T40 wi-fi connection failure!!!

[h.finn]

Hi,
After a power failure in my neighborhood, my T-40 stopped connecting to the internet by wi-fi . I can now only connect through the ethernet cable (which defies the purpose of having a laptop ).
Not being a computer geek I wouldn't know where to start to fix the problem!
Is it easily fixable?
Thanks

[killer]

Firstly, welcome to the forum!

I think you need to give us a bit more information. You say you cannot connect wirelessly. Presumably this is to your router? What happens if you try to connect to another router?

The reason I ask this is because a power failure could have blown the wireless transmitter in your router. That happened to me a while back and I had to get a replacement.

Also it helps to tell us what make of router you use, which OS you have installed, whether you use Access Connections or not, etc. The more info you provide the easier it gets to help.

[msidd]

I would check the wireless on your router. It's happened to me before, where there was a storm and power outage and the wireless on the router failed.

[jdhurst]

And since your Thinkpad has a battery, the storm did not likely affect it. ... JDH

[h.finn]

Hi everybody,
& thanks for the welcome!
Well........
-Unfortunately I can't connect to any other router (I changed mine with a new one but........no chance with the new one either )
-Concerning the maker of router: I live in France so.....probably the brand would not say anything to you. I got it through France Telecom...
-I'm on windows xp
But I can't understand the "And since your Thinkpad has a battery, the storm did not likely affect it"

Thanks again

[Harryc]

Is the wireless radio 'on' in the T40? FN-F5 keys, enable wireless.

[killer]

Having spent many years visiting France I am very familiar with the routers that France Telecom ship out to their customers. They are big, ridge tent-shaped boxes.

Thunder storms do cause problems for all wireless routers. A sudden power surge can destroy some, or all, of the internal electronics.

I think JDH was suggesting that, because of the battery in your Thinkpad acting like an Uninterrupted Power Supply, and the fact that the mains power is supplied through a transformer, a power surge is unlikely to do damage to the Thinkpad. However, there are few certainties in life ... except death and taxes.

You need to run some diagnostics on your Thinkpad using PC-Doctor. Then report back to us.
Also, please say whether you use Access Connections for wireless connectivity.

[jdhurst]

<snip>
I think JDH was suggesting that, because of the battery in your Thinkpad acting like an Uninterrupted Power Supply, and the fact that the mains power is supplied through a transformer, a power surge is unlikely to do damage to the Thinkpad. However, there are few certainties in life ... except death and taxes. <snip>

Precisely. And of course, strange thiings happen as well. That is why I used the word "likely"
... JDH

[h.finn]

I now changed router as I'm in the process of changing the internet provider company.
I'l check this week if, with the new one, I can somehow solve the problem.
The thing that worries me, though, is that I can detect my router as well as other ones but the laptop does not allow me to connect to them wirelessly!
P.S. FN-F5 is done and result=OK
I haven't run PC DOctor recently but up to a little while ago it didn't detect any problem.
I have to say it's not the first time this happens but before, the wireless connection would restart after a few days ; now..............no chance, no matter what I do!!

[poshgeordie]

It's encouraging that the laptop sees other wireless signals which would indicate to me that the card, aerials, connections, software etc are OK.

Try the following:

• On your existing router (since you can see it and control it) try the following:
  
  Reset it back to its default settings so that there are no custom settings which may prevent connection - e.g. wireless access controlled by mac addresses (could be a wrong mac address which stops you having access to the router), encryption type not supported by your card (there's some really weird stuff around nowadays), broadcast of your wireless name (SSID) not turned on (which could affect your card), etc etc.
  
  Change the wireless channel from the default one to a completely different one. I do this with every router I have since there are many wireless enabled devices now which can interfere, and it's a good idea to try and find a 'clean' channel.
  
  Remove all encryption (temporarily) and run an open wireless signal. You will still need an SSID and may want to temporarily change that as well for testing purposes.
  
  Check the strength of the wireless signal from your router to the laptop. Does the laptop report it as being 'excellent'.
  
  With a new SSID (and no encryption) run detect new wireless network wizard (sorry I use Linux but it's something like that in Windows!) and see if it will connect like that.
  
  Make sure your Wireless Access point is enabled - ie the wireless part IS turned on!
  
  Also remove the keyboard and front palm rest and make sure the card is properly fitted into its slot on the motherboard - probably will be since you're detecting signals but again it's worth checking).

And of course try your new router which may solve your problem!

[h.finn]

Ok
I'll get in to it (except by changing internet supplier I also changed phone line one, so i'll be disconnected for a couple of days!!)

Thanks again
P.S.: it did report it as being excellent, by the way!

[h.finn]

Hi again,
Changed router & internet provider.
Still not connecting wirelessly.
No the Thinkpad tells me: File eskernel.exe failed to install!!

Ever heard of it?

[RealBlackStuff]

Maybe this helps?
http://www.commentcamarche.net/forum/af ... kernel-exe
http://www.entraide.bouyguestelecom.fr/ ... cours/3440

[h.finn]

Hi,
and thanks to everybody for the help.
Apparently I hadn't TOTALLY deleated in every single aspect and detail (!!) all files concerning the previous internet provider!!

Which was every time getting in between my laptop and the new provider!
Unbelievable.
Anyway, now everythink's fine on the wi-fi front, although connection seems to be slower than with previous one, despite the fact that new provider gives - officially at least - a faster connection.
Anybody knows a gadget to speed up the wi-fi (something like those funny little cell phone signal boosters)?
Thanks again