Access Connections no longer work when Wireless upgraded

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coloradoz · #1 Post by **coloradoz** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 1:25 am

OK, this is pretty frustrating, so here goes.

Machine:
T42, WinXP SP2, Intel Wireless 2200BG

Just 'upgraded' using system update to the latest version of the Intel Wireless LAN Version 11.01.0.API. But a funny thing happened during the installation - the Intel installer beeped a few times and rolled back the installation of the new software - AND it blew away my previous version. Now I can't use Access Connections to manage my wireless profiles! Managing and accessing the wireless through windows works, but not what I want.

FN+F5 - can't turn on the wireless radio
Access Connections can't turn on the wireless radio
System Update History says
a) installation of Intel Wireless LAN version 11.01.0.API failed.

What I've tried
a) reinstalling the old version - it now rolls back due to some error
b) read all the threads regarding FN+F5 - no joy. Even tried a number of suggestions having to do with uninstalling power management, INtel wireless, Hotkeys, etc - and reinstalling in a certain order.
c) manually installing the Intel PROSet/Wireless - it installs the LAN Adapter driver, but it craps out on installation of the Intel PRoSet / Wireless and backs everything out automatically!

I'm tired and stuck - anybody out there run across this one?
..AJ

#2 Post by **bill bolton** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:33 am

Uninstall AC, uninstall the WiFi device drivers, reboot, reinstall the WiFi device driver, reinstall AC.

If the drivers install and AC fires up but you cant get a connection to your access point, power cycle the access point (don't ask me why this seems to have any impact, but in some case it just does

).

Cheers,

Bill B.

coloradoz · #3 Post by **coloradoz** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:39 am

Thanks Bill, I tried that - the problem now is that I cannot successfully install the wireless software at all. It will get about 91% complete, then beep a few times and the installer will uninstall everything that it did. I tried past versions, and also the version from the Intel site. All of the installers do the same thing - that is, they will start the installation process, and for some dumb reason or another the installer cannot proceed and automatically backs out of the installation. I would even like to know if I can 'force' the installation somehow.

#4 Post by **GomJabbar** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:46 am

The best thing I think you can do at this point is to use Windows System Restore. This generally works best from Windows SAFE MODE. Go back to a time before you ran System Update to update your wireless driver. If you use Norton, see the following:

Message: "Restoration Incomplete. Your computer cannot be restored . . . " when you run Windows System Restore

coloradoz · #5 Post by **coloradoz** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:58 am

Yes! Finally!, restoring in safe mode worked - thanks!

I don't know about you guys but I've honked my machine up more by keeping my machine up to date using the System Update tool than anything else I have ever used or seen. First it was Rescue and Recovery (rescue and recovery is still honked up), and then it was my Wireless. I wish Lenovo would get their act together with these updates! Whew!!!

Thanks all for your responses.
..AJ

#6 Post by **GomJabbar** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:37 am

I am glad it worked out for you.

Yeah, I don't trust System Update to update my wireless software driver. I do it manually after first uninstalling Access Connections.

coloradoz · #7 Post by **coloradoz** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:15 am

With the few exceptions mentioned (RNR and the latest Wireless software), I've generally not been gooned like this before. On the RNR, the IBM website had no disclaimer about not being able to regress to V3 of RNR once you have v4 installed. So, I guess I can't really lay that one on System Update - but there was a recent update to System Update right before I Updated that led to the problem with the Wireless software. I'm beginning to think that if it works - don't bother with upgrading.

Now for the funny part - now System Update won't work - it complains about a "serious problem' with some language files!!!

Fair trade I say.

Cheers.

Paul Unger · #8 Post by **Paul Unger** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:45 pm

What version of AC were you using, coloradoz? I just applied this wireless driver update (with System Update); everything seemed to go fine (i.e., wireless is working). I did take note of this, however:

"Notes: If you use Access Connections, the following must be installed.

* Access Connections version 4.40 or higher
* Power Management Driver for Windows Vista/XP/2000/ME/98 SE version 1.42 or higher
* Hotkey Features for Windows 98/98 SE/Me/NT 4.0/2000/XP version 1.24.0603 or higher
or
Hotkey Features for Windows Vista/XP/2000 version 2.01.0706 or higher"

I wonder if one or the other of those 'dependent' programs wasn't up to snuff and that's what botched the upgrade?

coloradoz · #9 Post by **coloradoz** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:13 pm

Well, that is another oddity about all of this, as I am diligent about keeping my computer up-to-date. As of 9/4 (which was the restore point that I used to recover from this mess), I had all of the latest and greatest Lenovo software for a T42. But 2 days ago, System Update - updated itself and then recommended updates to the Intel Wireless Driver (I did install) and UltraNav (which I didn't install). I didn't checkup on System Update to see if it was lying to me and went ahead with the installation. I am certain that the configuration of my machine met the installation requirement (at least according the the System Update History file) and it looked like things were progressing well - that is, until 2 days ago.

