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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Keychain not helping to connect to inter

pifactory - Mar 6, 2008 - 5:27 pm

MacBook. OS X 10.5.1 + 10.5.2

Keychain does not appear to want to let Safari, Entourage, etc automatically logon to my wireless router.

Tiger + earlier OS running on an iBook used to automatically connect me to my wireless set up as soon as I opened the lid or booted up.

Now I have to go through network configuration every time... even after the MacBook is just coming out of sleep mode. Frequently even this route takes several attempts.

Even when I connect to the internet via ethernet I still have to give passworded permission for access to keychain.

I have tried to configure keychain to allow Safari, etc to have access to my passwords... but to no avail.

It is v frustrating.
Any ideas?

Thanks

David W

earthsaver - Mar 6, 2008 - 10:52 pm

Normally this would have been fixed with the Keychain & Login update, which was later included in 10.5.1. It's possible that reinstalling 10.5.2 would do the trick, but more likely I'd wonder if your keychain is corrupt and needs to be repaired. You can run Keychain First Aid from Keychain's application menu.

- Ben

pifactory - Mar 8, 2008 - 7:53 pm

Ben,

Thanks for this...

Key chain did need repairing. I now no longer need to keep typing in the keychain access password... though when I start up Entourage i still get asked. But I still need to go through network diagnostics every time I want to get the machine to see my router 10 feet away.

Is there aything in network preferences I should check do you think?

Thanks for your time

David

earthsaver - Mar 9, 2008 - 9:14 am

Is your wireless network remembered?, and in the list of preferred networks in Network preferences? What do you see in the AirPort menu on the menubar? Is your network not selectable from there?

pifactory - Mar 9, 2008 - 12:57 pm

Hi Ben

Yes, the network is in the keychain and I click the remember me box every time I have to go through network diagnostics.

Yes, the network appears in the fan in the top menu bar, but when I select it nothing happens. The only way I can access the network is to open a new page in Safari and then wait for the dialogue which says I am not connected to the internet and then use the network diagnostics wizard.

In network preferences I have tried to move my network to the top of the list, but it won't stay there it just flips back down.

The computer will auto logon to a neighbour's network... but that is open and is not password protected.

Thanks again for all your hard work. This is the best help site I've used.

PS I'm also finding (sometimes) at boot up that I get just a flashing light (lower right hand of the computer + a beeping alarm. I then need to switch off the computer (nothing appears on the screen) and start up in safe mode (command S?). When I check startup disc it seems set to Mac OS 10.5.2

Best wishes

David

earthsaver - Mar 9, 2008 - 1:54 pm

After you move your network to the top and click OK, you might need to click Apply in the lower right of the window. Here's the official word on how to respond to beeping on startup. (Safe Boot is Shift; Single User Mode is Command+S.) How many beeps are there?

pifactory - Mar 10, 2008 - 10:05 am

Thanks... I'm on an ethernet connection at the moment.

I'll see how this latest advice works this evening.

David

earthsaver - Mar 10, 2008 - 11:10 pm

Any network news tonight?

pifactory - Mar 11, 2008 - 9:54 am

Hi Ben

Nope, no change I'm afraid on the wireless front.

Still need to connect via network diagnostics. And Entourage still asks for the keychain access password even though I've set keychain to be available to all applications.

I'm at a loss.

Best wishes

David

earthsaver - Mar 11, 2008 - 10:23 am

So, I haven't asked what model router you have, but the next step I would take is find out if there is a firmware update for the router. This issue has gotten a lot of attention on MacFixIt lately. The solution may be as simple as upgrading the firmware.

pifactory - Mar 11, 2008 - 11:20 am

Ben,

This looks interesting.

Firmware... this is what I load onto the router itself, right?

Best wishes

David

earthsaver - Mar 11, 2008 - 11:26 am

You got it! Let me know how it goes.

pifactory - Mar 12, 2008 - 1:11 pm

Ben

Thanks... I'm not going to get chance to do this till the weekend.
Best wishes

David

earthsaver - Mar 12, 2008 - 4:09 pm

OK.

pifactory - Mar 14, 2008 - 6:15 pm

Will communicate again on Sunday.

earthsaver - Mar 14, 2008 - 9:32 pm

Sounds good.

pifactory - Mar 16, 2008 - 12:15 pm

Ben

I uploaded a firmware update from about 2005. Two later updates dated 2006 and 2007 wouldn't load to the router (a D-Link DI-624 four-plus years old).

I can now choose the router from the menu bar, but when I fire up Safari I sstill get the computer is not connected to the internet and then need to go through network diagnostics.

The main benefit is that I now know what the problem is and so feel more confident that there is not something fundamentally wrong with the machine. It also explains why I can log on to other wireless networks with no problem.

Looks like I need to invest in a new router or live with the problems and wait for Mac to solve it in a later upgrade of Leopard.

Unless you've any further ideas... thanks for the help.

David

earthsaver - Mar 16, 2008 - 1:08 pm

Sorry, I'm out of ideas. I can reopen your question if you like as another tech might have a clue. Otherwise, we can close.

pifactory - Mar 16, 2008 - 1:30 pm

Ben

Thanks for your help.

We're further on than when we started and for that I am grateful.

Let's close for the time being.

Thanks again for your time and effort.

Best wishes

David