BSOD - Windows 10 driver issue with Intel 4965AGN Wirless Adapter !

[storm-chaser]

Driver support has ended for the 4965AGN card with windows 7 and so I find myself in a bit of a quandary. Machine in question is a T61p running an X9000 CPU and Windows 10 64 bit. Basically, the computer performs flawlessly if I run my wired connection and disable the Wi-Fi adapter. However, at this location I must rely on my wireless card, and enabling it causes the system to BSOD approximately 2-3 times per day.

In researching this error, the specific fault is netwlv64.sys, which is tied directly to the Intel 4965AGN wireless driver. I am assuming there is compatibility issue between the older driver and Windows 10. There are a number of work-arounds and possible resolutions out there in internet land, but nothing seems to work for me as of yet. So far:

-I've tried disabling 802.11n mode completely, no change.
-I've installed the updated Windows 7 driver from Intel's site, no change
-I've installed a slightly older Intel driver as well, with no change. System still encounters BSOD.
-I’ve messed with the 802.11 detailed settings with no change or resolution

Obvious work around would be to install a USB Wireless device or swap out the 4965AGN to a newer, more up to date wireless card. If I have to go this route, can anyone recommend a good WIFI card that I can use with this PC? It’s a 6459-CTO T61p and does have the Middleton BIOS mod. I’m talking about upgrading the wireless card here, not a USB wireless device.
That being said, I'd like to try to get this working, if possible, with the existing wireless card as money is tight right now. I'm hoping someone out there has seen this error and has a potential resolution for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[storm-chaser]

Edit: I found this wireless card which appears to work in the T61. For $8.50 it seems like the obvious choice here.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R ... 1&_sacat=0

Still, if anyone has a potential fix I'd love to hear it.

[RealBlackStuff]

Read this for a better AR9380: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=126727

[storm-chaser]

RealBlackStuff,

Thanks for the link. In regards to purchase, I see many of them on eBay listed for MacBooks. Will these work with the T61P? Or is there something more specific for the T61p to look out for?

Here is an example ($13):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Atheros- ... =R40&rt=nc

Will that work for me?

[RealBlackStuff]

After you apply Middleton's BIOS, any card will work.

[storm-chaser]

After you apply Middleton's BIOS, any card will work.

Okay, I just thought you had something specific to add regarding the AR9380 because you linked that thread.

Thanks again.

[storm-chaser]

After digging through my old laptop parts bin, I found an Intel WiFi Link 5100 adapter and installed it using the link provided (Thanks RealBlackStuff)

After some testing it appears to be working perfectly well and should get the job done for me. Hopefully no more blue screens *knock on wood*!

https://image.ibb.co/hoT0Oz/Capture_Wi_Fi_Link_5100.png

https://image.ibb.co/niidAe/IMG_20180807_194745855.jpg

[axur-delmeria]

Glad you found a free replacement!

Have Win 10 running on an X61T. Had it BSOD at least once due to the Intel 3945BG wifi. I suppose it's the same issue plaguing the 4965AGN.

[storm-chaser]

Glad you found a free replacement!

Have Win 10 running on an X61T. Had it BSOD at least once due to the Intel 3945BG wifi. I suppose it's the same issue plaguing the 4965AGN.

Yes, that sounds like the same problem. Luckily the T61 is very easy to disassemble. Just pull the front clip and the keyboard and you are right there. I would recommend you do the same thing, upgrade the wireless card to something compatible with Windows 10. Best solution to this problem.

I have a second wireless card (see second picture in above post) if you are interested I would let it go for $2.50 shipping.
I'm just not sure if it's worth it because the card itself is pretty old. If you want to research it all the model/part numbers should be visable in the photo.

[storm-chaser]

Here is a CPU Z screenshot of my X9000. Now I can get back to overclocking this thing..

For the past few months these random BSODs had caused me to revert back to the stock 2.8Ghz, mistakenly thinking that the BSOD was related to CPU speed or something. In any event, the system is going strong, going on 12 hours so far with no blue screens!

Currently running 3.4Ghz at the stock 1.2volts. I'm using Throttlestop to overclock and Im using TPFanControl to run the fan at 100%.

I've also included a link to the photo showing active tempuratures @ 3.4Ghz. So far so good! Very reasonable.

https://ibb.co/iYKUiz

https://ibb.co/knSh3z

[RealBlackStuff]

Even that 5100 (or 5300 or 1000) will give you problems shortly.
They are the same crappy junk as 2915 and 3945 and some 4965.
If you insist on Intel, use a 6200N or 6300N or 7260AC, all of which need the 1/2-size adapter bracket.
But I would really recommend an Atheros such as the AR9380.

[storm-chaser]

Even that 5100 (or 5300 or 1000) will give you problems shortly.
They are the same crappy junk as 2915 and 3945 and some 4965.
If you insist on Intel, use a 6200N or 6300N or 7260AC, all of which need the 1/2-size adapter bracket.
But I would really recommend an Atheros such as the AR9380.

