Enabling WPA encryption

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JonathanGennick · #1 Post by **JonathanGennick** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:28 pm

I've an old Thinkpad (an X30) that supports only WEP encryption on WiFi connections. I'd like to be able to use WPA as well, yet the software doesn't give me that option. Is it a limitation of my hardware? Is the solution to buy a newer wireless PCI card? Or is there some inherent limitation in the X30?

qviri · #2 Post by **qviri** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:31 am

What is the "software" that you are using? What wireless card do you have?

#3 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:50 am

What works in a T30, will also work in an X30.
Try Intel 2200BG, or 2915ABG or an Atheros 5004 based wifi card.
You may need the no-1802 hack.
If you replace the original modem/wifi card, you would lose the modem!

JonathanGennick · #4 Post by **JonathanGennick** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:11 am

qviri wrote:What is the "software" that you are using? What wireless card do you have?

I use Windows to configure my wireless networking. I currently have Windows XP Service Pack 2 with all the updates applied. I keep it up-to-date.

Hardware is something called a "High Rate Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adaptor with Modem II"

Windows does not give me the option to use WPA, only WEP. However, relatives with newer machines do get an option for WPA, and they have their access points configured for WPA, making it impossible for me to connect using WEP. Thus, I'd like to move up to WPA myself.

#5 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:43 am

It's not Windows, it's your 'antique' wifi-card.
Throw that old card out, the above wifi-cards support WPA.
If you go for an Intel card, make sure you get a NON-IBM, i.e. generic, version!

qviri · #6 Post by **qviri** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:45 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:What works in a T30, will also work in an X30.
Try Intel 2200BG, or 2915ABG or an Atheros 5004 based wifi card.
You may need the no-1802 hack.
If you replace the original modem/wifi card, you would lose the modem!

I have a Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 3B in my X31 and it works fine with WPA under XP as well as Ubuntu. So that's another card that may be worth trying out.

Puppy · #7 Post by **Puppy** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:18 am

Depending on the wifi card model (there are various models in X3x series), search latest drivers on IBM/Lenovo site. The driver installation might include a firmware update enabling WPA encryption (it is described in readme file). It worked that way for my Cisco wifi card in X31.

Edit: Unfortunately it seems as there is no such update for your wifi card http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-44289

nynexman4464 · #8 Post by **nynexman4464** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:32 pm

If it's a IBM high rate card you can flash the chipset with a newer version of the firmware (not available from IBM). Take a look at http://linux.junsun.net/intersil-prism/, you'll want the 1.7.4 version. You then need to install a different driver than the IBM one, because it doesn't have the right hooks for windows WPA implementation. I don't remember what it is at the moment, I have to run but I can look it up for you later.

I did this with my T23 and now can use WPA in Windows XP. The only caveat is with the driver I'm using you can't disable the card, so if the wireless connection goes flaky you have to manually disconnect from the AP or restart the computer in order to re-connect. But in general it works OK. Better than being stuck with WEP, which is not much better than transmitting in the clear.

Be aware that flashing your wireless card could kill it, if something went wrong. I was nervous about this at first, but it's not really a big deal, and is worth it for WPA (if you use linux it'll work under there as well, no driver changes needed).

EDIT:
The driver you need can be downloaded from fujitsu http://support.fujitsupc.com/CS/Portal/ ... =DOWNLOADS
Select the P-Series P2120 laptop, and download the wireless driver. Extract the files, then navigate to the WinXP folder in that directory. You need to replace the prismnds.sys with a newer one, available from http://www.pretaktovanie.sk/download/in ... ismnds.sys. Then use the XP device manager to update the driver, using the "I will choose the driver to install" and specifying the location of that WinXP folder (from what I recall, the installer does not work). You will get some complaints about driver signing and being unable to determine if it is the right driver for your hardware. Just hit ok, reboot, and it should work.

Yes it's a pain, but worth it if you really want to have WPA in windows with the built in wireless. I should note that the IBM driver won't work with the new firmware (it doesn't recognize the card anymore). You should always be able to downgrade by installing the IBM firmware, but since I never tried it, I can't say for sure; this may be a one way upgrade.

Enabling WPA encryption

Enabling WPA encryption

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