T42/p under Windows 7: Getting Hotkey's and Fn+F5 to work correctly

[Johan]

I am starting a whole new thread on this issue, as a reply to a question asked in another thread. The reason for this new thread is simply to make it easier to find this information (for me and for others!), in the future... because I'm getting old and therefore cannot always recall where I've posted various useful information, in the past...

So, to get to the point...:

Hi All,

Wondering if anyone managed to fix it? In my case the problem is only there with Windows 7: I've never had it while running Windows XP on my T42. The WiFi card in it is Philips branded, likely IBM FRU 91P7301 as I'm also using driver 77wc38ww.exe with it as suggested here: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=111246

The most recent Hotkey package v3.89.0100 currently available at Lenovo Support won't install for some reason despite T42 and W7x86 support claimed (a known issue I think): https://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/p ... vu43ww.txt

So I'm using as recent Hotkey package as I managed to find and install: v3.81.0100 (no fixes in between seem relevant anyway, perhaps except just "Fixed minor issues that existed in wireless related modules" in v3.89.0100). The Hotkey package was installed at the final step after making sure all other drivers are installed.

Wondering which WiFi cards are known to be Fn+F5 friendly as 91P7301 doesn't seem to be one of those: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 35#p732035

Having Fn+F5 manage WiFi would be quite instrumental as T42 doesn't have physical Wireless on/off switch.

Many thanks in advance!

In reply to this, Dmitriy's question, I kindly point to this post and especially to the thread What version HotKey-driver for T42p under Windows 7?.. pointing yet further onto the thread Access Connections on R50e running Win 7? where it is described how I managed to get the Hotkey's to work under Windows 7 on my T42's and T42p's. Everything work here on my T42's and T42p's under Windows 7; I can use all the ThinkPad Fn-functions, incl. switching on and off the WLAN using Fn+F5 (I'm using Access Connections), provided however using one of the "IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II":

As discussed in the thread WTB: "IBM 11a-b-g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II" for T42p I discovered having to use one of the newer "IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II" adapters in my T42/p's... because if using the older "non-II" (like the 91P7301), I couldn't get Fn+F5 to work. Because of this I ditched the 91P7301, and went with the "IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II" which has worked without any issues for years.

A final comment (albeit perhaps slightly/somewhat "off-topic"): Two things which are unfortunately still causing the T42/p's (w/Windows 7) to feel a little "weak" at times, even after having "maxed it out" with 2 GB RAM and a SATA SSD:

1) The Microsoft "Windows Update" have become extremely (almost painfullly!) slow during the past year or so (as discussed in e.g. this post), and because of this I've simply had to completely and permanently turn the automatic "Windows Update" off,

2) The free antivirus that I'm using, being the "Microsoft Security Essentials", is also often loading the CPU way too much, and way too long, especially under boot. I have searched high and low for a free utility by aid of which I could permanently reduce the priority of this program to become e.g. "Low" or "Idle", but all the programs I've played with won't/don't keep the settings after shutting down and re-bootoing.

If someone could recommend a "good" (and free!) antivirus program for use in a T42/p, and especially one causing less CPU-load, I'd be very interested! Also, if someone perhaps know how to permanently change the priority of programs under Windows 7, I'd surely like to know about that as well!!

... but other than that (and also disregarding from the fact that Adobe Flash Player is often very heavy under Firefox and Internet Explorer, on T42/p's, and are causing things to run somewhat slow), I still very much like my T42's... the LCD, keyboard, aesthetics etc.

Johan

[axur-delmeria]

I use Bitdefender Free Antivirus, though I haven't tried it on a computer with a single-core processor.

[dandreye]

Hi Johan,

Is it this driver you're using with your IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II? http://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/product ... s/DS003567

If so do you recall having any issues installing it? Out of curiosity I just tried it with my "non-II" adapter 91P7301 (Philips branded) as its Readme made me think both non-II and II are supported and as it's newer (7.6.1.260b) than the one I was using before (4.1.2.156 from package 77wc39ww) - but it doesn't work: Windows 7 says something like no suitable drivers found (looks like it's AR5211.sys it is after).

Many thanks!

P.S. In the unlikely event that I see this newer driver manage my non-II adapter 91P7301 using Fn+F5 we'll move it into the new Fn+F5 related thread you created.

P.P.S. IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II appears to have its own page @ ThinkWiki similarly to non-II just in case anyone needs it: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/IBM_11a/b ... Adapter_II

[Johan]

Is it this driver you're using with your IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II? http://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/product ... s/DS003567

No; the WLAN Atheros driver that I'm using on my T42/p's (under Windows 7, and with the IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II) is the version 7.7.0.498b which you will find described here and which you can e.g. download from Lenovo's site --> here. As explained above, it works just fine; no issues at all. I'm using Access Connections ver. 5.84 (build 83C755WW) on my T42/p's with this adapter. You can get Access Connections ver. 5.84 at the bottom of this page.

All clear now?

P.S. In the unlikely event that I see this newer driver manage my non-II adapter 91P7301 using Fn+F5 we'll move it into the new Fn+F5 related thread you created.

