T60 Wireless Problem (Error Code 011)

[ostrich]

I've been having issues with the wireless adapter on my T60 (running XP SP2, Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG adapter) - these started when I installed a webcam driver/software and my network adapters got completely messed up. Access Connections couldn't even initialize the wireless stack (To make a long story short, I eventually ended up uninstalling my old version of AC (4.x), the Lenovo wireless driver, and the Intel driver (from within the Device Manager in the control panel). The latter seemed to help, as the native Intel driver got automatically reinstalled on reboot, and I was then able to install updated versions of the

- ThinkPad Power Management driver
- Hotkey Features Integration driver

I was able to install the latest Intel Wireless LAN (11abgn, abg, bg) for Windows XP driver, reboot, and then reinstall AC (which is now v5.72). After that subsequent reboot things seemed to be almost working again - I can start AC, and I can now at least see nearby routers, including my own. But I've still got a problem, namely that I still can't associate to my router, I get an error stating that association failed, with error code 011. It lists two descriptions with this error;

"Verify that the encryption settings (WEP/TKIP/AES) specified in this profile match those expected by the wireless network" . I'm using the same exact same profile, so this should not be the problem. I did reedit the profile and reenter the WEP key for the router just in case, but no luck.

"Verify that the wireless adapter in your computer has not been restricted from accessing the radio channels being used by the wireless network"

I've been searching around, but I haven't been able to find anything that describes what if anything in the adapter configuration or settings might do this, so I'm not sure where to look for this.

Has anyone encountered this error condition, and if so does anyone know where I can look to try to resolve this error?

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the Forum.
What happens if you let Windows manage your connections?
For most people, using this option makes all problems magically disappear!
OTOH, applying SP3 will also improve quite a few things in your XP.

[hhmcsv]

With my T40/T41 I had frequent problems with the Windows-way of managing wireless networks, often it would not find the relevant (home) network. Instead I used Intels software, try this:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchR ... Connection

[ostrich]

Thank you - yes, if I change the properties for the wireless network connection and allow Windows to manage the connection, and enter in my WEP information in the configuration, I can connect to my router successfully. So that is good in that at least I can get an internet connection. It would still be nice to be able to get Access Connections to work again if possible - the Thinkvantage software that came with the machine worked for 3+ years with no problems at all, and the fact that I can get connected managing the adapter through XP proves that there's no problem with the router (although I already knew that since my other laptop could connect to the router fine). I'd guess that either the newer versions of the Lenovo drivers and/or AC have some problem that the old version didn't, or there was still some aftereffect of the original issues that messed up my setup that wasn't fixed. I wish I could figure out what that might be.

Is there any disadvantage of just using the native XP wireless management (i.e. features it doesn't have or things you might want that it doesn't support)? I've never used it before.

[BillP]

What version of the Intel Wireless LAN (11abgn, abg, bg) for Windows XP driver are you using?

[ostrich]

Right now I show the following driver versions installed:

Intel(R) PRO/Wireless Driver (11 a/b/g, 11b/g) 11.5.0.API
- this is the latest version of the driver that I downloaded from http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... migr-62875

- Thinkvantage Access Connections 5.72

As a result of some prerequisites mentioned in the documentation for the wireless driver and AC, I had also installed the Microsoft .NET 3.0 package, and some additional updated drivers as recommended by the docs:

- Lenovo System Interface Driver 1.02
- Thinkpad Power Management Driver 1.60.0.4

[BillP]

Your driver is a few revisions old; Version: 11.05.0 API Release Date: 2007/12/12 7kwc50ww

After trying a few drivers this one works best for me: 12.04.0000 6HWC05WW 2009/09/11

There are even newer drivers but 13.03 does not support the 3945 and it did not work in my T60 nor in a T61 with a 4965 card. The latest is 13.04 and it worked in the T61 and is listed as supporting the 3945. I did not try it with the T60 and remain at 12.04. This is the one I suggest you try.

[ostrich]

I finally managed to get the 12.04 wireless driver, but unfortunately this just gave me a new problem I did have a bit of an anomaly when I installed the new driver - I originally tried to install the updated driver, but for some reason after I installed it, I was still seeing the 11x version listed in the Thinkvantage software installer list. So I decided to uninstall completely using the Thinkvantage installer - when I tried to uninstall the wireless driver, it told me I had to uninstall AC first. So I did that, but subsequent to that I couldn't seem to get it to uninstall the wireless driver from the Thinkvantage installer. I could pull up the wireless driver in the list and select it, but nothing would happen when I'd click on the Remove button (no error message, nothing).

So I used the install program included with the 12.04 driver package (which when run via the autorun.exe executable is an Intel install app) to uninstall the driver and then reinstall from scratch. That worked, and when I look at the driver version in the device manager, it shows the correct version. Oddly enough though if I pull up the list in the Thinkvantage software installer, it lists the wireless driver but does not show any version number associated with it.

However, AC still doesn't work - now in fact when I try to associate with my profile, I get an error code saying that the wireless driver isn't installed properly. As far as I can tell I have all the proper prerequisites in place. And it still won't let me uninstall it from the Thinkvantage installer. At least XP still works, but no luck with AC. Rather frustrating.