Did software Installer updates on T43, now wifi doesn't work

[Thinkpad_T43_Fan]

I recovered and restored the T43 model 2668-46U to factory like state.

I then did all windows updates.

In my quest to keep current, I did the IBM Software Installer driver updates.

It took 2 hours to download over 500mb of data / drivers.

It updated virtually everything, including the BIOS, and the rescue & recovery software.

The Intel Pro 2200a/b/g wifi driver was also updated (version 10.5.0.0 API), along with IM Access Connections (version 3.71).

Now it won't pick up my wifi connection. When I try to use Access Connections, and saw an error message that reads "The current version of wireless adapter driver is not supported by Access Connections. The minimum supported driver version of the Intel(R)PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection is 0.0.0.0. Update to the latest or minimum supported driver version."

WTF is this stupid message?

I should have left the T43 unupdated. It seems like the software installer is a very buggy / problematic software.

It has broken what was working flawlessly laptop.



I spent all day restoring the laptop, and then doing windows updates, and software install updates.

Now it looks like I may need to revert to the very initial Rescue & Recovery state via my older R&R CDs???

When I did the software installer update, and it updated the Rescue & Recovery program, it told me to create new R&R CDs and discard the old CDs.

Ya right like h3ll that will happen!!

Anyone have any tips, insights, or words of wisdom with regards to this?

Will my older Rescue & Recovery CDs still work, after I updated the BIOS, and the hard drive R&R partition??

Thanks!

[robhutchison]

I ran the software installer also, and also downloaded several hundred mg of updates. The installer hung on the part that was updating my Pro wireless chip. I had to kill it, now I cannot connect to my WiFi at home. I work from home, so this is killing me. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I tried deleting my wireless profile that I connect to, and recreating it, but that didn't work.

I also turned on logging, and saw a few errors. The first one that occurs most frequently is:

ERROR AcSvc( SYSTEM(Prvlg).0248.2880) AcSebRing:: GetRadioStateInDriver : API SebGetRadioState() missing!

[Thinkpad_T43_Fan]

If you have another PC, try downloading the Intel PRO wifi driver and reinstall and see if that works. Also try downloading the AC software and reinstall and see if it works.

I'm fed up with this BS. I am restoring my laptop right now using the HDD Rescue & Recovery. We'll see if that works. If it doesn't, I'll restore from the OEM Rescue & Recovery CDs, which are the older version.

This is one of the reasons I am very wary of installing software / driver updates without good reason.

But since this laptop had been restored to factory state, I figured I had nothing to lose to trying the updated software/drivers.

Nothing to lose but a day of time.

I build my own desktop PCs, and act as IT support for my friends and family. I relish no satisfaction in being penalized for trying to do the right thing - ie doing updates.

If you're an average PC user - you're screwed if you don't update, and screwed if you do update.

Welcome to our new world of wonderful technology.

UPDATE: MOFO recovery software. Since it takes awhile to run, I figure I'd close the screen cover and let it do its work. Stupid thing goes to sleep if I shut it. Nice. I can't let it run unattended since my daughter might play with the keyboard.

STUPID STUPID STUPID

[Thinkpad_T43_Fan]

Ok after rescue & recovery (using the updated HDD R&R), everything works. WiFI is working fine again.

Never again will I use the automated Software Install...

[christopher_wolf]

A complete uninstall of the wireless drivers, registry scrub, then reinstall of the drivers, a reboot, then installing AC should have worked. You should have also checked to see what version of libeay32.dll was being used; in the changelog, the last few versions of AC are reported to have had that problem fixed.

[robhutchison]

What does AC stand for?

Admin edit: AC = Access Connections

[jdhurst]

Calm down folks.

Some people use Software Installer without problem, and some do have problems.

I tend not to use SI for BIOS, Embedded Controller, Wired NIC, Wireless NIC or Access Connections. I have used SI for everything else without issue. I like the age-old floppy disk method for BIOS and EC. I know there are other ways, but I know my way *works* and flawlessly. I do Wired NICs manually, because I cannot risk no connection. I do the last two manually, because there was a time (documented) that you had to uninstall Access Connections and the Wireless NIC before installing the new Wireless NIC and Access Connections in that order.

Further (no one probably does this) I download the driver files and keep them (you never know when you might need them). Then I explode them into C:\Drivers\WinXPP. Then I run SI without updating and install the whole lot. That works well too.

... JD Hurst

[robhutchison]

I guess I was just looking for some more step-by-step instructions. I'm not familiar with most of these acronyms..SI, AC, EC. etc...
I downloaded the driver, and I downloaded the software for my version. I just don't know what to do with them now. They have extracted in to c:\intel\.... but there is no installer there or anything. I put the CD in the drive that was supposedly the Drivers, and I tried doing Update Driver from Device Manager, but it said it couldn't find the driver on the CD ???

This is my work laptop, and I am at the end of a 6 month long project, so doing a full system restore is not an option for me at this time. I have too much installed, configured, etc.. on my laptop.

