New Intel 2200bg and 2915abg wireless driver from IBM/Lenovo

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soliton · #61 Post by **soliton** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:52 am

confirmed evidence about how bad the coding with the Proset software is, and why only the driver should be installed instead of the 129 Mb mess

http://news.com.com/Intel+Wi-Fi+softwar ... g=nefd.top

DIGITALgimpus · #62 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:03 pm

Indeed, though the version included by Lenovo isn't much better... mine's bloated to about 50MB right now. That's insane.

I'm starting to lean towards getting a IBM wireless card now, and save me some RAM.

#63 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:12 pm

soliton wrote:confirmed evidence about how bad the coding with the Proset software is, and why only the driver should be installed instead of the 129 Mb mess

http://news.com.com/Intel+Wi-Fi+softwar ... g=nefd.top

The current Lenovo version is:
Version: 10.1.1.3 API
Release Date: 2006/06/21

The article above says: "The PROSet software was released early in August as part of Intel's scheduled updates."

CNET wrote:A software update for Intel wireless hardware is faulty and can hog PC memory, Intel acknowledged Thursday. A fix is due on Friday.

The problem affects the Intel PROSet software version 10.5, Amy Martin, an Intel spokeswoman, said. The PROSet software accompanies Intel's drivers that run the company's wireless hardware on PCs.

"One of the processes used by the Intel PROSet software was not releasing the (file) handles correctly, which caused more and more memory to be used by the process," Martin said. As a result, a PC slows down, she said.

It's called a bug. It happens.

tselling · #64 Post by **tselling** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:55 pm

GomJabbar wrote:It's called a bug. It happens.

And compared to losing a satellite or something, its a pretty minor bug

But as a software engineer my perspective may be different than others.

soliton · #65 Post by **soliton** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:26 pm

But as a software engineer my perspective may be different than others.

As a hardware engineer, my perspective certainly differs from yours

DIGITALgimpus · #66 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 1:54 pm

I swear, it's insane what goes on here... IBM/Lenovo just released an update:

10.5.0 which fixes the vulnerability, but note the latest version is really 10.5.0.1 fixes a memory leak which caused problems earlier! So if you install that patch, you can get 10.5, which is good to have, but now you have a memory leak. Just the Intel ProSet (from Intel) seems to cause problems with Access Connections. So you can only update the driver for now, and need to wait another few weeks for a 1.0.5.0.1 update from IBM/Lenovo, assuming they produce it.

DIGITALgimpus · #67 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:59 pm

Ok solution for those who want to upgrade to fix the security issue, get the 10.5 platform, but don't want the memory leak bug!

1. Download IBM's Intel Drivers
2. Extract them, and remember the location in the drivers directory (should be C:\DRIVERS\7awc22ww).
3. Download Intel Drivers and extract the installer using cabextract, 7zip, winzip or whatever works for you. You'll get a directory with all sorts of fun stuff.
4. Open C:\DRIVERS\7awc22ww\XP\APPS\IA32\IPRODATA
5. For each app you see there, find the same one in the intel directory you extracted from the installer (\Intel(R)PROSetWirelessSoftwareVer10.5.0.1_32\XP\Apps\IA32\iProData). Notice the IBM ones are all capital letters. Change the new Intel ones to all upper case, and save them in the IBM folder. Replacing the old IBM ones with the newer Intel ones. Do tihs for all of them in the IBM folder.

**Only do this for the ones that exist in the IBM folder, there are more Intel ones, but IBM does not ship these.**

Run Software Installer, and install this update. This will give you the latest patched version of the driver 9.0.4.17 and 10.5.0.1 of the ProSet.

I did this myself earlier today and it's been running fine. The only change I see between 10.5.0 and 10.5.0.1 is a fix of the memory leak issue.

#68 Post by **bill bolton** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 9:44 pm

DIGITALgimpus wrote:Ok solution for those who want to upgrade to fix the security issue, get the 10.5 platform, but don't want the memory leak bug!

Thanks, it working well here!

Cheers,

Bill

Wiz · #69 Post by **Wiz** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 11:22 pm

DIGITALgimpus, i downloaded and installed the new package (7awc22ww.exe) from IBM/Lenovo the other day and didn't think of doing what you describe here before i read it. After reading this i was about to do what you describe and just downloaded the latest Proset with the driver from Intel, but because i was curious i checked the files installed by the package i got from Lenovo. Then i saw something strange. Most of the files from the Lenovo package already had the file version 10.5.0.1. So i opened the msi files from the IPRODATA directory using ORCA (to see all the files and version number of the files inside the msi files). When i compared the files from Intel to the files from Lenovo i found out that most of the files had the same file version number, size and were identical. But some of the files were actually newer in the Lenovo package.
I couldn't find a single file from the Lenovo package with a older file version number compared to the intel package, but i could find files from the Intel package that were older compared to the ones from Lenovo.
The product version were 10.5.0.1 for both the intel and Lenovo version of the Proset API, but the file version on some files is newer in the proset API provided by Lenovo.

