Airport Express/Windows XP - Tried everything, doesn't work

Question

I'm trying to connect my windows XP machine to my airport express network. I've tried all the suggestions in http://tech.ifelix.net/2002.html and it still doesn't work. I can see my network but when I click on it, it tries to connect for about 30 seconds and then just gives up. I'm using a WPA password format, mostly because I couldn't figure out the WEP conversion. Settings include:
Association: correct network name shows, Network Authentication: WPA-PSK (I've tried just WPA, same issue), data encryption: TKIP (tried AES, same issue).
Authentication: Nothing checked, entire window greyed out
I'm kind of at the end of my rope at this point. The PC connects to wireless networks outside of my house so I know it works, just not with my Airport Express. I also installed the AE software and it doesn't even detect my base station. When I click on AE Assistant, I get an error message that says "The AE Assistant found that Windows is not allowed to manage wireless networks on this computer. This can be as a result of having a 3rd party utility that manages wireless networks. For best results please allow Windows to manage wireless networks." What does this mean?
Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

That message you received "The AE Assistant found that Windows is not allowed to manage wireless networks on this computer. This can be as a result of having a 3rd party utility that manages wireless networks. For best results please allow Windows to manage wireless networks" usually means theres another software program managing how your pc connects to wireless networks. For instance with each copy of Windows XP theres a built in wireless utility called Windows Zero Config or WZC. This is a really basic interface that simply shows the signal and what networks are with in range of your computer. When you purchase another wireless card or if your computer/laptop comes with wireless network card sometimes the manufacter will create a custom utility for it providing you extra features. For example my HP laptop has a netgear wireless card and the netgear software provides more information of wireless networks in range of you and more customizable settings for the wireless connection where as WZC does not.
You usually can turn this off in the 3rd party utility or by right clicking on wireless icon in the lower right hand corner of the screen (usually a computer monitor icon with waves coming off of it) and choose the option view available wireless networks. There you would see a star icon that says manage wireless network settings if i remember (been awhile since ive looked at it) and from there you should see a check box that says allow windows to manage wireless networks. This once checked will allow the airport express software to manage wireless settings.
After this is done you could try hard resetting your AEX and reconfigure it from the pc computer and insure your able to connect to it wirelessly. Then once thats done just connect the other computers to it.