Thinkpad T61: wireless died suddenly -- HELP!

[radhak]

This is my work TP, just a year old. Worked great till thursday night, when a 'security patch' was automatically installed by the 'system' (ie, my company's sys admins).

Since then, it does not even detect any wireless networks, let alone grab onto one. I have tried all sorts of stuff, with whatever imperfect help from Google. The Choose a Wireless Network dialog box is empty. My other machine also on wireless, sitting 3 feet away, detects two : mine and my neighbors !

I have tried all the various ways of rebooting (around 21 times), removing the wireless adaptor from the Device Manager and allowing a reboot to re-installing it, (and even deleting all the network adaptors), resetting it with the netsh commands, etc. It just does not do anything : an empty list of wireless networks to choose from!!!

A couple of posts (via google) reminded me to check that my wireless is enabled, and I did and it is (Fn-key + F5 on T61).

This help page from microsoft is more detailed than most, but does not complete the job for me. It did help me pinpoint that my "Wireless Network Connection Properties" no longer has the middle tab "Wireless Network". (I don't remember, but assume it did exist before). See attached image. The circled tab is missing.


It goes on to say if this is the case, then I should disable the Wireless Zero Configuration service, which I did. But it does not say what I need to enable now! Needless to say, the wireless network is still blank.

My one suspicion is that if that automatic update deliberately disabled all wireless? Not far fetched, seeing that my monolithic company has maintained a policy of "Wireless access is not encouraged, and cannot be supported by our help-desk". The only wrinkle is, how can they disable outside of the admin tools available on XP Pro? ie, such that I cannot see where they have done it?

Anybody with any ideas?

[pierhogunn]

I can commiserate, the wirless on my lenovo craptop is buggy, and the end point security that work installed on their laptop doesn't make it any better, try downloading the intel pro drivers from intes website for your wireless, and that "may" help you get back only YMMV

[dkerfoot]

While I love Thinkpads, I am less enthusiastic with ThinkVantage Access Connections. Try disabling it and using the Windows built-in wireless. It used to be buggy but works quite well now.

[Rich P]

I have an older T41 so I'm not sure this applies but you might want to try downloading and installing the Thinkpad Access Connections application from Lenovo. This is a far superior wireless client than that provided by Microsoft. If you go to the Lenovo support site, you should be able to locate the version of Access Connections appropriate to your model. Note that with the wireless client, either XP wants to control it all or it will allow another client app to take over this function. It's an either/or. You can do a lot more with the Access Connections app.

[kirkroy]

Any chance you inadvertently moved the wireless switch at the front of the machine to off? I've seen this happen a few times at work.

Kirk

[crokett]

Any chance you inadvertently moved the wireless switch at the front of the machine to off? I've seen this happen a few times at work.

Kirk

that is what I was gonna suggest. I've done that more than once and now it is the first thing I check.

[dkerfoot]

I am not certain about the T61, but Up through the T43s, and R50s, no Thinkpads had a physical switch that I have seen.

BUT - there are various ways to turn the radio off. Is the little green radio light on?

[kirkroy]

I am not certain about the T61, but Up through the T43s, and R50s, no Thinkpads had a physical switch that I have seen.

BUT - there are various ways to turn the radio off. Is the little green radio light on?

T61s definitely have a switch on the front. It's not unusual for someone with small children to bring their laptop to me with failed wireless. Little kids can't resist playing with the switch...

Kirk

[radhak]

Funny - I never knew of the physical button. Certainly wasn't there in my earlier TPs.

But after you guys said so, I checked and found the button, but alas - it's 'on'. I can see the green radio light (which goes off if i move this button to the left).

As an alternative, today I added an external usb-wireless-adaptor, and installed it's drivers. But with the same effect when I try to use it's network connectivity : the list of detected networks is nil.

Looks like something to with how the machine is supposed to detect networks, independent of the wireless adaptors. So not sure re-installing drivers might help; or maybe they will. Lemme search Lenovo.

Thanks for the suggestions, and keep them coming!

[Bill Stock]

that is what I was gonna suggest. I've done that more than once and now it is the first thing I check.

The cat turned it off on my nc6400 (switch on top); took me forever to figure it out.

[leehljp]

For the "switch" notes above: Usually if the switch is turned OFF, then a dialog will notify you in vague terms that laptop's wireless is OFF - when you go through wireless setups. I got that several times before I realized there was a "switch" on the computer.

[atgcpaul]

My one suspicion is that if that automatic update deliberately disabled all wireless? Not far fetched, seeing that my monolithic company has maintained a policy of "Wireless access is not encouraged, and cannot be supported by our help-desk". The only wrinkle is, how can they disable outside of the admin tools available on XP Pro? ie, such that I cannot see where they have done it?

Anybody with any ideas?

I wouldn't put it past them. Maybe there is already a FAQ on your company
website about this. I'm a contractor for the Federal government and they
consistently push Windows updates on us.

The best one last year prevented everyone with a desktop from using certain system critical programs. I had to write a justification letter to the head of
our division's IT department so I could have admin rights to my desktop so I
could perform my job. Talk about an "Oh, poop" moment when you think
you're job has just been eliminated. But hey, at least I know what "Runas" is
all about now.

Paul

[Stytooner]

I would look in the bios too. There are some settings in there that could effect how the machine or it's hardware operates. I am not sure how an update would effect the bios, but if the update changed the perameters of how the hardware should work, then a bios setting may not now be compatible.
Worth a shot.I use an R45 to run my cnc router.
All it ever had was an ifrared port. I would not even know where to begin trying to hook up something like that. Luckily, it doesn't need connectivity in the shop.

[crokett]

If there is a setting that is preventing wireless network access, then it is most likely in the security policy on the laptop. Go to Control Panel->Administrative Tools-Local Security Policy and check there.

[radhak]

If there is a setting that is preventing wireless network access, then it is most likely in the security policy on the laptop. Go to Control Panel->Administrative Tools-Local Security Policy and check there.

Good point - I need to look in there first.

In the meanwhile the ThinkVantage Access drivers are being downloaded/installed. Boy, that is a loong list... !