T61P: Reinstall XP and Intel Wireless LAN?

[hellosailor]

I've taken my old T61P and tried to reload the drive so it is a clean dual-boot to DOS and XP.

Silly me, I forgot that makes a clean installation but leaves driver issues. And I can't convince the machine that the Intel (ABN? standard) wireless network adapter is in there. It just sees an unknown device. So I tried the Lenovo driver update page, loaded the most recent driver, and the system still doesn't see it.

I do have the option of using the factory OS Restore DVD's, but that would nuke my dual boot (I'm fairly certain, since it reimages a drive) and yes, I really need that DOS boot for some things that require DOS and a COM port, not a shell and kludges. Sad but true.

So...Can anyone remind me of how to stuff a driver down the machines throat? To get that Intel wireless recognized? Or does anyone have a "last best" driver set for the T61P with XP and service packs? (I have XP, I have a COA, no problems there. Although, the idiot thing wanted re-activation today, no doubt because I reinstalled to a new SSD last month and confused it.)

Or, is it possible to use the factory restore disks, but then remove the secret partition and shoehorn a DOS partition back in, without totally flummoxing XP?

I know, it might be simpler to get another old computer and make it a dedicated DOS box...I just don't want more clutter and more batteries to chase down.

[theterminator93]

What's the device's hardware and vendor ID, as displayed on the Hardware ID menu of the details tab in device manager properties? Best to confirm it is what you think it is before forcing Windows to use a particular driver for it.