Thinkvantage Access Connections vs Windows Wireless Network

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jagged · #1 Post by **jagged** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 6:54 am

I was in my friend's office today and I notice that if I connect to his WIFI network using Thinkvantage Access Connections, I couldn't get any internet signal. I mean I could easily connect to his network yet can't access the internet.

I experitmented for awhile and used the Windows Wireless Network
Connection and while easily connecting to his WIFI, this time, I had internet access.

Is there something I should configure with Access Connections? By the way, my friend's WIFI is just a simple Linksys wireless router with no security or special encryption. I hope I can find a solution cuz I use Thinkvantage Access Connections by default.

Its also strange cuz in my home and office WIFI, I have no problem with Thinkvantage Access Connections.

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:28 am

Make sure Access Connections is not turning on Windows Firewall by default (I had that happen once). Check also in Access Connections that Proxies are off. Those are the kind of things that can allow connection but prevent browsing. ... JD Hurst

jagged · #3 Post by **jagged** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:32 am

Hello! thanks for the suggestion. I will try it out again on Monday and will post how it goes

donking! · #4 Post by **donking!** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:07 pm

jdhurst wrote:Make sure Access Connections is not turning on Windows Firewall by default (I had that happen once). Check also in Access Connections that Proxies are off. Those are the kind of things that can allow connection but prevent browsing. ... JD Hurst

Where are the settings to disable the default running of Windows Firewall and Proxies? For the life of me I can't find them. And the help function doesn't explain where these settings are (though it does describe them).

Every time I create a new profile in Access Connections, it enables the Windows Firewall.

#5 Post by **jdhurst** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:17 pm

In Access Connections V4x, edit the profile, and under Additional Settings is Network Security. Click on Settings and there is the firewall setting. On the Network Security page is also Proxy. Review, consider and check all of the settings here.
... JD Hurst

donking! · #6 Post by **donking!** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:31 pm

Okay, I found it. Thanks for the explanation.

But it's a little odd. You can only edit a profile (and get access to these settings) if you save the profile. Since I was connecting to sites for which I didn't want a specific profile, I was choosing the option to not save the profile. In this case, there's no access to those settings (and so the Windows Firewall can't be disabled), even though a profile in a sense is temporarily created.

I'd like to have new profiles and connections where I don't save the profile not enable the Windows Firewall by default. But there don't seem to be any global settings like that. Am I still missing something?

#7 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:22 pm

Maybe I am missing something here, but have you gone to Start > Control Panel > Windows Firewall > General page and Advanced page settings, and turned it off there?

#8 Post by **jdhurst** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:58 pm

Even if you turn it off there, at least one version of Access Connections enabled it by default on new profiles. I just now ensure it is always disabled whenever I create a profile. ... JD Hurst

donking! · #9 Post by **donking!** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 1:16 am

So there's no way to make Access Connections not do that?

cb474 · #10 Post by **cb474** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:12 pm

I'm also having this problem. I work in a lot of different locations. Every time I'm in a different hotel or cafe or airport, I have to create a new profile, just so I can disable Windows Firewall for that location. Otherwise Access Connections automatically enables it. This leaves me collecting a jumble of profiles in my connection manager, many of which I will never use again. Is there a work around for this?

#11 Post by **jdhurst** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:17 pm

The only reason you need a new profile is for authentication purposes. That is true of the Windows tool as well.

One way might be to create a standard wireless profile and then just change the security settings as you need to.
... JD Hurst

robh · #12 Post by **robh** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:28 pm

One of the great features I remember about Access Connections is that it allows you to hand pick the exact access point you want to connect with.

On my university campus, there are a million AP's "uwo" but with windows, it will select the 'best' one automatically. It picked the one with the strongest signal--but after testing I found that I had more reliable connections with further away AP's, and only Access Connections allowed me to pick those.

steveg47 · #13 Post by **steveg47** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:51 pm

cb474 wrote:I'm also having this problem. I work in a lot of different locations. Every time I'm in a different hotel or cafe or airport, I have to create a new profile, just so I can disable Windows Firewall for that location. Otherwise Access Connections automatically enables it. This leaves me collecting a jumble of profiles in my connection manager, many of which I will never use again. Is there a work around for this?