For example the PsRegApi.dll got a file version that is 10.5.0.5 and the TraceAPI.dll got a file version which is 10.5.0.2 from Lenovo. Compared to the files from Intel were the version number of PsRegApi.dll is 10.5.0.4 and TraceAPI.dll is 10.5.0.1 it seems like some of the files from Lenovo is newer, but the product version(which is not the same as the file version) is 10.5.0.1 for both.

This is a bit confusing since it's seems (when i read the release notes from Lenovo) that the version of Proset API provided by Lenovo is 10.5.0.0, but when i check what's installed it for sure seems like 10.5.0.1. In addition to that some of the files provided by Lenovo seems newer then those provided by Intel. Not sure why the version of some of the files is newer from Lenovo, but could be that some files is customized for Thinkpads only. Or maybe it's just some fixes for some minor bugs Lenovo found before the released this new package.

Anyway for those that choose to use the files from Intel it could be that you actually end up with the same product version, but with a couple of files that is older then if you use the Lenovo version. It seems to me that the release notes from Lenovo is wrong and it should have said version 10.5.0.1 of the Proset API and not 10.5.0.0.

DIGITALgimpus · #70 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:40 am

Checking md5 sums, there is a difference:

mcore.msi

Intel

Code: Select all

MCORE.msi                                      4e4421c82172ebbc1f5b0e96a7a2d946

IBM

Code: Select all

MCORE.MSI                                      6ceec4e51546bf8a3c5e0ab28bf1a103

Feel free to verify.

Wiz · #71 Post by **Wiz** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:00 am

DIGITALgimpus wrote:Checking md5 sums, there is a difference:
mcore.msi
Intel
Code: Select all
MCORE.msi                                      4e4421c82172ebbc1f5b0e96a7a2d946
IBM
Code: Select all
MCORE.MSI                                      6ceec4e51546bf8a3c5e0ab28bf1a103
Feel free to verify.

I know there is a difference between the mcore.msi from Intel and Lenovo as i also said, but a msi file is a installation that contains several files and that files inside the msi file is what will be installed on your PC. When i talked about identical files i was referring to what's inside the msi file and not the msi files it self.

I even gave a couple of examples of files that is newer in the Lenovo installation package. The md5 checksum only tell there is a difference between the files which i already knew and said. The md5 checksum is the same as what i get so we got the same files from Intel and Lenovo though.

ORCA is a tools from Microsoft Windows SDK so you can open, view and edit msi files so i was looking at the contens of the msi files and not the msi files it self.

But the point is that in the Lenovo package contains files that is either identical or newer. And I'm talking about the files inside the msi files you are referring to.

If you got the intel proset API check out the version of the files PsRegAPI.dll and TraceAPI.dll and you will find that your files got a older file version number then mine, but the product version number is the same. Most of the other files will be the same though, but none from Intel is newer then the ones from Lenovo.

If you don't have a tool like ORCA you could (if you want to check it out) check the version of the files under C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin then install the package from Lenovo and check the files again. I'll promise you that the files installed by Lenovo will be either newer or the same.

DIGITALgimpus · #72 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:22 am

It wasn't when I installed, but if it was for you, then great.

Wiz · #73 Post by **Wiz** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:43 am

DIGITALgimpus wrote:It wasn't when I installed, but if it was for you, then great.

Well i'm not going to force you or others to use the package from Lenovo....that will be your choice, but we got the same files so it cannot be different for you unless your installation failed. The md5 checksums you gave me for the mcore.msi files is the same as i got and the one from Lenovo conains newer files. If that was different for you then the checksums would have been different for the msi files compared to those i got. If you say something different then you have not checked the version of the actual files that is installed on your computer. As you know it would be impossible for us to have identical checksums for the mcore.msi files, but still different files.

Anyhow this is just information to other users that the Lenovo package actually contains files with newer file versions. And i know that for sure. If someone experienced the opposite it would be nice with some more details about the file version of the files installed in the "Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin" folder. What the release notes say and the msi files it self is not really relevant.

#74 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 2:01 pm

I just installed the new drivers and PROSet from Lenovo for my Intel 2200BG card. I've been watching for a few minutes now and I see no increase in the memory usage by the process S24EvMon.exe as reported in the article below. Memory usage for the above process has stayed steady at 11,896 K - at least so far.

