T21 network adapter problem

[netvista]

Hello All,

My T21 has a LAN port on the back of the laptop, but i can't seem to get it working.
In the windows hardware screen, no network adapters show up. However, there is one unknown device but i can't figure out what kind of device that is. It could be the LAN adapter, but i cannot find a suitable driver for it as i don't know what kind/brand it is.

I read that there are a lot of mini-pci LAN/MODEM combo's in the thinkpads. Mine has a AMBIT modem, but it looks like it is a modem only and not LAN card.

Anyone has any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[rkawakami]

What is the full model number of your system (2647-xxx or 2648-xxx)? It is possible that your system was delivered from the factory without the ethernet option.

The modem/ethernet combo card in my lone T21 has an IBM FRU label and is made be Xircom. It has TWO connectors plugged into it; a small, two-pin job (modem) and a larger ~16-pin connector (ethernet). If yours only has the two-pin plug, then the adapter is modem only.

[netvista]

Yep i have the 2 pin only

Thanks for the information!

[huz]

What is the full model number of your system (2647-xxx or 2648-xxx)? It is possible that your system was delivered from the factory without the ethernet option.

The modem/ethernet combo card in my lone T21 has an IBM FRU label and is made be Xircom. It has TWO connectors plugged into it; a small, two-pin job (modem) and a larger ~16-pin connector (ethernet). If yours only has the two-pin plug, then the adapter is modem only.

hi,
could I ask you some informations about these cables? there are soldered on the I/O port or I can buy it somewhere?
I've a T22 without cables and miniPCI card (probabily my system was assembled with working parts)
thanks

[rkawakami]

could I ask you some informations about these cables? there are soldered on the I/O port or I can buy it somewhere?
I've a T22 without cables and miniPCI card (probabily my system was assembled with working parts)

I don't have my T22 apart at the moment, but here's a picture from a T23:

T23 modem/ethernet cable (270x480, 57KB)

The T22 has a similar cable coming from the I/O card into the Mini-PCI area of the laptop. I don't know if you can buy the cable by itself. I cannot find any part number for just the cable. The one on my board has been wrapped with orange plastic tape and can't be easily removed. Most of the I/O cards for the T20/T21/T22 that I can find on eBay shows that the cable is included with the board. There is a different I/O card for the T23. You may have to buy a new I/O card that already has the cable attached. The IBM FRU for the T22 is 26P8023 (information from the T2x Hardware Maintanence Manual).

[netvista]

In my case both the cables are there. There is just only one connector available on the mini-PCI card.

[nikki605]

My T21 came only with a modem mini-PCI card. The LAN connector was on the back of the unit, but covered with a stick-on piece of plastic which I peeled off. The internal cable was also there, but hidden under the modem card.

Here is a photo of the modem card originally shipped in the unit:

T21 original mini-PCI modem card

Notice that the only connector is a 2-wire connector barely visible at the top, left corner of the card. This runs to the modem connector on the back of the T21.

After researching IBM's support web pages, I bought a 3Com 10/100 Ethernet / 56K modem combo card, FRU # 09N9774 from ACS Factory Outlet and installed it.

Here is a photo of the combo card installed:

T21 Ethernet/Modem card

The 2-wire modem connector is still in the top, left corner of the card, but this one has an additional connector for the 10-wire LAN connector.

I then downloaded the drivers from IBM's web site and installed them. Both the modem and the LAN portions of the card worked first time. NOTE - this type of combo card requires two (2) drivers to be downloaded and installed. One driver for the ethernet and another for the modem.

Hope this helps. Good luck.