How do I change wireless key without messing up connectn ?

I have a laptop running Windows 8.1. I get my internet via a cable modem. I've connected a Linksys router to that modem so that I can get wireless for my laptop. This all works fine.

My security program, Avast, complained today that the WPA key for my wireless was too weak so I changed it to something stronger, saved the settings, and immediately lost my wireless connection to the internet. I assumed this would take care of it itself as soon as I tried to reconnect and that I would be given a chance to change the password associated with that connection in my laptop but I never got the chance to change that setting: Windows simply refused to connect. I finally got my internet connection back by using an Ethernet cable, rebooting the laptop (to bypass the bad IP address, 254.169.xxx.xxx, that I was getting), and setting the Wireless key back to its old value.

I'd like to know how I can change the password both in the router and in Windows so that I can reconnect wirelessly with the NEW WPA key. Can someone explain this to me or point me to some kind of tutorial/website that does so?

I'm guessing that I have to delete the old Windows connection and create a new one that uses the new WPA key but I don't know how to do that. I don't see any way to remove connections from the list that comes up when I click on the Settings charm and list the networks or in Control Panel for that matter.

WPA is not enough security, it's easily bypassed/ broken, you should use WPA2, here are some options: Wi-Fi Security: Should You Use WPA2-AES, WPA2-TKIP, or Both?
Yo have to check your router to see what's available. To change router settings you have to connect to it by Ethernet cable, enter it's IP address in internet browser and make setting from there. If you don't have modem/routers manual, note it's full designation and search for it, preferably on Linksys site. It should give you all the instructions how to do it. You should also contact your ISP to see if there are some special settings required, many of them also use modems/routers with custom Firmware so changing something may disconnect you from internet.

Thanks for confirming my suspicion that WPA isn't secure enough; I'll change to one of the others. I have no problem finding the appropriate screens in the router.

Unfortunately, you didn't address my main issue: how do I change my connection in Windows 8.1 so that it works after I have made the changes in the router? When I initially created my connection to the router, I had to supply a password/key when I got the list of visible connections (most of which were from neighbouring homes/apartments) and chose the one for MY router. But I see no way to change the password there. (I had hoped Windows would be smart enough to detect that the password had changed and prompt me for the new password but apparently all it does is try to connect with the old password and fail.)

I've found a way to make it 'forget' the old connection but not to delete it. Does this mean I need to create a new connection by supplying a new SSID in the router and then connect to that? Is there no way to keep the old SSID and simply use a different password?

RhinoCan said:

I'm guessing that I have to delete the old Windows connection and create a new one that uses the new WPA key but I don't know how to do that. I don't see any way to remove connections from the list that comes up when I click on the Settings charm and list the networks or in Control Panel for that matter.

Click to expand...

After you change the key in the router and get kicked off, go to Settings > Change PC Settings > Network > Manage known Networks and 'Forget' the network. Then when you reconnect, you'll be prompted for the key.

RhinoCan said:

I've found a way to make it 'forget' the old connection but not to delete it. Does this mean I need to create a new connection by supplying a new SSID in the router and then connect to that? Is there no way to keep the old SSID and simply use a different password?

Click to expand...

Forgetting the network should delete it (from your computer). No need for a new SSID. Just pick it again from the list of available networks.

I've changed my security over to WPA2-Personal (AES) and chosen a new SSID and passphrase. The new network appeared in my list of WiFi networks and I was able to supply the passphrase successfully and connect wirelessly with the new connection. In short, my security is much better and my wireless works with the new information.

My mistake was in overestimating the designers for Windows. I assumed it would be no big deal to simply change settings somewhere so that my existing SSID/connection would work with a new passphrase. That doesn't even seem to be possible, let alone simple....

You're an optimist, not much simple with MS. Well, it's working now and you're as secure as possible now, it's not 100% either but in these circumstances close enough.