Update: New Centrino Drivers Cause Massive Memory Leaks

Daily Tech wrote:According to DailyTech reader "MercenaryForHire," the Intel S24EvMon wireless management service is having troubles releasing registry handles. This leads to massive memory consumption during regular operation. The steps to recreate the memory leak is quite simple and involves installing the generic Intel PROSet 10.5 control panel and 10.5.1.57 drivers, then monitoring open handles and monitor memory usage of the Intel S24EvMon service.

Wiz · #75 Post by **Wiz** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 2:35 pm

I checked the files under Program files\Intel\Wireless\Bin and the file S24EvMon.exe from Intel and Lenovo are identical. Under that directory there are only three files that is different when i compare the Intel and Lenovo files where the Lenovo files is newer.

TraceAPI.dll (Lenovo 10.5.0.2, Intel 10.5.0.1)
PsRegApi.dll (Lenovo 10.5.0.5, Intel 10.5.0.4)
MurocApi.dll (Lenovo 10.5.0.7, Intel 10.5.0.6

The rest of the files in that directory is the same.

I also been using the Lenovo version for some days now and haven't seen any memory leak problems so far.

#76 Post by **bill bolton** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 3:25 pm

There is a new release of the drivers from Lenovo...

****

Version 10.5.1.0 API (Package)
- 10.5.1.72 (Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG/3945BG Network Connection)
- 9.0.4.26 (Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG/2200BG Network Connection)

Issue date November 7, 2006

----------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT THIS PACKAGE DOES

This package provides the Wireless LAN driver and Utility Software to enable the following Wireless LAN adapters.

- Intel PRO/Wireless 3945BG Network Connection
- Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
- Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection
- Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection

Refer to marketing materials to find out what ThinkPad models support which adapter cards.

This program is language independent and can be used with any language system.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN THIS RELEASE

[Specification changes]
- 2200BG/2915ABG Network Connection will report lower signal strength than with previous driver versions because the 2200BG/2915ABG methodology was changed to be more accurate and responsive, similar to the 3945BG/3945ABG. However, wireless network performance and functions are not affected at all by this change.

[Known limitations]
- Wireless Network Connection fails if ThinkVantage Access Connections Single Sign On profile is used for Windows Domain Logon under:
=== Windows XP for LEAP
=== Windows 2000 for LEAP, EAP-TLS, PEAP-CHAP
Lenovo is working to investigate this problem with Intel.

[Important updates]
Nothing.

[New functions or enhancements]
Nothing.

[Problem fixes]
- Windows XP SP2 upgrade stops response.
- (3945ABG only) EAP-FAST CCX V3 PAC pops up for every restart on Windows XP.

****

See... ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... wc24ww.txt

Cheers,

Bill

#77 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:12 pm

bill bolton wrote:There is a new release of the drivers from Lenovo...Version 10.5.1.0 API (Package)

I installed it 3 or 4 days ago on my T42 with the Intel 2200bg. No complaints yet.

DIGITALgimpus · #78 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:44 am

Since the last update, I've noticed a little better connection quality (54Mbps more constant), but now an occasional drop. Rather than less quality but more stable.

Not sure which I prefer.

Driver is 9.0.4.26.

TPadguy · #79 Post by **TPadguy** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:09 pm

I realize this is not totally related to this but I have searched and cannot find any input on this. After the latest update to a R52, I have the dreaded wireless problem radio is turned off etc etc...

The main thing I am asking is how/why can't I completely uninstall the intel proset package? It either says it is unistalled or only part of it shows unistalled and it is no longer listed in Add/Remove programs...However, after reboot the wireless icon is still on the taskbar and the icon on the display panel is still lit....

Tried to uninstall in safe mode and same thing! I have wasted sooo many hours already with this and cannot get the wireless, access connections or hot key to work right. I saw all the methods listed in other threads but I cannot even get the wireless to uninstall...

Any ideas, please?

Thanks

#80 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:17 pm

See if the post in this thread by antera309 can get you back on track.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 458#215458

TPadguy · #81 Post by **TPadguy** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:47 pm

Thanks, I saw that one but it says in there to uninstall the wireless driver and I cannot successfully do that. I also poked a bit in the registry but am very cautious about playing in there....

I also noticed several instances in the registry of wireless connections like wireless connections1, wireless connection2 etc etc

I have rebooted so many times my hand hurts and it wastes so many hours. If a system restore would do it that would be great. I tried it and the wireless is still messed up after a earlier set point...No wonder my friend only uses Dell! So much wasted productivity especially since Lenovo took over....

#82 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:12 pm

Install the Intel wireless driver again. After it is installed and you have rebooted, navigate to C:\DRIVERS\WIN\WLANINT\ and run Setup.exe. This will allow you to uninstall Intel's drivers using Intel's uninstall utility. After this follow the steps in the previous thread I linked.

