X31 wireless help please

[Mr-Pacman]

Hi everyone,

I have an X31 and the wireless was working fine with the original windows XP installed. I then installed Linux Mint and the wireless was also working perfectly.

I re-installed XP Pro with a fresh install from an OEM XP disk (I deleted the hidden partition and don't have the rescue/recovery discs) and the wireless is acting up. It see's my wireless network and connects to it, but then disconnects after a few seconds. When I try to find the wireless network again, it can't seem to find it. Then a few seconds later it connects....lasts for 20 seconds or so and then disconnects.

In the meantime, I have two other Thinkpads that are connected to the same wireless network and can hold the connection for days at a time.

When I did the fresh install, I simply installed the windows disc.....installed the ethernet driver so I could plug in the internet and did all of the Windows Updates. I then installed the Thinkvantage System update and it went and found all the drivers for me. I'm assuming it found the correct driver.......but could that be the issue?

Any thoughts?

Thanks
james

[sjthinkpader]

If it is one of the intel versions, you need to run the install utility too.

[Mr-Pacman]

If it is one of the intel versions, you need to run the install utility too.

Which install utility do I need to run?

Currently, when I run the device manager, it shows "Intel PRO/Wireless Lan 2100 3B mini PCI Adaptor".

Do I need to download something from the Intel website?

I just assumed the Thinkvantage update would have installed the correct one.

Thanks,
James

[sjthinkpader]

Here is the URL for the 2100b driver/utility package.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-59438

Personally I would get a 2200bg card instead.

[Mr-Pacman]

I still can't seem to get this wireless going. I installed the latest driver from the Lenovo webiste.

The wireless seems to be ok when I'm browsing the internet and only cuts out every 5 mins or so. However, whenever I start downloading a big file, it cuts out every few seconds. It took me 30 mins to download a 2 gig file.

Any ideas what it could be?

Thanks
James

[sjthinkpader]

Are there any 2.4Ghz device between the computer and the AP such as cordless phones? Can you see any neighbor AP set to the same channel?

[Mr-Pacman]

Are there any 2.4Ghz device between the computer and the AP such as cordless phones? Can you see any neighbor AP set to the same channel?

THanks for the reply. I don't have any cordless phones in the house.

I have 2 other Thinkpads (T61 and an X60) that can hold a connection to this same router for days at a time.

Also, when I install Linux Mint on the X31, it can hold the internet connection for days.

I'm no expert....but this makes me think is isn't a hardware issue.

Any thoughts?

Normally, I would just put Linux back on this machine and use it....but I'm donating it to someone who needs it for school and has to run Windows.

[sjthinkpader]

After the fresh WinXP install, did you install the intel chipset inf files? Is this an intel WiFi card? If so, did you install the setup utility for intel cards?

[Mr-Pacman]

After the fresh WinXP install, did you install the intel chipset inf files? Is this an intel WiFi card? If so, did you install the setup utility for intel cards?

Hey there,

The card is the Intel 2100 3B card (I verified this by running PC Wizard after the fresh XP install).

After the fresh install, I installed the Intel 2100 3b driver from the Lenovo website.

I then ran the Windows Service Pack 3 update. THen, I installed Thinkvantage Update and ran that to get all the other drivers (which took forever, as the connection kept dropping out).

Where do I get the Intel Chipset INF files?

What about the Intel Setup Utility?

Thanks for your help with this. I really appreciate it.

Thanks
James

[sjthinkpader]

You can find these files at the Lenovo website support download area. A bit of navigating but you should be able to find them.

[Mr-Pacman]

You can find these files at the Lenovo website support download area. A bit of navigating but you should be able to find them.

I installed the Intel Chipset Utility and that didn't seem to help.

I couldn't find the Intel Setup Utility anywhere in the Lenovo website.

I'm about to give up on this thing.....perhaps I'll have to buy a new retail version of Windows XP Home. Do you think that will have all the right drivers?

