Z61m Wireless Radio/Ethernet problem

[jgordon]

For a class project, I downloaded a program to allow me to grab FLV videos off the Internet. The program, FLV Grabber, looked legit; however, upon installing it, the exact second the program started my wireless radio stopped working. I don't know if the program is intentionally malicious, because it's on its own website/can be purchased/specifically advertises it's spyware-free/has no complaints about it when I Google, but maybe I am just naive.

The hardware is fine, according to PC Doctor. The support crew I called recommended I reinstall three drivers; however, I can't install one of them because I don't have the proper .NET Framework, and I can't install the .NET Framework without being connected to the Internet, and thus, I am in a pickle. System restore also has not worked.

They recommended that I restore my computer to factory conditions, but as I bought my computer through a college with a lot of software preloaded, I'm not sure if this software will be there when I restart (it's all Adobe stuff for journalism school). I've backed up all my files prematurely, but I am looking for a solution before I go all the way. The woman on the phone said my registry is most likely messed up. How can I fix this?

Details:

My wireless radio button is turned on.

When I go into Access Connections, it says my radio is turned off, and when I press the button to turn it on, nothing happens.

No wireless networks are being detected.

Device Manager did not see a problem with any of the devices.

When I plug in an Ethernet cable, the Internet doesn't work. A PC Doctor test says it should be working fine, and that the connection should be good. This is not the case.

Any suggestions? This has come at an extremely poor time, in the middle of finals with plenty of projects to be done. I would greatly appreciate any help.

[jgordon]

Does no one have any ideas? I tried uninstalling Access Connections, which didn't work. My Ethernet cable doesn't get any response when I try to ping, even though the lights are flashing. I really don't want to reinstall everything.

[jdhurst]

That your Ethernet does not work does not bode well at all.

I would try the following:
1. Go to the Microsoft site and find Windows Install Clean Up. This will get rid of most programs. Try to remove Access Connections with this. If that does not work, I don't know.
2. Get the most recent drivers for both Ethernet and Wireless and have them available and exploded into the C:\Drivers folder.
3. Remove the wired and wireless drivers.
4. Reinstall the wired driver and see if you have a connection.

Post back and we can go from there. .... JDH

[beGi]

Did you install WinpCap with that flv app, as offered on download page?

[jgordon]

I did, and have since uninstalled it.

[beGi]

Well, it's possible that WinpCap made some changes since it network related app, but since you uninstalled it I suggest that you follow jdhurst advice (read details for Windows Install CleanUp if used)...

[jdhurst]

I have had WinPcap running for years (I need it for Cain and Abel). You can install/uninstall WinPcap with abandon with no impact on basic network drivers or Access Connections. ... JDH

[beGi]

You can install/uninstall WinPcap with abandon with no impact on basic network drivers or Access Connections.

Yes, you are correct and I can confirm that because I used it for a while with no problems...

But it's only thing that "links" to network adapters, and i can't think of nothing else that could cause problems like OP has (except malware)...

[Marin85]

Just a side note to the windows install cleanup utility: it will remove only the registry information. Any remaining folders should be then removed manually.

[jgordon]

A few things:

1. I downloaded Windows Install Clean Up and could not find Access Connections on the list. I may have already successfully uninstalled it.

2. When I go into my Network Connections, there is no icon for a Wireless Network. I ran a check in Command Prompt, and Windows Wireless Zero is running; I just can't find where it is. Thus, I haven't been able to try connecting to a new network through this. Any suggestions?

3. Where should I look for the wired/wireless drivers? Some other info: My wireless card is a 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter, and my wired card is a Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet.

[jdhurst]

Go to My Computer -> Manage -> Device Manager and remove the wired and wireless adapters. Be CERTAIN you have downloaded the correct appropriate drivers and exploded them into C:\Drivers before you start. That way, the Find new Hardware wizard can be pointed to them. ... JDH

[jgordon]

To clarify: What drivers should I be downloading? I wasn't able to install one of the Access Connections drivers that Lenovo recommended I do because I didn't have the proper .NET Framework...should I be able to install the drivers without an active Internet connection? Sorry that my questions are so basic; I'm cautious of doing anything before I know exactly what's up, because of the problems I've already had.

[beGi]

To clarify: What drivers should I be downloading?

Post your model number to be certain (pc doctor can tell you that, it comes in xxxx-xxx form)...

[jgordon]

My model is 9453-CTO.

[Marin85]

Lenovo drivers should work.

