose appears to be marked "answered or solved."
When you reinstall an OS X, the setup asks if you have an existing
wireless connection, or if you will be getting a new one; by default,
the setup will make the existing one the automatic one for OS X.
You should not have to add passwords or other, unless there has
been one set in KeyChain or for the specific wireless base in question.
Tiger 10.4.x does not require you to have a set password for wi-fi,
but you will find several levels of secure options available in OS X.
Not sure why your setup and configuration is problematic. Usually,
a totally new OS X installation is without issue. Sometimes, you
may have to administer a base station via Ethernet cable before
some configurations can use it, but an existing network should be
easy, unless it already has a password security in place.
The Mac will work without a password-protected wi-fi internet source;
often it will 'just work' even when moved to a new environment and
a neighbor's network, if not password protected, will appear among
other options in your vicinity and it will be automatically available.
Not sure if any newer OS X update parts, from the Combo update
files to take Tiger 10.4 to 10.4.11, plus others, would help the Mac
connect better to whatever wireless source of internet available.
I've not had that issue, as you state, except for when someone has
a protected network or passwords in place. Mine has passwords to
keep unauthorized neighbors from easy access; just in case.
In remote locations where few neighbors exist who could access wi-fi
from a lone source, no wireless security settings at all, work just fine.
I've done that; and found a little greater range was gained in signals.
And in the city (largest town in state) a computer I'd set up for use in
a password protected wi-fi network - later worked fine and found the
new owner's own wi-fi network without issues; and I had let the OSX
setup assistant do its job. If a local network is protected by WEP or
WPA2, etc with a password, one would be needed to access it. If not,
then the connection should be automatic.
Good luck & happy computing!