New Intel 2200bg and 2915abg wireless driver from IBM/Lenovo

Message

#1 Post by **GomJabbar** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 2:31 pm

Intel PRO 2200bg and 2915abg Mini PCI adapter wireless software for Windows 2000, XP - ThinkPad R5*, T4*, X31, X32, X4*, Z60m

Version: 9.0.4.8
Release Date: 2006/02/20

I installed the above by downloading first, then using Software Installer to upgrade from the hard drive. This is the only update I applied. I ran into the problem afterward of slow boot times as reported by others after wireless upgrades. I ended up uninstalling Access Connections (but kept the profiles), rebooting, then uninstalling the wireless driver in device manager. Next I went to Add or Remove Programs and chose to remove Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Software, and when given the option to repair, I chose to repair. I then rebooted and Windows found the new wireless driver and installed it. Finally I reinstalled Access Connections.

Moral of the above: I would recommend uninstalling Access Connections before upgrading the wireless driver. Reboot, then reinstall Access Connections.

Unfortunately I do not have WiFi at my present location to test the Wireless, but at least I got the bootup times back to normal. The Fn + F5 key combo works normally.

bill bolton · #2 Post by **bill bolton** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 7:25 pm

It went in OK for me from the Software Installer on a T43, with no impact on boot time. I haven't had a chance to update any T41s yet.

Cheers,

Bill

marcos · #3 Post by **marcos** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:55 am

GomJabbar wrote:Intel PRO 2200bg and 2915abg Mini PCI adapter wireless software for Windows 2000, XP - ThinkPad R5*, T4*, X31, X32, X4*, Z60m

Version: 9.0.4.8
Release Date: 2006/02/20

I installed the above by downloading first, then using Software Installer to upgrade from the hard drive. This is the only update I applied. I ran into the problem afterward of slow boot times as reported by others after wireless upgrades. I ended up uninstalling Access Connections (but kept the profiles), rebooting, then uninstalling the wireless driver in device manager. Next I went to Add or Remove Programs and chose to remove Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Software, and when given the option to repair, I chose to repair. I then rebooted and Windows found the new wireless driver and installed it. Finally I reinstalled Access Connections.

Moral of the above: I would recommend uninstalling Access Connections before upgrading the wireless driver. Reboot, then reinstall Access Connections.

Unfortunately I do not have WiFi at my present location to test the Wireless, but at least I got the bootup times back to normal. The Fn + F5 key combo works normally.

As the release notes indicates, these drivers are really meant for 4.11, which version where you using ?

#4 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 3:22 am

marcos wrote:As the release notes indicates, these drivers are really meant for 4.11, which version where you using ?

4.11a. I don't suppose the "a" makes a difference?

#5 Post by **dr_st** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 6:01 am

GomJabbar wrote:Moral of the above: I would recommend uninstalling Access Connections before upgrading the wireless driver. Reboot, then reinstall Access Connections.

Moral of the above: I would recommend not upgrading anything related to the WiFi on any Thinkpad, unless you experience problems with your current setup. I'm still running on the 8.1.0.28 version that came preinstalled and will probably never upgrade it. The hassle is so annoying and totally not worth it.

cerebral_mamba · #6 Post by **cerebral_mamba** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:06 am

Tempting.. but i will pass out on this. The hassle if it doesn't work is too much for me too..

sugo · #7 Post by **sugo** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 9:23 pm

dr_st wrote:Moral of the above: I would recommend not upgrading anything related to the WiFi on any Thinkpad, unless you experience problems with your current setup. I'm still running on the 8.1.0.28 version

Finally someone feel the same as I do. I have been running 8.1.0.28 for a long time.

mweiss · #8 Post by **mweiss** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:18 pm

Has anyone seen any benefit in the upgraded wifi? Frankly, the Intel unit I have works wonderfully. So I am wondering if the hassle (see below) is worth it.

I tried to install the upgrade and it could no longer connect to my wifi - so, thankfully, I created a restore point before I upgraded and then simply rolled back the upgrade.

#9 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:04 pm

Sounds like IBM/Lenovo is throwing a party, and nobody wants to come!

firestarter · #10 Post by **firestarter** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:56 am

The 9.0.3.9 works better than access connection on my system.

cerebral_mamba · #11 Post by **cerebral_mamba** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 2:25 am

::deleted::

mybellyisempty · #12 Post by **mybellyisempty** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:23 am

Installed this yesterday. Now the FN+F5 toggles power to the antennea. I'm VERY happy.

boofoo · #13 Post by **boofoo** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 2:47 pm

Tried the new driver, didn't work, went back to the Intel ones.

