3945 wireless network adapter shuts down

[lmittell]

Apologies in advance if this subject has already been discussed, but I can't find anything by searching the forum.

The Intel 3945ABG wireless card in my T60 (2007-63U, running XP Pro SP3) shuts down for no apparent reason, after years of faultless service. It can happen 5 minutes or 15 hours after booting up. It doesn't matter if the lid is closed or open. It can happen after a period of inactivity or during a period of use. In fact, it went away while I was typing this note.

By shutting down, I mean that the wireless icon just below the screen stops glowing and the ability to do anything at all on the wireless LAN disappears.

Power management is set to "maximum performance." Nothing is set to power off ever. I double-checked this in both the Thinkvantage and XP power managers. Hibernation is enabled, but not utilized.

On the theory that the wireless NIC was failing, I substituted a new one, which made not a particle of difference. It seems to me as though this is a software-related problem, but I don't know where to start.

BTW, a soft reboot restores function every time.

Anyone have a clue?

TIA,
Larry

[Harryc]

Did you change the adapter's advanced properties in device manager to High Performance? I don't recall the exact name of the option but there is a power savings selection in there for the wireless card that can be disabled.

[lmittell]

Did you change the adapter's advanced properties in device manager to High Performance? I don't recall the exact name of the option but there is a power savings selection in there for the wireless card that can be disabled.

Hi Harry--

The exact name is "maximum performance" and yes, that's what it's set to.

Thanks!
Larry

[sktn77a]

When it disappears next, look in Device Manager to see if the hardware is still showing up.

[lmittell]

^^^

Will do, thanks.

Thanks!
Larry

[lmittell]

I checked the Device Manager during another spontaneous adapter shutdown. The 3945 is reported to be there and operating, with no conflicts. I have screen shots of all 6 (?) driver tabs, if anyone is interested.

I rolled back the driver version on Tuesday, and in doing so, the default option allowing the adapter to be shut down for power saving was restored, and I forgot to uncheck it. It's unchecked again and we'll see what happens. I have my doubts, because I unchecked it previously with the newer driver and the misbehavior continued unabated.

The current driver version is 10.5.1.89.

Larry

[lmittell]

Well, unchecking the enable-shut-down option didn't help. I downloaded the latest driver (12.4.0.21) from Lenovo's site and upon rebooting, the adapter shut down immediately after my XP desktop came up. I rebooted again and things have been okay for a few minutes. We'll see how long that lasts, but again I have my doubts.

In the course of installing the new driver, I noted in the installation instructions that there are a couple of Win Hotfixes (Q826942 & Q815485) that need to be removed if they're present. They weren't, but this may be of interest to others.

Has anyone ever run into this problem? Any other suggestions? I'll leap through flaming hoops to avoid an XP reinstall. Plus, there's always the chance that I've got a mobo hardware problem.

Anyone? Please?

Larry

[lmittell]

Okay-- I ran across some hot tips.

First, the 3945abg can be turned on again, once it has shut down, without resorting to a reboot. Left-clicking the "Wireless On/Off" button in the Intel PRO/Wireless utility wouldn't do it for me, for some odd reason. What I had to do is right-click the entry for the 3945 in the device manager, then left-click "Disable" in the pop-up. Once that was done, I left-clicked "Yes." Then I highlighted and right-clicked the entry once again, then left-clicked "Enable" and that did it. A tad awkward, but much better than rebooting.

Second, I was missing a step in putting the 3945 into "continuously aware" mode. What I had done was to uncheck "Allow computer to turn off this device..." on the "Power Management" tab of the Intel utility. You definitely have to do this, but another task must be carried out as well, but on the "Advanced" tab. Specifically, highlight "Power Management" in the scroll box, then set the slider that magically appears all the way to "Highest." Click "OK" and you're done.

I've now done all this and will report back on whether it solves my problem or not. Meanwhile, if anyone can shed more light on this, please do. I'd like to know why this suddenly cropped up.

Larry

PS-- The Intel utility I refer to is the one reached by double-clicking the entry for the 3945 in the Device Manager.

[jdhurst]

I have a 3945 in my Vista Business machine, and power management occurs in 3 places:

1. Device manager as has been discussed here.
2. Windows Power Manager for the wireless settings.
3. Access Connections advanced properties.

All three must be changed to maximum performance or the card will shut down on occasion. I have had no difficulties (for the best part of a year) now that I make sure all settings are for maximum performance.
... JDH

[lmittell]

I have a 3945 in my Vista Business machine, and power management occurs in 3 places:

1. Device manager as has been discussed here.
2. Windows Power Manager for the wireless settings.
3. Access Connections advanced properties.

All three must be changed to maximum performance or the card will shut down on occasion. I have had no difficulties (for the best part of a year) now that I make sure all settings are for maximum performance.
... JDH

No Vista or Access Connections here, ever. Never will be. I'll go straight to Win 7 from XP. Access Connections caused me no end of heartache 2 or 3 years back. I won't touch it with a ten foot pole. Perhaps the Vista version is better, though.

Per my previous notes, you'll see I've got all the applicable bases you and I know about covered. Not to say there aren't others we don't know about.

I'd still like to know what triggered this all of a sudden, after years of good service (if you ignore AC and fan failures).

Thanks!
Larry

[lmittell]

I'm declaring victory! The 3945abg card hasn't shut down in a day and a half. To sum up, what seems to have cleared things up are:

• * In the Intel adapter utility (reached via the Device Manager), set the power management slider on the "Advanced" tab to the extreme right ("Highest").

• * On the "Power Management" tab, uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."

• * In the Thinkvantage Power Manager, makes sure the power scheme is set to "Maximum performance."

I hasten to add that my OS is XP Pro SP3, not Vista, and I uninstalled Access Connections long ago. If you have the latter installed, the above may or may not work.

Larry

[Harryc]

Good deal. I am bookmarking this thread because this question gets asked here once a week or more often, and 99% of the time the solution is power management settings that are to blame. Good luck with your Thinkpad

[jdhurst]

Good stuff. Those are basically the steps I posted (different computers, different words, same steps).
... JDH

[lmittell]

Shucks, 'twern't nuthin.

I'm glad to have had the opportunity to give something back to the forum, for a change.

Larry