T60p WiFi + access connections failure on reinstall

[ljwobker]

I did a slipstreamed install of WinXP SP3 with all the most recent drivers downloaded and integrated (via NLite). After installing, all components in device manager show up as recognized, and if I use the windows wireless software I can connect to regular access points. However, if I disable the windows wifi control software and try to use Access Connections, I can't connect to anything and "radio powered off" appears when I go to "find network"... I've searched several threads here with no luck -- I've reinstalled the drivers, disabled power management on both the wireless and wired connections, and still no luck. I can't stick with the windows wireless software because our corporate wifi network requires a encryption/security method that windows doesn't support, and I have about four dozen AC profiles that I need to be able to import.

Any suggestions on what else to try?

I have the 3945ABG, driver version 11.5.0.36 (11/27/2007)

[jdhurst]

In that kind of situation, I always try the following tap dance:

1 .Make sure you have a new (or reasonably new Wireless Driver and copy of Access Connections that mates with this driver). Save your Access Connections profiles to a safe place.
2. Uninstall Access Connections including all profiles (make sure you have saved your profiles).
3. Uninstall the Wireless Driver.
4. Shut down.
5. Install the Wireless Driver.
6. Restart and test.
7. Install Access Connections and test.
8. Import your profiles.

If Access Connections got installed in your recent OS installation before the Wireless Card, it may not have recognized the wireless card (which is the appearance of your situation).
... JDH

[ljwobker]

I'll try that shortly (currently running my old image that works)... couple of questions first:

1) if the driver is integrated into the install, how could AC get installed "before" the wireless card? --Access connections is NOT integrated in the install.

2) since at this point I'm trying to build an install that will work, is there a "known good" list of things that you should/shouldn't integrate into an install to make this work? It sounds like this is a pretty common problem, but I need to find something that will let me roll out about two dozen of these machines in the least painful way. I don't mind installing a couple of software pieces after the main OS install, but I also need to know what is happening and why, so hopefully someone here will know...

[sjthinkpader]

If you are using WPA-PSK encryption, in AC Wireless Settings, Wireless Security, go ahead and click "Use Windows to Config...".

[ljwobker]

Nope... I wish it were that simple. We use the cisco EAP-FAST method, which isn't supported by the "standard" XP build. ;-(