Is there a compatible mini pci card that works with R40's I don't want to mess with error hacks- just want to replace my wireless B with a wireless G?
Anyone have one for sale?
thanks
Jethro

Same question for an A30. With a part number if possible. I'd like to replace my 26P8472 802.11b MPCI wireless LAN/modem combo card with the like 802.11b/g.

BTW - Not hard to tell but, I'm new on this forum.

Thanks.

Yes, there is.

I purchased the IBM a/b/g mini-pci card a couple of years ago for my R40. It works perfectly assuming you have the latest BIOS and the correct drivers (... I think it's x:\DRIVERS\WLLANPHL) The IBM Part No. is 31P9701.

I upgraded my R40-2681 with a standard intel 2200 B/G mini PCI card a year ago. I did hack the CMOS with a tiny DOS program, which is fairly easy and safe to my laptop.

It worked fluently over the year, though I cann't use Fn+F5 to open a control window, instead, I use the program and software drive provided by Intel to set and control the Wi-Fi card.

Hiya,

If you want some more info about how to hack your CMOS to allow it to accept cards which are not one white lists by IBM, the best place to check out if the Linux guys at ThinkWiki.

Follow link: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_w ... twork_card

really helpful, I used this method on my R40e and worked a treat.

Hope this info helps you make an informed decision

R40's latest BIOS update (1OET61WW 1.27) released on 2006/07/01 supposedly adds support for certain 802.11b/g Mini PCI card(s).


http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46055
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... uj24us.txt

The question is: Which FRU's are supported? How do we find out?

btw, my R40 model is 2681-69U, whose user guide only mentions 802.11b compatible cards. Am I correct to understand that the new BIOS will allow certain 802.11b/g cards as well?

I have successfully installed the IBM 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Card (93P3475) on my Thinkpad R40 (2681-69U) which originally supported only 802.11b Mini PCI cards.

Here's what I did:

1. Downloaded the drivers off Lenovo's website: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-52527
1. Downloaded and updated to latest BIOS (for my model, v1.27 which brings support for Thinkpad 11b/g cards)
2. Ordered part# 93P3475 off eBay.
3. Opened Mini PCI door and inserted card.
4. Attached both antennas.
5. Turned on R40 and installed drivers.

Everything works:

1. BIOS doesn't complain
2. Wireless works flawlessly on secure network.
3. Wireless LED works.
4. Wireless On/Off Hot Key works.

Hope this helps!

What is the advantage of 802-11g? The 802-11b is faster than current highspeed Internet connections.

Not really, the effective throughput of B wifi is around 5mb/s. Many broadband carriers offer 7mb/s plus - for instance RCN (formerly Starpower, in Maryland), which I personally use.

Also, with a home server, copying photos in particular between a laptop and the server is many times faster with G wifi (or A).

It's a noticable and inexpensive upgrade at this point. Routers and wifi cards are very reasonable now.

In addition to what underclocker said, 802.11g offers much better range while maintaining excellent speeds. I can use it at home and campus in places where the signal would drop with an 11b.

It's a matter of what you need. 11b doesn't cut it for many situations, and for $25 it's an inexpensive upgrade.

Just received a R40. It was wireless upgradeable(ie, no wifi card installed). I purchased an Intel 2200 b/g mini pci card, performed the no-1802 hack, and the card is up and running fine with no problems. I use the Intel software to run the card. Very easy to do.


Ron

Hi everyone i'm totally new to this forum but having looked at lots of your posts you seem to know what your doing .Hopefully some one can help me , i have an ibm r40e model 2684 L8G will i be able to run the bios upgrade as described earlier to enable me to use the intel 2200b g mini pci wireless lan card in this machine as the model 2684 isn't show on any of the upgrade instructions .I hope it's not too daft a question for a first post . Regards jonny P.S i also have a 600x which is still a fantastic machine and used a lot .

Welcome.

The R40 and R40e's do have different BIOS and EC images. I have personally used the hack with R40's successfully, as have others here.

There doesn't seem to be a reason why the hack shoudn't work with the R40e - since it was released around the same time as the R40's and is a very similar model.

Perhaps someone with a R40e can try and/or comment, too.

Hi Underclocker many thanks for reply i am going to give it a try at the weekend as i also have not found anything to suggest that r40e bios can't be modified.

Your results will be a fine addition to this forum!

Good luck.

I can now happily confirm that bios hack no 1802 does work on ibm r40e 2684 L8G card running is intel wm3a2200bgrw thanks to everyone who posted the info was invaluable . jonny b

Anyone remember how to do this?

I recently got a thinkpad r40 2682-6gu, bought an 802.11g mini pci card for it, and have tried updating to the latest BIOS (1.27)

I can't get the BIOS flash to work. I downloaded it straight from the Lenovo site. When I get to the second 1 through 4 screens, it restarts without any luck updating the BIOS. I have tried this at least 30 times now with unsuccessful results.

Have you updated first (or is already at it) the Embedded Controller Program to 1.14?
Only then should you update the BIOS.
How are you trying to do it, using a floppy or from within Windows?

@LeeCravens:

I've given you all the correct instructions on Lenovo's forum.

http://forum.lenovo.com/t5/R-Series-Thi ... d-p/176147

Your machine has a charging circuitry problem. Keep on pushing the BIOS upgrade and you'll eventually brick it.

Get a proper IBM/Atheros card with a FRU number and move on.