OSX Cannot Connect to Open Wireless Network

[Repo]

My 2009 uMBP 10.6.6 is unable to join an open network, while my Win 7 Boot Camp partition, iPod Touch, and separate Win XP machine, all are able to. It can find the network, but when I try to join it, it immediately says "connection failed." Anyone know what's wrong?

 

[bmcgonag]

Do you have a static IP, DNS, Gateway set on the MBP?

Create a new network profile, and see if you can connect using the new one.

 

[Repo]

It seems I've resolved the issue for now. Under System Preferences > Network > Advanced > AirPort, I had "Change networks" selected under "Require administrator password to." Whenever I went to change networks through the status bar, it never asked for my admin password, but now after deselecting said option it connects to the open network no problem. What's strange is that I've connected to other networks before with and without encryption, and OSX only sometimes asked for my admin password, and other times not.

 

[Mactrillionaire]

Well, glad you solved the network problem. On the other hand, you'll want to secure the network using WPA or WPA2 and choose a hard to guess password 16 to 32 characters long. Using an open network means anybody can spy on what you are sending unless it is already encrypted before being sent. Open networks also can be used by anyone who wants to access the internet, so someone nearby could get free internet access without your knowledge and the owner of the wireless network hardware (I'm assuming that's you) could also be civilly liable to copyright holders if those accessing the internet use the connection to do certain illegal stuff (i.e., infringe copyright). So, "open" networks should be a thing of the past, but I see them all the time on my iPod touch.