If you do not want to poke in the registry yourself, then get a registry cleaner program to do it for you. There are a number of them on the market. I use Norton WinDoctor just because I already have it. Others like Registry First Aid or Registry Mechanic. Here is a recent thread on registry cleaners.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=33807

TPadguy · #83 Post by **TPadguy** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:19 pm

Perhaps in my frenzy I am not being clear. I have installed the wireless drivers and HAVE navigated to the installer package and run the setup.exe and chosen uninstall. After that it only shows partial uninstall with the check marks at the end..When I reboot after the "uninstall" I still have the wireless icon in the system tray and also partially blinking in the led indicator attached to the screen.

Sometimes it is still partially functioning and connects to the WAP but is in an endless loop trying to get an ip address. This is AFTER the driver has supposedly been uninstalled. By the way, it no longer shows in add/remove programs too after this...

Got me stumped!!!

Any other ideas? If I try a system restore again I doubt this will correct the wireless stuff. It did not before...

Thanks again....

TPadguy · #84 Post by **TPadguy** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:30 pm

By the way, will these registry cleaners in theory automatically detect and repair the wireless registry keys or do I have to point it in the right diirection. In which case I might as well do it manually, anyway and cross my fingers!!!

#85 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:48 pm

I do believe that Microsoft Windows stores a cache of previously used drivers. When you delete the existing one, Windows gets the one from the cache on reboot. It is from this cache that Windows lets you roll back the driver. It is not really Intel's fault I don't think. AFAIK, all that is being installed is the driver, not the extra Intel software.

After uninstalling the driver, run the registry cleaner program. What it does is find keys that are dead and not being used and gives you the option to restore function or delete the keys. The success rate depends upon several factors. Set a System Restore point before running the registry cleaner, then if you have problems you can restore back to the previous point. Note that I recently read that Norton AV and Panda AV can interfere with System Restore. If you are running one of these, post back.

TPadguy · #86 Post by **TPadguy** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 12:05 am

Thanks again...Well downloaded registry mechanic. I will try playing with it again tomorriow. Yes, I am running NAV Corporate edit. but have successfully restored from safe mode. It will not work in normal mode. Not sure if creating a restore point will cause the same problem since it does it all the time automatically.

Any idea when choosing a restore point from say 2 weeks ago it does not correct the wireless issues? I tried and it does not. In fact it partially corrupts some of the lenovo installer packages since they were downloaded after that restore point. It is easy to fix just redownload them but very time consuming...

I just wish I could get a clean uninstall of the driver. No matter what I try the wireless icon is there with some partial functionality, go figure!

Funny thing is, when I mentioned this wireless problem with some local IT guys that use IBM/Lenovo stuff, they had absolutely no clue what the wireless problem was. because they have never seen the problems at all. They told me they never do Lenovo updates unless there is a problem, Why ask for problems when you are supporting 200+ users...Maybe they have got something there. I never had a problem with the software installer when IBM was in charge. Ever since Lenovo have had much trouble. My T43 was also messed up by a download but was pretty easy to fix..This thing is a nightmare....

jgrobertson · #87 Post by **jgrobertson** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:35 am

I would agree that Lenovo is not doing as good a job with software quality as IBM did. Also I have observed that I am having lots of problems with the wireless on my T43P that others are not. I updated from Lenovo, they did not.

nikemen · #88 Post by **nikemen** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:39 am

wow, does anyone have a quick summary on what the fix here is? I have a T42 that will just NOT connect via wireless anymore. I have the latest AC on there, and what I thought were the latest drivers, but the wireless just drops, after connecting.

jgrobertson · #89 Post by **jgrobertson** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 11:56 am

The instructions at this link helped me. This after a lot of other things. From what I can tell the important things are:

Uninstall the device, and Access Connections.
get the very latest Access Connections, Power management and wireless card driver.

Then install the power management drivers FIRST.
Then install the wireless driver and the hotkey driver.
Then install the Access Connection last.

I had to repeat this several times. I installed the wireless driver after every reboot.

All in all this is a mess and it is disappointing that Lenovo is not providing the degree of integrity that we can to expect with IBM. Hopefully, IBM takes the Thinkpad line back.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 458#215458

Paul Unger · #90 Post by **Paul Unger** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:44 pm

Long story short, I just got a replacement 2200 b/g card from IBM ('lead solder free' no less!) Anyway, now my wireless LED blinks like an ambulance

It's driving me nuts! I found this thread: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=6522 but it seems more sinister than that . . . My other T42 (with the IBM / Atheros a/b/g I card) doesn't blink its wireless LED. Oh, btw, I think I have the latest driver installed (9.0.4.26, 10/25/2006). Thanks for any help,

Paul

New Intel 2200bg and 2915abg wireless driver from IBM/Lenovo

wow

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