Actually, here's the dilemma for me: I like AC because I move my Thinkpad to various locations, some of which have very specific TCP/IP settings (need to be a certain IP address, use specific DNS servers, etc.), and AC is great for that. But the Wifi driver/Fn-F5 problems aside, the real issue is that AC does not work with the Cisco VPN client I need to use. They just clash horribly and there's no point in shutting AC down just to log in to the VPN. So no AC.

mybellyisempty · #14 Post by **mybellyisempty** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:24 am

What is this Access Connections? Odds are I never installed in on the Thinkpad (I've had really good luck with the Windows WiFi manager, had no real need to use anything else). I assume it's something IBM/Lenovo put out...

I just upgraded from the newest intel drivers that were available in mid-November...they didn't work with the FN+F5 combo so these are a definite improvement, at least for me.

Xian · #15 Post by **Xian** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 1:51 pm

I tried updating both the wireless drivers and the Access Connections, what a disaster. It took an extra minute or so at boot, dibs out.

I used system restore to go back where I started, uninstalled the wireless drivers, installed the new wireless drivers and I'll stay with my old version of access connections, at least this way everything works at the moment.

0501x · #16 Post by **0501x** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 10:03 am

Problem:
I always turn off my wireless antenna before I shut down my T42 . Whenever I boot up, however, ThinkVantage Access Connections automatically turns on my wireless antenna and starts connecting to available networks without any prompting from me.

I want my wireless to remain OFF until I choose to turn it on.

(I have [unfortunately] upgraded AC to the latest Lenovo version 4.11a. "Automatic Location Switching" and "enable wireless LAN radio control" options have been disabled.)

Anybody have any ideas on how to prevent Access Connections from automatically turning on the wireless antenna every time I boot up?

Thanks.

kam_ · #17 Post by **kam_** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:40 pm

Xian wrote:I tried updating both the wireless drivers and the Access Connections, what a disaster. It took an extra minute or so at boot, dibs out.

It looks like a problem with ACNotify.dll (access connections). If you turn on verbose messaging you can see windows hang for a minute while loading that dll. It looks like AC is running an api which isnt present in the new driver.

[Turn on verbose messaging - very handy for debugging!]

Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
To enable verbose status messages create a new DWORD value called "verbosestatus" and set it to "1".

An additional value called "DisableStatusMessages" forces status messages to be disabled, make sure this value does not exist or is set to "0".

Restart Windows for the change to take effect.

ricerocket · #18 Post by **ricerocket** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:41 am

There's a "new" 9.0.4.8 dated March 9th... I'm not sure what differs.

Code: Select all

Summary of Changes
------------------
 Where: <n.n.nn.n - bbbbbbbb>
           n.n.nn.n : Package version
           bbbbbbbb : Internal ID which is for administrator purpose.
        (New)  New function or enhancement
        (Fix)  Correction to existing function

<9.0.1.13 - 1YWC17WW>
 - (New) Support for the following ThinkPad systems:
         - ThinkPad T43, T43p, R52

<9.0.1.21 - 1YWC25WW>
 - (New) Support for the following Wireless LAN card:
         "Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection" 
 - (Fix) Not roaming to the nearest Access Point.
 - (Fix) EAP-FAST connection problems.
 - (New) Support for the following ThinkPad systems:
         - ThinkPad X32, X41

<9.0.2.25 - 1YWC36WW>
 - (New) Support for the following ThinkPad system:
         - ThinkPad X41 Tablet

<9.0.2.31 - 1YWC38WW>
 - (Fix) Connection speed fluctuates and disconnects.
 - (New) Support for the following ThinkPad system:
         - ThinkPad Z60m

<9.0.4.8 - 1YWC54WW>
 - (Fix) Driver is not correctly installed when PATH environment
         variable length is over 530 characters.

    Note: The Wireless LAN driver files did not change with this
          release. There is no need to apply this release if you
          already have the Wireless LAN driver version 9.0.4.8
          installed without problems.

nmuntz · #19 Post by **nmuntz** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 1:22 am

I upgraded w/o reading this thread, and now I have problems with connection interuptions and as a result dropped ssh sessions. I regularily use 4 different AP's and i'm having problems with all of them except this really old 802.11b SMC WAP.

I'm actually considering doing a system restore to roll back to the stock driver that came with this T43 2686-DGU. Arg! Don't upgrade unless you need too!

nmuntz · #20 Post by **nmuntz** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:05 pm

I was able to go back to 9.0.1.21 from 9.0.4.8 and all my random disconnection problems went way. I'm still using Access Connections 4.11a though.