I already moved your above post from my (old) thread in the Marketplace (WTB: "IBM 11a-b-g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II" for T42p) to this thread... as it seems most logical to keep this discussion only going on in one (active!) thread, rather than spreading it out here and there!

Johan

[dandreye]

Johan,

I now have 91P7301 managed by Fn+F5 perfectly well (besides Bluetooth): still can't believe my eyes ) Just removed my T42 palm rest yet again to be 100% sure and yes it's "non-II" Philips PH12127E card 91P7301 in it indeed.

Here's what I did:

1) Tried installing driver version 7.7.0.498b from package 7ywv54ww you're referring to on top of driver version 4.1.2.156 from package 77wc39ww that I started with. That had no effect whatsoever, leaving the latter one intact.

2) Clicked Uninstall driver and checked Delete driver files to get rid of any leftovers for sure. The adapter turned into Ethernet Controller with yellow warning icon under Other group (I already saw it in such state when Windows 7 installation was over).

3) Manually installed the driver that I found in Windows 7 using the following steps:
- right click on the adapter
- select Update Driver Software
- select Browse my computer for driver software
- select Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer
- select Atheros Communications Inc. in the left hand pane and 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter (Atheros...) in the right hand pane: it's 3rd from top there
- confirm when warned that this driver may be unsuitable for my hardware...

That was it (a reboot was required). The driver showing up now in adapter properties is version 7.7.0.498 dated 27/04/2010. 7ywv54ww.txt tells us somewhat different dates though:

Driver Build ID Access Connections Version Rev. Issue Date
--------- -------- -------------------------- ---- -----------
7.7.0.498b 7YWV54WW 5.62 or higher 01 2010/09/06
7.7.0.498 7YWV53WW 5.62 or higher 01 2010/07/12

Looking further down it seems like 91P7301 support is there starting with:

<7.2.0.190> (7RWV07WW)
- (New) Support for ThinkPad R61/R61e/R61i/T61/T61p.
- (New) Support for Access Connections 4.40.
- (New) Support for ThinkPad X61/X61s/X61 Tablet.
- (New) Support for :
IBM 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI adapter
IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II
ThinkPad 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter
ThinkPad 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter II
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter
- (Fix) AdHoc connection fails connecting to Intel wireless.

One thing I don't get now is: assuming Windows 7 had this driver since inception what could have prevented it from recognizing my 91P7301 during installation and choosing that driver automatically?... weird.

Thanks for all your help!


Update: WiFi LED on the screen bezel has stopped working though (just noticed it): it's always off now, exactly as WiFi status in Fn+F5 screen was before the change. What a p̶a̶i̶n̶ ̶i̶n̶.̶.̶.̶ nuisance )

[Johan]

WiFi LED on the screen bezel has stopped working though (just noticed it): it's always off now, exactly as WiFi status in Fn+F5 screen was before the change. What a p̶a̶i̶n̶ ̶i̶n̶.̶.̶.̶ nuisance )

The WiFi (& Bluetooth) LED-indicators on the screen bezel works with no issues on my T42/p's (under Windows 7, with the above drivers etc.)... when using the above-mentioned IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II.

By the way, RealBlackStuff just posted an interesting piece of news, in relation to the extremely slow Microsoft Windows Update, mentioned above; see the thread W7/SP1 Windows Update stuck checking for updates. I haven't tried it yet, but sounds interesting!

Johan

[dandreye]

The WiFi (& Bluetooth) LED-indicators on the screen bezel works with no issues on my T42/p's (under Windows 7, with the above drivers etc.)... when using the above-mentioned IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II.

Good news: I now have my "non-II" Philips PH12127E card 91P7301 also managed (besides Bluetooth) by Fn+F5 with WiFi LED working properly this time. The right driver appears to be "11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II" at the top of the list of "Atheros Communications Inc." drivers that come with W7. The driver showing up in adapter properties is version 2.0.0.74 dated 09/06/2009 supplied by Microsoft. Looks like drivers for these cards supplied by Atheros don't have access to WiFi LED while those supplied by Microsoft do.

Update: tried a couple of generic (no Lenovo P/Ns) Intel WiFi cards: 2200bg and 2915abg and couldn't get Fn+F5 to manage either of them. Non-IBM/Lenovo cards are also known to have a non-standard pinout, which reportedly prevents them from driving WiFi LED in our T4x laptops (and perhaps older models too).

By the way, RealBlackStuff just posted an interesting piece of news, in relation to the extremely slow Microsoft Windows Update, mentioned above; see the thread W7/SP1 Windows Update stuck checking for updates. I haven't tried it yet, but sounds interesting!

Thank you - just tried KB3083710 on top of KB3102810, which I already had (w/o reinstalling W7x86+SP1 though). Unfortunately svchost is back at the top of CPU users with its 98% utilization. Installing KB3083710 and KB3102810 first thing over a fresh W7x86+SP1 installation as instructed in that thread does seem to help though: this time it took WUA about 5min to offer 217 important and 47 optional updates and svchost.exe no longer resides on the top of CPU users although it jumped there a few times while checking for updates.