IBM T60 Lost WAN in Windows XP

[richyboypalm]

Hello people,

This is a strange one for me, I have not used the WAN in my laptop for a while now, but after going on a few camping holidays I wanted to, But I've somehow lost the WAN card, it is in the machine still but not showing in Windows XP at all (not even as a disabled or a device without a driver) I notice when I switch the machine on, the WAN light comes on for a few seconds (till windows starts to load) then it switches off and thats it.

I've checked the BIOS and it is still showing that it is switched on, I have also checked in Windows Control Panel > Thinkpad Configuration, But nothing is showing there.

I have also done FN + F5 and it is not showing there too!
I tried to do a hardware scan for new devices, but it was not found.

The Model is :2008WN6
Windows XP Pro SP3

Any help would be great,

Thanks
Rich

[Harryc]

Check the radio switch on the front of the T60.

[richyboypalm]

Hi
I've checked that too, as I can still use the Bluetooth, and the WIFI.
I know sometimes its the simple things to start with, but thats not the case this time.
Thanks

[Harryc]

Ok, I misunderstood 'WAN'. Are we talking about hard wired Ethernet here?

[richyboypalm]

Hi,
Sorry about that, I've shorten it a bit, I should of said, WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network)

I've just opened the laptop up, cleaned the dust out and found its the Sierra Wireless HSDPA Network Adapter, I also booted into safe mode and found the old driver still installed, but it wont show when I boot the laptop normally... This really is a weird one for me!

I also took the SIM card out, gave it a quick wipe and blow any dust out of the slot.

Thanks.

ADDED ->> Thinking about it, a good few months ago I think it done a firmware update on it, something to do with thinkpad updates(not using it at the time, I just clicked next, next, and next), and I've not seen it from then on ... But searching google, I cant find a firmware download. <<-

[Harryc]

Ok I see. Well based on what you said I'd suspect a bad firmware (or driver) update at play here. Here's the latest. I do not know where you'd get an older version, but you could certainly try de-installing and reinstalling the latest for both.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-61618

[richyboypalm]

Thanks for that, but it is the MC8755 and I have now found the latest firmware, but when I go to flash the device, the software can not find the device ...
So I'm guessing your right, a bad firmware update.
Would you know (or anyone else) how to still flash the device ??
Thanks

[richyboypalm]

Ok,

A update, ive changed the card for a MC8775 but im still getting the same trouble, so i dont think its the card, could it be that i am running a patched bios?
I had to patch it to add my Intel ABGN Wireless card

Hope to hear from someone soon ...

[EOMtp]

Short answer: Tape Pin-20.

Longer answer: The T60 does not accept an MC8775 with standard BIOS. The modified BIOS you have gets you only half way to being able to use that MC8775 on the T60 since the machine turns off the card as soon as it is discovered. To prevent that from happening, you need to tape Pin-20, which is on the "back side" of the card. See picture below:
http://icelord.net/HP/pin20.2.jpg

[richyboypalm]

Thank you ...
Im up and running, so the old card had a bad flash, and it will sit in my safe place till i can find a way to flash it again with a good firmware.
But for now, my laptop is working super!!

Thank you again ...