To connect to any available non-secured (open) wireless network that is in range, leave the SSID field in the profile blank. I named this profile "Any". You can enable/disable the windows firewall in this profile as you need it, though I have no idea why you would want to disable the windows firewall on an open non-secured wireless network where you need it most.

cb474 · #14 Post by **cb474** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:53 pm

Maybe I'm not understanding how Access Connections works. But if I don't create a new profile, for an access point that I've never used before, then AC defaults to enabling Windows Firewall. I've found no way to defeat this, other than creating a new profile for every access point I connect to and turning off Windows Firewall in the settings for that specific profile.

steveg47 · #15 Post by **steveg47** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:19 pm

To accomplish what I believe you want, do the following:
Create a new profile in AC. Call it "Any"
Select Wireless Lan as the network connection type
Select the wireless settings tab
Leave the Network Name (ssid) blank
Connection type is Infrastructure
Wireless mode is auto
Wireless security type is None (encryption is disabled)
In the additional setting tab select what you want in Network security
Select automatic for ip address and dns servers in the "override TCP/IP" settings.
I also override the home page with my preference and Override the proxy with none.

This profile should automatically select the best unsecured access point.

The trick is leaving the ssid (network name) field blank.

cb474 · #16 Post by **cb474** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 11:39 pm

steveg47,

Thanks for the step by step instructions. I really appreciate the help.

That method does work, but it means I'm forced to connect to the access point that AC determines has the strongest signal. That's not always the access point I want to connect to. So I still get the problem.

If I go to the "Find" window, in AC, and select the access point I want to connect to directly, AC still defaults to enabling the Windows Firewall (unless I create a whole separate profile for every access point, etc.).

FYI, I don't want to use the Windows Firewall, because I'm using a different firewall.

steveg47 · #17 Post by **steveg47** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:31 am

cb474 wrote:FYI, I don't want to use the Windows Firewall, because I'm using a different firewall.

Ah, now I see what your getting at. Perhaps disabling the Windows Firewall service altogether in Services might do the trick.

cb474 · #18 Post by **cb474** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:54 pm

That's a good idea. Strangely it didn't work. I disabled the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service and AC still ran the firewall (if I let it do its default options). Or at least it showed that brick wall icon and I was unable to connect to the web (although at connection was established with the access point). Very bizarre.

I really don't understand why the user shouldn't be able to set the default behavior of AC. It's like having a word processor that won't let you set the default page margins of a new document. Isn't there a system file somewhere or a registry entry, where these settings can be changed?

steveg47 · #19 Post by **steveg47** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:23 pm

No question that default setting in AC could be handled lots better. Ah well, maybe a future enhancement.

As for windows firewall, you could try completely uninstalling it. The procedure appears rather easy but beware, I don't know what negative impact there will be (if any) if you do uninstall the windows firewall. The procedure I believe is to stop the process, disable the process and then at the dos prompt enter the following command: "sc delete Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)". I've never done it myself so if you try it your on your own...Good luck.

deeastman · #20 Post by **deeastman** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:45 pm

Another thing you might try if you haven't already and before you remove the firewall entirely. When you open Windows Firewall in the control panel there is the standard Windows Firewall On or Off on the general tab. On the advanced tab there there are check boxes for enabling or disabling the Windows Firewall for each type of network connection. You might un-check for your wireless connections (all are enabled by default). I can't say this will help but worth a try.

cb474 · #21 Post by **cb474** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:50 am

Thanks for the further ideas, steveg47 and deeastman.

I tried unchecking windows firewall, in the advanced tab, for wireless network connections, in the firewall control panel. It didn't make a difference. It's really strange, because I have the firewall disabled in services. The control panel for the firewall wouldn't even open, until I re-enabled the firewall service first. And yet, AC runs the firewall no problem (even though at the same time the firewall service shows that it's not running). I don't really get it.

I think I'll hold off on uninstalling the firewall, until I make a backup image. Then maybe I'll try it for kicks and report back here.

Another thing that I find odd about AC's behavior around all this is: If I connect to a new access point, AC asks if I want to creat a profile for that access point. If I select "no," then AC makes a profile anyway, puts it in the list of profiles in the Profile Manager, but it can't be edited (presumably it has the AC default settings). What's the point of asking if it's going to create a profile anyway? Why would I want to (effectively) have the option of either creating a profile that I can edit or one that I can't?

Ken Fox · #22 Post by **Ken Fox** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:09 am

cb474 wrote: Another thing that I find odd about AC's behavior

Honestly, AC has become serious crapware. I used it for several years and had no problems with it, but exactly what it provided during that time that Windows did not is unclear. In the last couple of months, AC has given me nothing but aggravation. People get used to using a particular piece of software and then try like hell to defend it, but this program is, honestly, indefensible.

You can argue about whether the problem is the way that Lenovo tries to install it (e.g. shove it down our throats), the communications drivers, the this and the that. Who gives a rip? The only reason to have any of this sort of software is to make our lives easier and if it does the exact opposite, then over the side it should go!

In any event, the major deficiencies in the native Windows wireless connection program have been corrected. Give it a try and see if you need anything else. I did and found that it was more than sufficient for my needs.

If you don't really need AC (and I'm begining to wonder if anyone really needs this nonsense) uninstall it and be done with it.

Really, I mean it. You'll sleep better.