Thanks
James

[sjthinkpader]

The install utility is in the intel WiFi package. After you expand it into the c:\driver\win\.. directory, it should be in one of the sub-directories. Read and follow the text file on the driver webpage for detailed installation instructions.

Are you using mixed b+g? If so, what are the encryption type and any recent change?

Also, have you installed WinXPP SP3, .NET Frameworks, and Access Connections? For AC, I suggest to use ver 5.12.

[Mr-Pacman]

The install utility is in the intel WiFi package. After you expand it into the c:\driver\win\.. directory, it should be in one of the sub-directories. Read and follow the text file on the driver webpage for detailed installation instructions.

Are you using mixed b+g? If so, what are the encryption type and any recent change?

Also, have you installed WinXPP SP3, .NET Frameworks, and Access Connections? For AC, I suggest to use ver 5.12.

I did install the Intel driver for this particular card, and then found the directory where it expanded and installed it from there. It is showing that I have the latest driver installed in the "device manager".

I'm using mixed b+g and WEP encryption.

I haven't changed any settings at all, and this computer was working with Windows installed 4 months ago on the same router, and was also working perfectly this morning when I loaded up Linux Mint from a USB drive. I can hold a connection and do big downloads on the X31 on the same router using Linux Mint......so I'm convinced it's a software issue and not an issue with the card

[sjthinkpader]

Tell you the truth I had no luck with b+g mixed mode either. Now I am using WPA-PSK AES encryption which 11b does not support. When I had to use 11b (2100b too), I used a dedicated AP with WEP.

If it works on Linux, then it had to be software. Have you set the WiFi card power control to maximum performance?

[Mr-Pacman]

If it works on Linux, then it had to be software. Have you set the WiFi card power control to maximum performance?

Yes, I do have it set to maximum performance.

It's weird....I just surfed the net for the past hour on the machine with no issues at all.....but as soon as I start to use lots of bandwidth (such as a Thinkvantage update, Windows Update or downloading a large file) it cuts out within a few seconds and keeps logging in and cutting out.

It's driving me crazy.

[sjthinkpader]

Can you take a look if your neighbor is using the same channel? Assuming you haven't done big download on Linux.

Worst case is somebody brought up an 11n AP and use the 40Mhz bandwidth. Each channel is only 5.5Mhz separation. So an 11n 40Mhz bandwidth set at channel 6 can span from channel 3 to channel 9. Some 11n router only offer 20Mhz bandwidth due to this nice neighbor issue.

[Mr-Pacman]

Can you take a look if your neighbor is using the same channel? Assuming you haven't done big download on Linux.

Worst case is somebody brought up an 11n AP and use the 40Mhz bandwidth. Each channel is only 5.5Mhz separation. So an 11n 40Mhz bandwidth set at channel 6 can span from channel 3 to channel 9. Some 11n router only offer 20Mhz bandwidth due to this nice neighbor issue.

I just loaded up Linux on a USB drive and connected to my network. I did a huge 60 meg update and it all downloaded without a hitch. I then downloaded a 20 meg test file with no problems.

I give up. I'll buy a new copy of Windows XP Home tomorrow and try installing that. My friend installed a new version on his X31 and it worked like a charm.....so hopefully it works on this machine.

[sjthinkpader]

Look for a 2200bg and a set of R&R discs on Marketplace. This makes sure all the X31 particular drivers are included.

[Mr-Pacman]

Look for a 2200bg and a set of R&R discs on Marketplace. This makes sure all the X31 particular drivers are included.

I just got a message from a member who is going to send out the correct R&R disks for the X31. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that putting it back to factory specs will solve the issue.

Thanks again for all your help!

Regards,
James

[sjthinkpader]

Yes, that will give you a good base. You still need SP3, .NET Framework 3.0, and the various updates to AC, PM, PD etc.

If you can spot a 2200bg card, that is a better way to go. 11b uses DSSS modulation while 11agn uses OFDM. So the WiFi AP needs to switch back and forth when in mixed mode operation.