Work around for "incompatible security" in Leopard
Quite by accident, i discovered a practical albeit cumbersome way to get back on your wireless network.
1. When you awaken Leopard you get the "None of your preferred networks are available" message.
Cancel it.
2. Ask Safari to open any page. It will, of course, hang with the message "You are not connected to the Internet."
Click on the "Network Diagnostics..." button in the message box.
3. You should get a dialog box titled "Network Diagnostics". The list of "locations" should have the name of your usual network setup highlighted in gray. All the network status signals down the left side will be red.
Click on the "Continue" button in the dialog box.
4. You should see a fresh Network Diagnostics box subtitled "Choose network port configuration"
Click on the AirPort radio button.
Then click on continue.
5. The Network Diagnostics box should be refreshed. You should now see "Select AirPort network" as a subtitle, and one or more wireless network names listed.
Click on your wireless network name (the one your AirPort knows).
Click the Continue button.
6. Type your password in the Password box in the next refresh. (No need for a $. Just your password.) (Don't bother checking the Remember password... box. It seems non-functional.)
7. Click the Continue button.
8. The Network Fairy awakens, makes all the status signals on the left green, turns on your wireless signal strength icon in the top bar, loads your Safari page, and leaves you with the message: "Your Internet connection appears to be working correctly."
9. Beats me why the "other" WEP password entry process consistently fails.
Fred