#21 Post by **archer6** » Tue May 09, 2006 6:14 pm

sugo wrote:
dr_st wrote:Moral of the above: I would recommend not upgrading anything related to the WiFi on any Thinkpad, unless you experience problems with your current setup. I'm still running on the 8.1.0.28 version
Finally someone feel the same as I do. I have been running 8.1.0.28 for a long time.

Exactly ! This is one upgrade that is not worth the time and trouble.

I decided to use Windows to manage my WiFi connections, therefore I uninstalled Access Connections and everything works well. Going forward, with each of my new ThinkPads I have uninstalled Access Connections and used the Windows Wireless Network Connection and all is well.

Wiz · #22 Post by **Wiz** » Sat May 13, 2006 5:19 pm

There is a known bug in the 9.0.4.8 version that cause the disconnects. Download version 9.0.4.13 from the intel website and the disconnect issue is gone. Unfortunately you cannot download only the driver and have to get the proset client 10.x where the driver is included then uncompress only the driver. Works fine with access connections and all other IBM software as well.
There is also a known issue described at the intel support forum with another disconnect issue, but that has to do with the lack of support for Power Save Polling in the software for the access point and is not a bug in the client driver. The workaround for that issue is to disable this feature on the client.
I also had problems with the disconnect issue, but that problem is gone after i stared using the driver from the intel website.

kuma · #23 Post by **kuma** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:03 pm

dr_st wrote:
GomJabbar wrote:Moral of the above: I would recommend uninstalling Access Connections before upgrading the wireless driver. Reboot, then reinstall Access Connections.
Moral of the above: I would recommend not upgrading anything related to the WiFi on any Thinkpad, unless you experience problems with your current setup. I'm still running on the 8.1.0.28 version that came preinstalled and will probably never upgrade it. The hassle is so annoying and totally not worth it.

Where can I download this version? I updated my driver but it doesn't work with tme most recent AC software, so AC isn't installed. Bc when it was it thought that the radio was off.

DIGITALgimpus · #24 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:43 pm

Wiz wrote:There is a known bug in the 9.0.4.8 version that cause the disconnects. Download version 9.0.4.13 from the intel website and the disconnect issue is gone. Unfortunately you cannot download only the driver and have to get the proset client 10.x where the driver is included then uncompress only the driver. Works fine with access connections and all other IBM software as well.
There is also a known issue described at the intel support forum with another disconnect issue, but that has to do with the lack of support for Power Save Polling in the software for the access point and is not a bug in the client driver. The workaround for that issue is to disable this feature on the client.
I also had problems with the disconnect issue, but that problem is gone after i stared using the driver from the intel website.

Far from the truth. You can just install the driver, just extract the installer, and manually install:
http://robert.accettura.com/archives/20 ... e-by-hand/

kuma · #25 Post by **kuma** » Wed May 31, 2006 7:21 pm

Please help. I've done what everyone has said here, but my access connection thinks that the radio is off.
I installed the new intel driver from their website and it downloaded their proset client 10.x but then I just uninstalled that and kept the driver. Without installing Access Connection I got on the web fine. Then I install the latest version of AC 4.12 and it thinks that the radio is off, even when I'm on the web.

I then uninstalled it and installed version 8.12, and samething happened.

Please help.

Thanks.

Wiz · #26 Post by **Wiz** » Wed May 31, 2006 8:51 pm

DIGITALgimpus wrote:
Wiz wrote:There is a known bug in the 9.0.4.8 version that cause the disconnects. Download version 9.0.4.13 from the intel website and the disconnect issue is gone. Unfortunately you cannot download only the driver and have to get the proset client 10.x where the driver is included then uncompress only the driver. Works fine with access connections and all other IBM software as well.
There is also a known issue described at the intel support forum with another disconnect issue, but that has to do with the lack of support for Power Save Polling in the software for the access point and is not a bug in the client driver. The workaround for that issue is to disable this feature on the client.
I also had problems with the disconnect issue, but that problem is gone after i stared using the driver from the intel website.
Far from the truth. You can just install the driver, just extract the installer, and manually install:
http://robert.accettura.com/archives/20 ... e-by-hand/

DIGITALgimpus, if you read what i wrote once more you will see that i said the exact same thing as you. I never said you had to install both the driver and the proset client. All i said is that you have to "download" (not install) both since it's in the same package, but also did explain that you can uncompress and install only driver. The .exe file from Intel that include both the proset client and driver can be uncompressed using winzip and installation of the driver is done by going into device manage and select to update the driver like you could do with any driver. So cannot see how Cygwin as described by the link provided would be useful or needed at all in this case.

bullarded · #27 Post by **bullarded** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 8:00 am

For what it's worth, I went into a bad spot over all of this myself a few weeks ago and ultimately determined to re-image (a fun way to spend a few hours at home).

