Thinkpads Forum

I have recently started using an X200 with Win 10 and a replacement HDD.

My daily driver has previously been a T60 running Win 7....I never had any real issues with my WiFi link using the T60 and Win 7.

The X200 is running OK...but the WiFi link to the router appears to be a bit unstable..especially after the X200 comes out of standby when the WiFi does not always automatically connect. It soon reconnects and will then work OK for hours. Should I install the official Lenovo driver rather than the Win 10 driver...or update the BIOS? Anything else?

Should I run the Lenovo Systems Update tool?? Is it standard practice to run the Lenovo Systems Update tool on a new install?

Which wifi card?
Also, get an SSD instead of that HDD.

Intel (R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN
Driver 14.2.1.4

Does an SSD affect WiFi stability vs a HDD?

I bought my first ever SSD just before Christmas although I've not used it yet...I think of them as "new technology" ...but I think the X200 was using SSD's 12 years ago

5100-AGN is a notoriously bad card.
Get a Lenovo-approved 6200n (FRU 60Y3231) or 6300n (FRU 60Y3233).
SSD improves your overall performance.

I read on the Intel site that the 5100 AGN is not supported by Intel for Win 10...only XP, Vista and 7 and 8 (and not 8.1)...although Win 10 can use generic inbox drivers with the 5100.

Thinking back I had WiFi issues with my T60 when Microsoft "forced" a Win 10 install from Win 7....soon after the HDD became intermittent. When I replaced the HDD and reinstalled Win 7, the WiFi issues were gone!!

Would my X200 Win 7 machine have come from the factory with the 5100 AGN installed as standard..or is it a later install?

I am still running the 5300 on my X301 and it is fine. X200 and X301 have similar hardware.

My experience with the Wifi link/Wimax link cards on my Dell Latitude E6400 (Wimax link 5150 AGN half height) that I have since sold is that those cards tend to heat up a lot if you use them on 802.11n, and after years of such hot operation the solder balls on the chips might start to crack, and then next time when it gets to that hot, the card craps out and drops your connection. I know this because I tried with a small heatsink and then it took much longer to drop the connection, and then adding a fan on top of that the card does not drop anymore.
My solution around that (even when the failure mode began) is to go to Device Manager, disable 802.11n mode, and add a small heatsink on top of the card for reassurance, and not a problem since. Maybe also tone down the transmission power and such if it's set to highest.
Also for sanity check, de-oxidise the mPCIe connector.