Since you have got your machine with Lenovo preloaded image, there should be a folder C:\Drivers. Check this folder out for the presence of the wireless and ethernet drivers subfolders (not AC). If they are present, go to Device Manager and do as JDH suggests -> uninstall the wifi and ethernet card drivers -> reboot -> back to device manager -> update wifi and ethernet driver -> browse to the corresponding subfolders in C:\Drivers -> update the drivers (do this separately for both wifi and ethernet). Note: even if you have browsed to the correct subfolders, there is a chance that windows won´t find the drivers. In this case you will have to find the exact location/folder of the driver .ini and security catalogs files within this driver subfolder (an example: on my system the wifi driver .exe from Lenovo unpacks in a subfolder in C:\Drivers. This subfolder then contains two subfolders x86 and x64. In each one of them there are the driver setup.exe-s for each arch, but also another folder where the actual driver files are stored. If I want to perform the suggested operation, I´ll have to browse all the way to this folder that contains the actual driver files).

Hope this helps,

Marin

[beGi]

Or download them here (pay attention to OS version):

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-64278

[Marin85]

Or download them here (pay attention to OS version):

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-64278

I believe the OP doesn´t have internet access at all right now . But if he finds some (like from other computer), it would be also a good idea to update his .NET framework (can be downloaded directly from M$).

[jgordon]

A few more questions, before I get started. I've been really busy the last few days so I haven't had time to concentrate on this; thanks so much for the help!

1. What folders will the drivers be in, in C:\DRIVERS? WIN? W2K? WLAN? The only files I see in NETWORK, NETWORK2, and WLAN are INFCACHE. When I download the appropriate drivers, what folders should I "explode" them into (that means copy, right? or no?)

2. As mentioned before, my .NET Framework is only 1.1; installing one of the drivers required at least a 2.0. I tried to install a new Framework, but it requires an active Internet connection, which I don't have. I'm using a friend's laptop right now, which allows me to download drivers and such, but I can't do anything that requires me to be connected at the Internet for an update. Is there any way to get around this?

[Marin85]

1. The driver should be in WLAN. By "exploding" it´s meant unpacking. Running the .exe simply unpacks the driver into the corresponding folder in C:\Drivers. From there you will have to install the driver manually, either by running the setup.exe inside the particular folder or updating the driver via Device Manager as described above. That´s the general part since you now seem to have internet access.

2. You can download .NET Framework 2.0 or any other version, if needed, directly from M$.

[beGi]

Check C:\DRIVERS\WIN folders, or C:\IBMTOOLS\drivers folder...

But I advise to download them if possible...

[jgordon]

Update: I installed the wireless driver in WLAN, and nothing happened. Access Connections says the wireless radio is still powered off; Device Manager says it's still working fine. The error code that AC gives me is 015 - Wireless Radio not powered on. AC's "Repair" function doesn't do anything. The wireless switch at the front of my computer is turned on. Any idea what this is about?

[beGi]

What about LAN?

Try to use windows interface to connect WLAN (windows zero config must be enabled)...

[jgordon]

How do I access Windows Interface? What do I do to enable LAN?

According to CMD my Windows Wireless Zero is running, so I'll give that a shot once I figure how.

[Marin85]

@jgordon: Two points:

1. the windows interface is just the way you would connect to any network if you didn´t have AC;

2. Error code 015 -> heck, it´s high time to try to live without AC for a while. Your WLAN driver seems to have installed properly. The problem probably comes from AC. Uninstall only AC, reboot. You should be then able to turn on wifi (Fn + F5). If not, reinstall only the WLAN driver, reboot, and see if you can turn the wireless on.

[jgordon]

My wifi radio says it's on now. However, I have no way to connect to the Internet; I can't find where Windows Wireless Zero is located on my computer, as nothing is showing up under my Network Connections.

So we're halfway there. What do I do now? Download and install a third party connection manager? How could I do it naturally?

[Marin85]

AFAIK, windows wireless zero configuration is a service. Check out the services console (run -> services.msc). While still on the services, check out the other wifi-related services for XP (sorry, I don´t use XP, so I can´t tell you the exact names, but the names should be speaking for themselves).

Can you detect any wireless networks now (I assume here that you have uninstalled AC)?

[jgordon]

I mean, is reinstalling Access Connections a good idea at all?

[jgordon]

I haven't tried detecting wireless profiles yet because I don't know how to.

The Wireless Zero Configuration is showing up under services, as is something called Wired AutoConfig. Problem: I don't know how to start it. It says that the service status is "Started," but how do I get it running?

[jgordon]

And yes, I did uninstall Access Connections (but kept my profiles).

[Marin85]

1. Apparently, there is another problem right now, so I would keep AC uninstalled for a while, at least until we got the problem sorted out (I hope!).
2. Since the service is reported as started, yes, it´s running. I´m not aware of any windows wireless zero configuration utility. BTW, I thought the service was called Windows Zero Configuration
3. Now, in your taskbar on the right there should be an icon (or two) of network manager/wireless manager. Check it out and see if you can connect to any wireless network.