R51 wireless not connecting

[Riktar]

On my daughters laptop. My R51 is connecting just fine. Even running them side by side with the security modes turned off on my router my daughters laptop will not hook up.

It shows the same info under the network menus (Windows XP as well as Linux) in terms of network detection, signal strength, etc, but my daughter's r51 just won't connect. The wired part of her laptop hooks up just fine.

Assuming the wireless card is bad, how tough is it to install another one? Or would this be a good reason to pick up a wireless N device?

Thanks for any ideas.

[Harryc]

It's an easy card to replace (or swap). Why not swap yours with your daughters to make sure that's the issue?
Use the maintenance manual ...
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 53169.html

[jronald]

My wifes 51 has the Intel 2200bg (NOT the IBM). I find its flaky as all get out. What are the rest of you running?

Ron

[thinkpad1]

Does the Windows Device Drivers display the distinction?

I suppose a Linux livecd would show whether it's Intel or IBM using lspci, right?

I think both the T41 and R51 is the Intel but I wouldn't want to be quoted on that.

I dare say the one in the T41 worked satisfactorily although there was the odd issues. The main point is, it worked WHERE I needed it to work and the one in the R51 doesn't. My next quest is to determine the two whether they're Intel or IBM. Both are definitely 2200bg, though.

[jronald]

Side Note:
Im just not impressed with the Intel Wireless product, every one I have dealt with has been weird! RBS swears by them. I have used them because of Centrino, or because I did NOT have anything else to use.

Atheros has always done an outstanding job for me. The Atheros product has always latched stronger, latched faster and generally had better range in my totally unofficial testing. I have used a few Broadcom some time ago. I gave all of these machines away, but I have not heard of any issues.

I looked in the device file on a known IBM card, it shows Intel 2200bg, so Im thinking your best bet is to just pull the card and look for the IBM part number.

Ron

[thinkpad1]

So, you recommend the IBM 11a/b/g LAN mini PCI card? One good thing about it is that it is supposedly supported in Linux via open source Atheros ath5k driver. Not sure what the consensus on it is, though, whether it works well or not. But, at least, I know what to look for if I need to read up on it. I do hope my other wifi card will work, though. I'm pretty sure the current card in the R51 is a done deal, though.

[thinkpad1]

This issue for me MIGHT be fixed. I re-installed the driver. The one being used was an older one, from '07. The new one is listed as from Apr. '09 and wireless is currently working. Knock on wood.

[jronald]

Curious, Are you running the IBM driver or the Intel?

Ron

[thinkpad1]

Curious, Are you running the IBM driver or the Intel?

Ron

I downloaded it from the Lenovo support/drivers site. It is listed as Intel pro/wireless... and I chose the one including the 2200bg.

[thinkpad1]

There's no more support for Stinkpads. Same problem I had with the T41. XP Pro, 2200bg card is installed and driver (seems to refuse updates even when you uninstall and install, using a driver from '07). It tries to connect, 'states' it connected, then instantly disconnects and then it's a continuous cycle which goes on forever. This happened with my T41 as well. These stinkpads and XP seem to have some sort of problem and I think it's been documented in forums but never a solution. I think a re-install probably re-invites the problem to occur yet again. I have never read nor heard of such a problem with any other laptop from any other brand.

These trash cans are to be avoided. The fact that IBM/Lenovo and MS has DONE nothing to address this problem just means there's no one caring to solve the issue. If it's faulty wireless cards or drivers provided by Lenovo and that they don't work properly with MS or what. I was near some kid who had a Dell and his laptop's wireless worked in another room way further than the router/access point while I'm still not getting anything and I'm within 10 ft away.

Stinkpads are a waste of time when you need wireless and Windows together.

[RealBlackStuff]

@thinkpad1:

Why don't you move on, and go pound sand?
We can do without your negative comments, that don't bring anything to anybody!
If I were the site-owner, you'd have been banned long ago!

[thinkpad1]

Yeah, okay. I'm giving up on the wireless problem. I'll retire the laptop unless I find someone who wants it.

[jronald]

And now for something compleatly different..........

If you are running the IBM driver, down load the Intel driver from Intel. Go in and delete the IBM driver, then shut down the lapper. When you fire it back up, it should say new hardware found, point it towards the Intel driver and let it load. See if that makes any difference. I dont know that it will, but its not going to hurt.

Ron