Wireless Card BIOS settings disabled (Code 29)

[ikcaj]

Hello,

I have a 760xd (purchased used) running WIN ME, using IE 5.x. I use a Netgear Wireless card (MA512) for Internet access through the PCIMIA slot. Everything has run smoothly for over a year now.

Yesterday I accessed my university's Web site and something "zapped" me. The browser attempted to open about 25 additional windows until the computer ultimately crashed.

Upon reboot I was taken to the IBM Test screen, I attempted rebooting several times, reaching this screen each time. I ran the tests and rebooted. Then I was taken to the configuration screen. I clicked on each of the little boxes and apparently, under the configuration tab, also selected "Initialize".

After that reboot Windows loaded, I ran AVG with updated definitions (that had been downloaded the night before) and found no viruses.

However - now my Netgear card is showing in system devices under a Texas Instruments PCI bus controller and is giving two error messages:

The first is that "IRQ Steering is not enabled. Click to enable." Clicking to enable prompts for a restart. Allowing the restart brings me back to the same message each time. Refusing the restart and refreshing the properties gives me: "This device is not enabled in BIOS (code 29)." It goes on to say something about consulting the user manual to enable this device in your BIOS. Under the Resources tab, attempting to enter the settings manually brings the message "This resource cannot be modified".

To the best I can tell from Internet research my BIOS settings were reset either by myself when I hit Initialize or by whatever zapped me (?) - now I need to reset my CMOS (?)

I'm actual quite capable in computer repair when given specific instructions however I am basically illiterate at this level of knowledge (I have no idea what the CMOS is or how to get to it - all I know is it's hidden for a reason - so folks like me don't mess with it!)

Can anyone offer step-by-step instructions as to what I should do?

Thanks,
Jacki

[SeanM]

Same problem here I think.

[ikcaj]

"You have to enable cardbus in thinkpad configuration, and assign it an IRQ."

I forgot to mention my floppy A drive died quite awhile ago and I have been unable to get the CD to read any burned disks no matter how they are formatted.

I need a backdoor or a key command to enter my BIOS manually.

Thanks,
Jacki

[chuckster]

there is no way to enter a bios setup that i know of. all changes are done via the thinkpad configuration utility. if after using the config utility you notice there is an irq resource contention, find out which irq the wireless pcmcia card wants to use - then disable the other device (or re-assign) in device manager.

[ikcaj]

In the configuration screen I went accessed (not sure if it's the same utility you're refering to) I had only two options: memory and motherboard. The rest of the screen was date/time, boot order, and some other things.

Right now as it stands I have: no floppy A drive, no CD-R and a CD drive that reads CD-R's when and if it so chooses. It has no ethernet and no installed dial-up modem. I do have a wireless PCI card that, alas, isn't working because it is not enabled in BIOS- so even if I could find a bios upgrade how would I get it onto my computer?

Also, in the system information menu, IRQ Steering is listed as a problem device (code 22). Is this part of my problem?

I am puchasing a new laptop soon anyway so assuming this problem can't be fixed, how do I get my info off this HD to my new one? Is there some type of adapter that can allow an ethernet or USB cord to plug into a serial port? Can the laptop handle an external zip drive?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[SeanM]

You need to use the thinkpad configuration program within windows.

If that isn't installed, there exists a remote possibility that you might be able to accomplish this using the ps2 command, IF that is installed on your system. Search your drive for ps2.exe, and if you find it, go run it with "ps2 ?" or "ps2 -?" or something along those lines. See if you can figure out how to enable cardbus. It may be as simple as setting the irq using the ps2 command, but I'm afraid I just can't remember.

As to moving your data, this machine is so old that it'd be a challenge to come up with a better way to move your data than just getting your wireless card working. There once was a card that would allow you to plug a 760 type hard drive into a desktop IDE chain.

Good luck.