Thinkpads Forum

I was recently given a 'retired' thinkpad 760ED and I was looking to get it connected to my wireless network.

From what I've read it should be possible with this model.

I tried putting the card in when it had windows 98 on it, and it installed the software fine, but said that it needed to have IRQ steering enabled. Unless F1 on these things is actually a trick BIOS, I went into the BIOS but it pretty much gave no options but to test devices.

I then installed windows 2000 because I hoped that perhaps the problem might fix itself with a real OS on it, but I've had no such luck. The ethernet card that I have in it right now works in both slots, so I don't understand why this thing doesn't work. I am beginning to think that I might need a BIOS update, but I don't have a serial floppy drive OR no where to find the update anyway and apply it without the floppy drive.


Attached is a screenshot of the error that the wireless card generates.



Thanks A LOT to anyone that can provide me with any information.

You'll have to set the IRQ manually. What I did on both of my 760's is in the ThinkPad Utilities software (availible from IBM website), under Docking Station Setings, I set IRQ for PCI steering to 9 and then under PCMCIA settings, I set the IRQ for CardBus to 11.

I've done what you said, but it still doesn't like the card.

do you think that I might need to downgrade to Windows 98 again in order to get that to work?

Honestly, I'm not sure. The card should work on 98 since I have a 760E running 98SE and I used to have a 760ED running 98, but since I've never run anything newer than ME on a 760, I can't tell you if that's the only solution or not.

I am, however, pretty sure that downgrading to 98 will allow CardBus, but before doing that, since the error message says firmware, why don't you make sure you have the latest BIOS on your 760.

I really can't figure out if my BIOS is up to date. The version is HXET60WW and the date on it is 09/07/99, and from posts about the 760e it sounds like I'm probably more or less up to date on that. It looks like IBM took down whatever BIOS updates they had anyway though.

Even if I did have the files, unfortunately I've got no floppy drive to update with, so I'm crossing my fingers that I won't need to, then maybe I'll have to find some creative way to use the one I've got in my desktop right now.

I'm going to hide this stupid thing for a few days before I throw it out the window, check back here periodically, then when I'm ready I think I'll try out windows 98 if no one else offers any solutions.
After I've done that I'll come back and let you know if it worked .

Hmm, yes, you do have the latest BIOS. Well, I'll see if I can find the solution, I'm pretty sure it has to do with IRQ's or resources, but since I never actually have run 2000 on a 760, I really couldn't say. Hopefully, if I can't come up with anyhting, someone else here who has 2000 on their 760 will.

Even with the latest Bios and all the right software I never could get a wireless card to work under Windows 2000. It kept coming up that the 1130 card slots were 32bit and it did not support them

I'm thinking that Windows 2000 just plain doesn't support them on the 760.

Good news, I got this badboy running.
I did however have to install windows 98. Its kinda upsetting because I prefer windows 2000 over 98 any day, but it works. I put window blinds on it do disguise the ugly interface, and its running pretty well.
Thanks a lot for the help

No problem, glad things went well. If you ever have any other questions or any other trouble with your 760, feel free to ask. If I can't help, I'm sure someone else around here can.