R40 Wi-Fi LED

[Ereinion]

Hello, Thinkpadders!
One of my machines is R40 (2272-DM2), Pentium M (i855PM) based, Wi-Fi ready.
I got a non-IBM Intel Pro/Wireless 2100 card. After no-1802.com patch, machine booted normally.
I've reinstalled drivers, then it started to appear in F5 list. Then I updated drivers to latest version to support WPA and install WPA fix for XP SP1.
All other software is that shipped with machine (WinXP SP1 and all utilities are from 2003-2004 year).

After all I have one trouble. Wi-Fi LED doesn't works.
What can I do? Will I need to update IBM software (Hotkey driver and utility, Access Connections?), or find and flash firmware from IBM branded card? Or only hardware mod will help me (I don't want to this!)?

With best regards, Ereinion.

P.S. On T61 and X61t, non-IBM WiFi cards and LEDs worked ok...

[RealBlackStuff]

The 802.11b wifi card is most likely too old.
Get at least a wifi B/G card, which can do 54Mbps.
Intel 2200BG is a good allrounder.

[Ereinion]

Thanks for advice!
But I want restore machine to "official" configuration. I have a CTO-like (if I correctly understood info from support site) machine, so I can put almost any components, that could be installed in this laptops on factory. And only Intel card in R40 according to tabook was 2100B...
But I've tested machine with 2200BG (non-IBM) - same result with WiFi...

[RealBlackStuff]

If you don't 'fix' the BIOS, your only option is the IBM-approved 2100B card.
Most likely an Intel 2200BG with IBM-FRU will also have the LED working, but no guarantee.
FYI: the R40 was not built by IBM, but by Acer under license.

[Ereinion]

If you don't 'fix' the BIOS, your only option is the IBM-approved 2100B card.
Most likely an Intel 2200BG with IBM-FRU will also have the LED working, but no guarantee.
FYI: the R40 was not built by IBM, but by Acer under license.

Thanks, always thought that acer made i-Series and R3x only...
Then you say 'fix' you mean no-1802.com file or patched BIOS like Zender's and Middleton's?

[RealBlackStuff]

Correct, except Middleton never did anything for an R40 AFAIK.

[Ereinion]

With no-1802.com card works, but LED doesn't, do you think it worth to try Zender's BIOS?

P.S...Zender didn't make R40 BIOS... So keep on searching for IBM branded 2100B...

[ajkula66]

The LED won't work with a "non-approved" or generic card.

Try one of the IBM cards with an Atheros chipset, they should be able to turn the LED on, since some of the R40 units were originally shipped with an a/b version...

There is no Zender's BIOS for R40 AFAIK.

[jronald]

Ray and I discovered the same thing on the X31's, the IBM cards always turned the lights on. About 1 in 10 NON-IBM cars would turn the lights on. This was specifically the Intel 2200BG cards I was fiddling with at the time, because of the Centrino's settings I was testing.
Personally, I prefer the Atheros cards. They seem to lock quicker, hold stronger and are generally less of a hassle.

I dont have any R40's handy but Im sure the "most" of the Intel 2200 IBM cars for the T40's-42's worked the light. Im positive I found something that worked for all of the units I donated, but I have not touched a R40 in probably a year. When I was plundering the shop the other day I found 2 good Planars, with base plastics that I may let my son (11 year old Underboi) assemble.

Ron

[DeanoTheSaxman]

Not being funny, but I'm running an Atheros wireless card .. although the IBM wireless light doesn't work with the card ..
Does it really matter ? so long as the wireless card is working .. ?

Fix the Bios from Lenovo .. I'm currently running BIOS Version String 1PET65WW (1.33 )
( Release Date 06/29/2006 )
with My IBM Thinkpad R40 (2723 26G) with NO problems from the Atheros Wireless (WiFi) card
NO IBM led working though ... But it works ..... WiFi is fine .... !