Thinkpads Forum

I have a thinkpad x60s that I have determined through many tests has a bad wireless radio switch. I know I can get a usb wireless dongle but I would prefer to have it in original working condition when I sell it. Does anyone out there know how I can bypass the case switch and turn the wireless on manually, by a register hack or some other means? Thanks.

Dave.

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

Assuming that the hardware switch is "stuck" in the off position, I'm guessing that you can't fool the system into activating the wireless card via a software hack. The switch appears to be wired to one of the Embedded Controller's interrupt pins.

That said, it's my understanding that you can do a hardware hack. Tape over pin #20 of the wireless card.

ref: http://www.notebookforums.com/t/225429/ ... switch-fix

Edit: Hmmm... maybe you can install a BIOS hack that get around the switch. I'll have to defer to somebody else who's done this before....

Thanks rkawakami, that worked perfectly. Very hard to do with my aging eyes but a little electrical tape, a tweezer and a magnifying glass and I was able to pull it off. Can't disable/enable it with function key but it's not that hard to disable it in network connections if not needed. Thanks again.

Dave.

davodave wrote:Very hard to do with my aging eyes...<snip>

Sounds like me (contacts AND +1.50 reading glasses when working at the computers). If I had to do the same pin 20 exercise, then add in a magnifying glass as well .