How do i find my WEP key??

Question

Help. I dont have the cd anymore (the one where i write my sn number and it generates my WEP key) and i need it for a laptop that i am getting for xmas.. how do i recover it??

Answer 1

A WEP key is just a large random number that is used as an encryption key for a wireless network. You would use a WEP key to add a measure of security to a home or office network. The wireless access point(s) are set to enable WEP encryption, with a particular key. All of the users enter that same key into their laptops, to enable access to the network. An unauthorized user could not connect, because he would not have the key.

Ok, so how do you recover a lost key?
If you are the owner/administrator of the wireless access point, then no worries. You can just create a new key. There's no need to recover the old key.

You don't need that CD to create a new WEP key for you. Any key will work, as long as you enter the exact same key into the wireless access point, and also into each computer that will use the network. Just make up a new key from a random string of digits. (The digits 0-9 and also the letters A-F count as a "digit" for this purpose.)

If you are NOT the administrator of the network (i.e. if you are using a network at your office or school), then just ask a network administrator what the key is. Someone at the technical help desk should be able to provide it.