Thank you for the prompt respnoses.

[Thinkpad_T43_Fan]

Calm down folks.

Some people use Software Installer without problem, and some do have problems.

I tend not to use SI for BIOS, Embedded Controller, Wired NIC, Wireless NIC or Access Connections. I have used SI for everything else without issue. I like the age-old floppy disk method for BIOS and EC. I know there are other ways, but I know my way *works* and flawlessly. I do Wired NICs manually, because I cannot risk no connection. I do the last two manually, because there was a time (documented) that you had to uninstall Access Connections and the Wireless NIC before installing the new Wireless NIC and Access Connections in that order.

Further (no one probably does this) I download the driver files and keep them (you never know when you might need them). Then I explode them into C:\Drivers\WinXPP. Then I run SI without updating and install the whole lot. That works well too.

... JD Hurst

Thanks for the info, JD. But IMHO, that is not an acceptable solution for the vast majority / average users.

Either the solution works 100%, or it should never be used.

The potential harm it can do to a Thinkpad if it doesn't work 100% means it could waste a lot of time trying to fix it.

I was planning to spend time downloading all the drivers manually from the site as well to save for prosperity, as I am very anal about keeping the drivers for future reference.

But this tool is not worth it if it does not work for everyone. It simply wastes too much time.

[Thinkpad_T43_Fan]

I guess I was just looking for some more step-by-step instructions. I'm not familiar with most of these acronyms..SI, AC, EC. etc...
I downloaded the driver, and I downloaded the software for my version. I just don't know what to do with them now. They have extracted in to c:\intel\.... but there is no installer there or anything. I put the CD in the drive that was supposedly the Drivers, and I tried doing Update Driver from Device Manager, but it said it couldn't find the driver on the CD ???

This is my work laptop, and I am at the end of a 6 month long project, so doing a full system restore is not an option for me at this time. I have too much installed, configured, etc.. on my laptop.

Thank you for the prompt respnoses.

When you download the driver, and run the .exe file, it will tell you where it extracted the files to on the hard driver. Usually the c:\drivers\ folder.

From there you will have to go to the c:\drivers\specified folder\ and find the "setup.exe" file, and run that file.

That should then install the software / driver and you should be good to go.

Yes it's stupid that just clicking the downloaded .exe file doesn't allow you to install it, but that's the way Lenovo/IBM works, I guess.

[Thinkpad_T43_Fan]

By the way, after the software installer updated the HDD Rescue & Recovery to 3.0, several options have disappeared.

1. There is no way to secure Rescue & Recovery now without installing the Client Security Software, it appears. The option to set a password for R & R is now gone.

2. There is no way to create R & R CDs now also. The only options are now:

---create rescue files (from the C:\ hard drive only, and it doesn't show any files to select from)

---Restore the system

---and Create migration file


Wonderful upgrade to the previous R & HDD software I had on the T43, ya right...

Dumb software installer...

[christopher_wolf]

Just because it didn't work once for one user doesn't mean it is bad; I have kept upgrading AC (Access Connections) all the way from Version 3 of AC right up to Version 4.21 of AC and the Intel WiFi software and have had only two problems in all that time. They do recommend that the user take backups of the system before they apply the updates in case something does go wrong. Most of the time it isn't need, but in the few cases that do go awry, it is *really* needed.

[Thinkpad_T43_Fan]

Just because it didn't work once for one user doesn't mean it is bad; I have kept upgrading AC (Access Connections) all the way from Version 3 of AC right up to Version 4.21 of AC and the Intel WiFi software and have had only two problems in all that time. They do recommend that the user take backups of the system before they apply the updates in case something does go wrong. Most of the time it isn't need, but in the few cases that do go awry, it is *really* needed.

Interesting.

What's frustrating about my update is that I went from a FACTORY OEM condition (other than the regular critical windows updates) to the FACTORY recommended updates, and it didn't work.

I had add no other software. That should guarantee success.

Unfortunately it didn't. I can understand if I had customized the laptop, but it is not customized one bit.

In my mind, if a user upgraded a factory image to factory recommended updates, and the updates don't work, it usually is a sign the software update is bad...

[Tigsman]

Thinkpad_T43_Fan, correct, from what i see of your comments in ur first post, the issue was not a bad update, but incomplete update. the 10.5 drivers are not supported by Access Connections (AC) 3.71. Simply updating AC to the latest 4.21 may have resolved the issue without further action.



T

[Thinkpad_T43_Fan]

Thinkpad_T43_Fan, correct, from what i see of your comments in ur first post, the issue was not a bad update, but incomplete update. the 10.5 drivers are not supported by Access Connections (AC) 3.71. Simply updating AC to the latest 4.21 may have resolved the issue without further action.



T

Thanks for the info. That is correct.

What is ironic is that I was unable to do further updates on the laptop as wifi was no longer working.

I will keep a copy of AC 4.21 handy.

Thanks again.