#23 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:25 am

Ken Fox wrote:Honestly, AC has become serious crapware.

Sweeping generalizations are rarely ever true. Your case might be more believable if such statements were avoided.

Ken Fox · #24 Post by **Ken Fox** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:37 am

GomJabbar wrote:
Ken Fox wrote:Honestly, AC has become serious crapware.
Sweeping generalizations are rarely ever true. Your case might be more believable if such statements were avoided.

And some "sweeping generalizations," like it snows mostly in the winter, ARE true. As is the one you quote from my post.

cb474 · #25 Post by **cb474** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:05 am

Despite it's many short comings and oddities, I like the Access Connections interface better than the Windows utility. But perhaps I should give Windows a try again and see if I like it better these days.

Ken Fox · #26 Post by **Ken Fox** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:33 am

cb474 wrote:Despite it's many short comings and oddities, I like the Access Connections interface better than the Windows utility. But perhaps I should give Windows a try again and see if I like it better these days.

I found this forum (tp.com) last month after almost jumping out of the window with what the latest iteration of AC did to my T42

I've also had other recent problems with other software that Lenovo foisted off on me, including PC Dr which scrambled my registry and required me to rebuild my hard disk from a Norton Ghost image.

If you do a search on Access Connections (or "AC") in these forums you will pull up a whole bunch of threads from people having software problems. Many of the people starting them don't even know what their problem is or what piece of software it was caused by, but then after a little while it becomes clear that AC was the culprit.

Then, if you read through these threads you find instructions on how to fix it given by proponents of AC. In many or most cases they are long and drawn out and complicated like one of those recipes you might start on a Thursday to serve at a dinner party Saturday night. And for what?

Granted, there are people who buy into the notion that there is something very special about the software that Lenovo/IBM bundles with their machines that gives added value; keeping this software running further justifies their TP purchase, so they have to keep it going. OK, I can accept that as a motivation.

Then there are people who genuinely need a more industrial strength network access program. Most of those people in reality are corporate employees who are constantly travelling. OK, so there is probably a need for a small group of people to try to make this sort of program work. Most of these people will have access to an IT department which will have the resources and time to fix these problems, so they have a path to follow.

But what about the people who are much more typical, who have maybe 1 or 2 or at most 3 venues where they regularly log onto a network. What exactly does AC give them that Windows XP does not? I used to think it gave them something, but when I was literally forced several weeks ago to abandon AC on one of my laptops, I found that Windows did a job just as good for my needs as AC ever did, probably better. It is MUCH easier to log onto an encrypted router that you know the password for than AC ever was (I generally had to try 2 or 3 or 4 times to get AC to log on with encrypted networks even when it did work a while ago). Windows native access switches locations automatically and with aplomb. It works without much user intervention. It doesn't freeze my laptop.

Once again, you have to examine what you are trying to get out of this software. If you really need a high powered access program, then perhaps a whole bunch of effort on your part to get AC working will be rewarded. But then, if they have been releasing some bad and buggy software (or at least loading it in a way that you need to do major work on you software in order to get it to work) then what are they going to do next week? Next month? The overall trend in Thinkpad proprietary software does not inspire confidence. You may solve THIS problem with AC you are having THIS month, but how about the NEXT release?

Whatever you decide, I wish you a lot of luck.

cb474 · #27 Post by **cb474** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:39 pm

You make a persuasive argument, Ken. I just haven't quite given up yet. I don't really disagree with anything you say. I just want to still try to make AC work, for my own personal preferences about the interface.

The problem I've been trying to fix here is also more of an annoyance than a real bug. I've never had AC freeze my Thinkpad or anything like that. But maybe it will!

It's interesting whay you say about trouble logging onto encrypted Networks. I have had difficultly with that. If Windows works better in that regard, it could be a compelling reason for me to switch.

steveg47 · #28 Post by **steveg47** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:04 pm

cb474, If you do decide to uninstall the firewall service please be aware that I have not yet figured out exactly how to reinstall it

and you may have to use the Service Name "SharedAccess" rather then the Display Name "Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)" in the SC command.

deeastman · #29 Post by **deeastman** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:17 pm

steveg47 wrote:cb474, If you do decide to uninstall the firewall service please be aware that I have not yet figured out exactly how to reinstall it

While googling I found this reference http://www.xpmaximized.com/archives/uni ... ewall.html which includes the following:

Note: If you would like to reinstall the windows firewall at any time. All you have to do is go to the Control Panel and click "Windows Firewall" a box will then pop up asking you if you would like to reinstall the firewall. Simply click yes.

Not my words, never tried it, but FYI...

cb474 · #30 Post by **cb474** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 4:17 pm

Thanks for the info. If I decide to experiment with this and I don't like the results, I'll probably just restore my system from a drive image.

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