Another T42 with Fn+F5 Wi-Fi toggle problems

[teepee]

Hi

Fn+F5 on my T42 (2374-K1G) allows toggling BT on and off, but not Wi-Fi on and off. It did when the laptop was new (summer 2005) but I hadn't tried to use Wi-Fi between then and May 2006. So, at some point, presumably some software has messed things up.

If I go into My Computer/Properties/Device Manager and manually toggle the relevant radio button there the LED below the laptop LCD goes on and off but either way Wi-Fi is shown as off under Fn+F5.

Also, Fn+F5 is completely unresponsive. When I click on it I don't get any error message, unlike the situation with some T42 laptops.

So, I've read through the forums looking for solutions and those that come within my technical competence to implement are (I hope I haven't oversimplified):
1) Uninstall Access Connections, reboot, intsall Access Connections, reboot, Install Intel drivers, reboot; or
2) Make sure everything, especially OnScreen display (or, in a different post, Power Management), is up to date; or
3) Uninstall only the Intel drivers, then re-install them, plus the asssociated Intel software, manually (ie not via Software Installer); or
4) Run a VB Script that fixes somthing called a supplicant.

Somewhat beyond this was a suggestion to make sure ibmpmsvv is set to automatic. This sounds like it ought to have straightforward instructions and I would be happy to follow them if someone could tell me what they are please.

Anyway. Of the 4 options above, I've done 2). It didn't fix anything. So now I need to know whether to go with 1)/3) (these seem like variants of the same solution to me) or 4). Of all the posts I've read the one that struck me as most authoratitive, and that referred to a procedure already mentioned elsewhere, is 4), as detailed by Riddil at http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... l&start=30.

So, does anyone have any opinions as to which route to take please? And, if it is route 4), is http://rapidshare.de/files/11778007/Wireless.zip.html still the best place to get the most up to date VB Script please?

For reference, my Wi-Fi card shows as Intel/PRO Wireless 2200BG, and the current software versions (taken from Software Installer) are:
Intel PRO/1000 MT Mobile Connection 7.2.17.101
Intel PRO/Wireless Driver (11a/b/g, 11b/g) 9.0.4.8
Intel PRO/Wireless Driver (11a/b/g, 11b/g) 1.40.0000
Intel PROSet 7.10.0000
ThinkVantage Access Connections 4.12
IBM ThinkPad battery Maximiser and Power Management Features 1.38
ThinkPad Power Management Driver 7.5.17.18

I appreciate any and all advice

Mike

[teepee]

I forgot to mention that I did read through Riddil's post and checked that yes, I do have AEGIS. I then worked through the next bit about trying to set up a new connection in Access Connections, but when I did this I got 7, rather than 3 options under security. The options I saw were:
None (encryption is disabled)
Use static WEP keys
Use Wi-Fi Protected Access - Pres Shared Key (WPA-SPK)
Use IEEE 802.1x authentificatiom
Use 802.1x EAP Cisco (LEAP)
Use 802.1x EAP Cisco (EAP-FAST)
Use Windows to configure wireless network

[GomJabbar]

The solutions in the following two threads seems to fix the problem for most users.

Rename .dll file.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=24506

Make sure path is in environment variables.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=24189

[teepee]

Many thanks GomJabbar.

I have a couple of follow up questions, basically down to my lack of technical knowledge.

In http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=24189, you wrote: "Make sure you have the Intel PROSet installed. Check in Software Installer or Windows Add or Remove Programs. Also make sure the environment variables include the following for the path. C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\". By "environment variables" do you mean that this folder needs to be in the left hand box in Software Installer, under "search the following locations:"? Assuming this is what you mean I added the folder and did a new search for updates but nothing additional was reported.

In http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=24506 I can see several solutions mentioned. Which is the one you refer to please? If it is renaming libeay21.dll, what file should I rename and what should its new name be please? I found another post that referred to libeay32.dll (http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... beay21+dll), but a post there stated that this renaming is a bad idea.

Again, many thanks

Mike

[GomJabbar]

(1) An easy way to check is go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. Type "path" without the quotes and see if you see C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\ anywhere in what is displayed. Type "exit" without the quotes to close the command prompt window.

To actually add this to the environment variables:

To add or change the values of environment variables
Open System in Control Panel.
On the Advanced tab, click Environment Variables, then click the name of the user variable or system variable you want to change, as follows. Click:
New to add a new variable name and value.

Note that there has to be a ; between each path statement.

(2) Renaming libeay21.dll is no big deal. You can always rename it back if you encounter problems. I would name it libeay21.bak, but it doesn't really matter as long as you use just numbers and letters. It should be renamed in the C:\WINDOWS and C:\WINDOWS\system32 directories (where found in either of these directories). Don't let the warnings scare you.

EDIT: I forgot to add that I believe you need to reboot after making changes for them to take effect.

EDIT2: The name libeay21.dll above is a typo. It should read libeay32.dll.

[mikek]

As my problem of six months was recently cured by this forum by renaming the DLL as GomJabbar suggests, can I add one more tip that I've found out since.

Now Fn+F5 works for me fine - but if the wifi is switched off in Windows (by disabling its icon, or in network connexions or in device manager), then Fn+F5 fails for the wifi - although it will still work for bluetooth. Switch wifi back on in windows (sorry, I mean "enable") and Fn + F5 works fine again. Could catch you out unless you know this (assuming this is not unique to my pc).

Best of luck

[GomJabbar]

...can I add one more tip that I've found out since.

Of course! That's what this forum is for.

[teepee]

Hi guys

Success . It was the dll change that fixed it.

I laready had the required text in the path command. So I guess all is well there.

On the dll front, I didn't have a libeay21.dll anywhere, but I did have libeay32.dll in:
C:\WINDOWS
C:\Program Files\Intel Wireless\Bin
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Bridge
I renamed the dll in C:\WINDOWS to libeay32old.dll, rebooted and Fn+F5 is back working and the wireless connection certainly works for at least 30 seconds (all I've tried so far). I then checked Adobe Bridge briefly to make sure it works and mostly it appears as before. There was one small oddity, where going up one folder level temporarily caused the folder icons to become perhaps 5x larger in each dimension. However, when I clicked on one they all immediately resized to the correct size. And it happened once only. So, if that is the price to pay, I'm happy

Muchos gracias

Mike

[mikek]

Just found this http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-64439
on the lenovo website.... wish it was there six months ago....

[GomJabbar]

On the dll front, I didn't have a libeay21.dll anywhere, but I did have libeay32.dll in:
C:\WINDOWS
C:\Program Files\Intel Wireless\Bin
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Bridge

Yeah, that was a typo by the one that posted it. I already knew that, but I see I continued to use his typo. I just wasn't thinking when I continued using the name libeay21.dll in my previous post.

[teepee]

many thanks again guys.

the support document does indeed hit the nail on the head. its a pity that the doc isn't easier to find. i searched before using the forum here, and tried it again just now and on neither occasion has the doc been brought up.

is there some unusual rule to using the support section of the lenovo website? searching under "troubleshooting" doesn't seem effective (ie able to show all problems. or, for that matter, to be able to search within known problems by free text). and neither does searching from the search field at the top of the screen. i used to use a compaq and they were much better on this. but the t42 is so much better built and designed .....

[GomJabbar]

To search on Lenovo's website, type a + in front of each word (for example: +wireless + problem +Fn +F5). To search for an exact phase you have to use Advanced Search.

[teepee]

ok, many thanks. will remember that one for the future. would be useful if lenovo made it more obvious (rather than hidden under tips, under advanced search) too. anyway ...

all the best