At first, after Re-image, the soft key Fn F5 worked properly but then later "updates" from Thinkvantage poisoned the good news (I like things to work, also) and I found that the soft switch didn't work right. I uninstalled an reinstalled the driver and had the same problem with the wireless light on all the time and no apparent way to control it.

What I have done (similar to earlier posts) is to uninstall the driver and install the latest 10-series 2915ABG WinXP driver from Intel's web site. It offers a soft switch in the lower right hand corner task bar (the long task bar) and some profilng opportunities which work fine for me.

I figure Lenovo will ultimately figure this out. Something to do with a recent update and the sequence in which the software installer installs things. I was told to stop using the software installer and to use system update. Unfortunately system update is not without its quirks, for example it doesn't realize that I've updated the modem.

Again, I hate things that don't work right, but I like to have a computer working even more. This solution seems to work if you don't mind not being able to use Fn F5 which seems like a bearable incovenience since you have the same functionality working in the taskbar with the Intel icon.

Regards,

Jed

Biker2679 · #28 Post by **Biker2679** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:55 pm

I just did the update using the newest Intel drivers and extracting the driver directory from the installer exe and everything worked fine. Just select update drivers from Device Manager, point it to the directory, and you are all set. My Fn+F5 still isnt working, but seeing as though that went out a while ago, I wasnt really expecting much. We'll see if the disconnect issue gets resolved when I connect at school tomorrow.

#29 Post by **GomJabbar** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:15 pm

It seems time to update this sticky with some external links that others have posted recently. Thanks guys/gals.

From Lenovo:
Intel wireless 2200bg and 2915abg upgrade and installation problems - ThinkPad General

Lenovo wrote:Symptom

When installing or upgrading the Intel wireless drivers either with the driver package from the web or using Software Installer, the driver installation process may encounter an error, and leave the system in a failing state. The potential problems observed may include any of the following:
Windows / Access Connections report the wireless radio is off, even though it is turned on. The system halts at this error message and will not begin the connection process.
Windows / Access Connections will pop-up an error message reporting that the driver is unable to communicate with the power management driver, and recommends installing a compatible version of the driver.
All attempts to connect to a wireless Access Point using either Windows or Access Connection will always result in a failure to connect to the Access PointAffected configuration

Any Thinkpad system with an Intel 2200bg or 2915abg wireless adapter may be affected by this symptom.

From Lenovo:
Intel wireless adapters have limited connection methods and cannot be controlled via Fn + F5 - ThinkPad

Lenovo wrote:Symptom

The system may give an error message when pressing Fn + F5 to turn the WLAN radio on or off. Only WEP or Windows Managed wireless profiles will function.Affected configurations

Any ThinkPad system running Microsoft Windows XP with the following Wireless LAN (WLAN) adapters may experience this error:
Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2200abg Mini PCI adapter
Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2915abg Mini PCI adapter
Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 3945abg Mini PCI adapter

From Intel:
Wireless LAN Products
Wireless LAN Connection Disconnects

Intel wrote:This topic applies only to the following adapters:
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection

This topic applies only to adapters using driver version 9.0.4.8 or earlier.

bullarded · #30 Post by **bullarded** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:11 pm

Thank you for the sticky but I don't understand what Lenovo is saying. It sounds as if there is no fix at the moment for those of us with malfunctioning Fn +F5 keys but since it doesn't affect the functionality of the system I for one and apparently others will live with the issue.

Thanks....

New Intel 2200bg and 2915abg wireless driver from IBM/Lenovo

New Intel 2200bg and 2915abg wireless driver from IBM/Lenovo

Re: New Intel 2200bg and 2915abg wireless driver from IBM/Le

Re: New Intel 2200bg and 2915abg wireless driver from IBM/Le

Re: New Intel 2200bg and 2915abg wireless driver from IBM/Le

Re: New Intel 2200bg and 2915abg wireless driver from IBM/Le

Update worthwhile

Nope.

ThinkVantage Access Connections automatically turning on?

Re: New Intel 2200bg and 2915abg wireless driver from IBM/Le

Re: New Intel 2200bg and 2915abg wireless driver from IBM/Le

Fn F5 Switch problem

Winzip works fine

thanks for the sticky but what does it mean?

Who is online