T41 (2373-4GU) freezing with Internet

[RIC]

Good day to all. This is my first post as a new owner of a T41 (23734GU) bought at Ebay. I am very happy with the exception of a problem when I try to connect with Internet. I will try to give the details.
-the Mini PCI card is the Atheros with the May 2007 driver;
-the LAN card is the Intel PRO 1000 MT with v.8.7.9.0 Feb 2007 driver;
-IBM ThinkVantage Access Connections v.4.42 Aug 2007

With LAN and Wireless disabled, everything works perfectly. But, if either or both are enabled, the trouble begins. Sometimes I can connect and work Internet for a while but, suddenly, the machine freezes. Sometimes it comes back after a few minutes. Sometimes I get a message about a PCI conflict (then I enter setup and disable either or both LAN & Wireless to get the machine working again).

I assume this is a software problem having to do with LAN connection but, somehow, I have not been able to solve it.
Sorry for asking on a first time post but, I really need help.
Thank you very much. Merry Xmas.
Ricardo

[agarza]

Hi Ricardo

If you don't mind and if your machine came with restore CD's you can reinstall XP to its factory state and see if it helps.

Generally, speaking of IRQ conflicts in networking device is difficult to spot where the problem is. Have you tried uninstalling/rebooting/reinstalling with the newest drivers available?

[RIC]

Hi xtr
Thank you for your reply. My machine did not come with restoring CDs.
I have already asked one member of this forum to get me a copy and am waiting for an answer.
Meanwhile, I have installed another XP Pro in another HD and started from zero, installing all the newest drivers downloaded from the IBM/Lenovo site. Unfortunetely, the result was exactly the same.
The machine freezes (sometimes immediately after startup, sometimes after a few minutes) and the only thing that works is the power off button. Then, after power on, the machine asks for a new setup (usually indicating a PCI conflict), which sometimes is followed by a blue screen indicating ntsf.sys error. After running chkdsk, the whole thing happens again.
Mind you: if LAN and Wireless are disabled, everything is perfect ! If only one of them is enabled, the situation is a lot better, allowing me to work Internet for some time.
I hope these details help. I am kind of lost on this one...
All the best,
Ricardo

[ajkula66]

A very wild guess, but you may want to give it a shot:

pull out your Atheros card and see what happens.

Atheros cards identify themselves as "network controllers" while other cards (Intel etc.) identify themselves as "network-other" to BIOS. I've seen quite a few issues related to that.

[RIC]

Hi George,
Thanks for your note. I did open the T41 (after consulting the Hardware Maintenance Manual) but did not pull out the Atheros card. I just wanted to check the model: Philips 91P7301 (which has been replaced in later machines by the 39T0071 which includes Super G). The reason I did not pull out the MiniCard is that when I disable it at setup, everything works fine (except wireless, of course). It really puzzles me the fact that the T41 does not have a physical switch for wireless... It so happens that when the machine boots with wireless on, sometimes it freezes before Win XP finishes establishing itself ! Then, there is NO chance for a change in configuration around the Windows/IBM drivers for Internet connection.
Anyway, what I just did, as a temporary solution, was to install a USB Wireless adapter (D-Link DWL-122) which works just fine (except for the low power). No freezing at all. And I can just pull it off anytime !
I still think that the whole problem is the simultaneous configuration of Atheros/Windows/IBM drivers which, even when working, get screwed up somehow.
Would you know of a step-by-step guide that could teach me how to make this configuration?
Thanks for the help. All the best,
Ricardo

PS: My request for restoring CDs was not answered, unfortunetely...

[jimmy274]

Hey, I have the same problem with my potential T41 (2373-TG5). When both Intel Pro/1000 and Philips wifi are installed, after some time, computer freezes, and I have to disable both of them, reinstall drivers and then enable them again... This all started when I upgraded the bios and embedded controller to the latest versions.
The workaround is quite dull - I disabled the Pro/1000 through bios and enabled only wifi - it works so far...
Have you come up with a solution? Btw, I'm using the latest drivers from Lenovo site without Access Connections.

[ajkula66]

@jimmy274:

So, you can go to the version of BIOS that you've originally had and roll back everything else as well.

BTW, how's the ThinkPad supply in my home town?

[jimmy274]

@ajkula66
Ok, I'm confused... Should I write in Serbian or in English...
Well, the Thinkpads are very popular here in Beograd... They are extremely expensive, so a lot of us are happy with older models that can be purchased through very suspicious dealers...
I have a friend that imports all sorts of laptops, but mostly IBM Thinkpads - used by companies from Germany, Netherlands etc. I think it's fairly cheap to import them, but the price raises rapidly as the laptop itself finds a way through all those intermediate salespeople... Basically this friend of mine has a lot of broken Thinkpads, so it's not a disaster if you're in need of some parts, but compared to eBay, prices are sky-high.
I know it's a very off-topic question, but I'm dying to know how's life treating you in the USA - I'm nearly done with my studies (Electrical engineering - Electronics), and I'm planning to emigrate anywhere... Everything but Serbia... :sigh:

EDIT: About the BIOS - the one before had some other issues which were even more irritating than these...

[RIC]

Hi guys,
I have some news. I have been using a D-Link USB wireless adapter which had to be real close to the Access Point to work well. So, I got a Level One PCMCIA wireless adapter model WPC-0300. Installed the driver from the CD and, with NO need for configuration, everything changed: now I can walk around the house and it performs very well. I could say it works as good as the original Atheros PCI mini-board (until it froze, that is). The reception is very good, picking up signals from the neighborhood which were not there with the USB adapter.
Anyway, now I am satisfied with the solution, since the on-board adapter does not work.
The one thing the intrigues me though, is that the machine identifies the new hardware as an "Atheros AR5005GS Wireless Network Adapter". The driver which came on the CD is the AR5211.SYS version 4.1.2.156 of 2/5/2007. I assume that this is the same driver as the original Atheros mini-PCI. Well, the new one works very well on the PCMCIA slot!
All the best to all,
Ricardo

[RIC]

Just a few more comments on this topic. My PCMCIA card is still working good. Nevertheless, a friend of mine who is an expert on net configurations visited me last week. He enabled the Atheros mini-PCI board and worked a while on the configuration (increased the amount of IP addresses on the router, established a fixed IP, etc.) Then, the internal mini-PCI board started working again. I used it off and on during the whole day, for short (up to 30 minutes) periods of time. No trouble at all.
During the evening, I had to do a long search on Internet and was on wireless for over two hours, using Internet Explorer only. Then, suddenly, came the "blue screen". I turned the machine off and noticed that it was very warm, especially on the bottom, under where the mini-PCI is located and also under the Left Shift key, more or less.
The next day, with a very cool machine, I turned it on and started working again with wireless. Guess what: the machine froze, just as before, after a few minutes of operation.
So, I am back again with my trusty PCMCIA card...
All the best to all,
Ricardo