Well, we will see how it goes. So far, it should have already BSOD'd at least two or three times by now.
So for the time being, the Intel 5100 is working okay. I understand this device is not supported by Windows 10, just like the 4965AGN, however, it does use a different driver and I have a feeling based on time past, we are doing "better" than we were before.

That being said, I will take the time to acquire an Atheros AR9380 to make sure we hare 100% reliablity with this machine. Since my Toshiba L505D Satellite is down, I will be relying more heavily on my Thinkpad going forward. I need maximum performance and maximum reliability. As it goes for most Thinkpad owners.

[storm-chaser]

Just a quick update for everyone: The system is going on 24 hours of run time now, zero BSODs, and I haven't seen this amount of uptime EVER since I upgraded to Windows 10 about three months back. It was averaging 2-3 BSODs per day before the wifi card n' driver swap.

This looks like a win folks and I would say without a doubt the best resolution to this issue is to chuck the old 4965AGN card and get something that is confirmed compatible with Windows 10. While the 5100 Intel WiFi link I'm using is technically not "supported" under Windows 10, the operating system finds the device and installs the appropriate driver. And that is really the heart of the matter. These are good wireless cards, it's just the driver that's bad (because these Intel wireless devices work fine in a Windows 7 environment). And moving away from the 4965AGN driver and card has resolved this issue 100% as of right now.

Obviously, if this changes at any point in the future, I will report back with my findings. But for now, looks like we are in the clear. And at this point, the Intel 5100 WiFi link can be added to the upgradable list of confirmed working wireless devices in the Windows 10 environment, relative to the T61p platform.

[Shredder11]

That is fantastic news for you! I am wondering if there is any difference between the cards for sale on Ebay at various prices. Are the Lenovo ones at 3x the price just rebadged, or are they better engineered in some way....cooler running etc? Should the really cheap Chinese ones be avoided or are they fine?

[storm-chaser]

That is fantastic news for you! I am wondering if there is any difference between the cards for sale on Ebay at various prices. Are the Lenovo ones at 3x the price just rebadged, or are they better engineered in some way....cooler running etc? Should the really cheap Chinese ones be avoided or are they fine?

Most of the intel units are actually made in China, so it's hard to say but yeah, I'd recommend avoiding the really cheap Chinese ones.
Just do your research. I really think anything above 54Mbps and the performance is going to be very similar. Just make sure the model and part number match up and have the appropriate Windows 10 driver.
As far as the Lenovo ones, I don't think you need to focus on them unless you find one at a good price. If you have a T61 with the same issue, just make sure you have the Middleton Bios mod which allows you to run ANY wireless card.


Just a quick update going on 48 hours with zero issues. So I'm going to say we are clearly winning here, just like Donald Trump

[SirionRazzer]

Solution(s) for 4965agn BSOD (works for me) for future reference: viewtopic.php?p=821822#p821822

[storm-chaser]

Solution(s) for 4965agn BSOD (works for me) for future reference: viewtopic.php?p=821822#p821822

Thank you good sir!! for posting this. May be really helpful for others if they come across this thread it will save them big time.

Much appreciated. I figured there was a "good" driver out there somewhere that would make the 4965AGN work the way it's supposed to with Windows 10!

Mod edit: can you please stop posting the "for the win" picture? It serves no purpose and the forum is sensitive to excess pictures.

[storm-chaser]

I thought if I posted under a certain resolution and posted a warning in the title it's within the forum restrictions for posting a picture?

I'm frankly baffled why a technical forum such as this would prefer said forum to be in the "stone age"?

I am a member of 5+ forums and I've never seen anything like this, especially on computer related forums where the multi media experience is almost a given.

Really frustrated that is the year of 2018 we are asking people to basically forgo images and use text instead, even if images are posted on another hosting site?

I just don't get it. This isn't 1999. We are talking decades of improvements in LAN and WAN speeds as well as massive improvements in phone internet access such as 4G LTE.

[RealBlackStuff]

Well, how 'modern' is it to tell us a sob-story about an at least 12-year old wifi card?
And unfortunately this is the outdated USA, where lots of people still have to use phones with severely limited accounts, because the phone- and internet-companies are so far behind the time!
There never is a pleasing of everybody!

[storm-chaser]

Well, how 'modern' is it to tell us a sob-story about an at least 12-year old wifi card?
And unfortunately this is the outdated USA, where lots of people still have to use phones with severely limited accounts, because the phone- and internet-companies are so far behind the time!
There never is a pleasing of everybody!

With that logic we might as well close down this forum completely, because anyone talking about a T61 here is giving you a sob story about 10+ year old hardware.

In my mind it's just another example of how fast wireless hardware from a decade ago really is. A testament to old hardware that can still push 300Mb/s. Guess I need all of that and more for this TEXT ONLY forum?

Because people are furiously browsing the forum from their phones? Is that really the reason for no photos? I mean, give me a break man. That is beyond pathetic.

[RealBlackStuff]

Nobody is forced to like it here.
And if people prefer a so-called multi-media forum, well there are plenty of those elsewhere...
Nuff said.