Now, After I did a Restore to 9/4/07 today 9/13/07 everything was just peachy - except that System Update didn't run initially - it complained about a 'serious problem with a language file' and quit.

Being an unbelievable glutton for punishment, especially after I slogged at this all day yesterday trying to figure out what went wrong (I would not make a good cat in my second life, as in "curiousity killed the ...") - I went to the Lenovo site, downloaded and reinstalled System Update. After the update - I ran it (and No, I didn't install anything else), and it ran fine even showing the UltraNav update that I didn't install. In the System Update History File, it shows that I already have the latest version of UltraNav? Go Fig?

Historically, I have noticed that System Update doesn't really faithfully reflect the latest version of software - sometimes, like after an update, it will - other times it won't.

So, I don't know what to make of all of this - obviously something got seriously honked up - and I don't know what it was. I do know this, if anything burps during the installation of your Wireless, then you are hosed - as the Intel installer will back-out the update after first blowing away your original installed software and leaving things in a state that is difficult to recover from (especially bad if you didn't have a good restore point to fall back upon).

If you have insight into this, I sure would like to know some more details. Especially, why the Intel Installer won't force an install - and under what conditions will it fail (that has to be well known, if the installer bothers to back out the installation). I'm hopeful that the installer isn't so poorly written such that a raised exception of any kind causes the installer to retreat to a guaranteed state of oblivion for your machine.

..AJ

davidspalding · #10 Post by **davidspalding** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 2:28 pm

I have to add my "uh-huh" to these complaints. I've only updated twice this year with the new(ish) Lenovo System Update, and it has consistently screwed up something critical like networking, wireless control, Bluetooth functionality.... I used to do this monthly with the IBM SI when my laptop was a year or so old (bought 11/2005), but now ... I'm convinced Lenovo has blown off their "system test" cycles for any of the older IBM laptops, earning negative loyalty from at least some o' us. (Would I recommend a T60 or X60? "Only if it's free.")

FWIW, on all the driver and utility updates, I opened the release notes, compared the version with what was already installed, looked for T43/p on the compatibility list, and even browsed the version history and declined any update which only claimed "support [T/X]60," etc. Still the updates hosed my system.

I'd say I learned my lesson, but I'll probably drink the Kool-aid again in several months, on a whim. The new "Thinkpad experience."

Paul Unger · #11 Post by **Paul Unger** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:01 pm

Well put, davidspalding. Since SI has been discarded I have lived in some fear of upgrading drivers "just because they're available". Maybe that's a good thing--if it ain't broke, don't fix it . . . And a good number of the new drivers are focused on Vista compatibility (i.e., not meant for XP users). But I religiously check update notes now to see if there's anything pertinent to my machine; and if there ain't, I DON'T TOUCH IT! Of course, sometimes this means that I miss something and an updated driver could well fix a problem I'm having (as happened recently with a video driver upgrade . . . new driver, no problem). All in all, I'm not a fan of the 'new Thinkpad experience' . . .

coloradoz · #12 Post by **coloradoz** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:11 pm

I hear that - I don't do updates anymore - too afraid that something bad will happen - GOOD JOB LENOVO!~

Also, don't even get me started on Rescue and Recovery. That is another one you had better not update or else it will totally hose your machine. As of this post, Lenovo still hasn't got it fixed.

ASIS975 · #13 Post by **ASIS975** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:03 am

this is the same exact problem i have in my t42 and i have to reimage the hole machine. bcuz when i call the ibm they told me not to update the machine half of the time new update didn't work, this is what ibm told me. so i quit updating it...

why t42 have the problem with wireless. when we upate the t42 the first thing that stop working is wireless and in update there is 2200bg if we install this with update the wireless stop working, it shouldn't

any solutation for this .......... we appriciate any help here and thanks a lot.

Paul Unger · #14 Post by **Paul Unger** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:43 am

I have the 2200bg running stable in my 2373-4tu. Driver version: 9.0.4.26; driver date: 10/25/2006. [And, for what it's worth: Access Connections 4.42; Linksys WRT54GS (v.4) with 3rd party firmware (tomato), channel 1.] You might try rolling back your driver version and see if that helps?

davidspalding · #15 Post by **davidspalding** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 11:04 am

Something I regularly forget (which I'm convinced of each time I update with Lenovo) is that there is a "sweet spot" for various utilities and drivers ... beyond which they are done fixing problems for a given generation of computer, and now are just coming up with support for new ones, or fixes for new ones. Again, based on my last year's experience, I doubt they're even thoroughly QAing on older platforms (which I KNOW IBM did; I was in a lab where we had 50+ Thinkpads, incl. a couple of proposed models for the APAC market).

I have those versions thoroughly backed up, and the last two Update blunders, I've simply rolled back to those.

What I'm getting at, as a T43 user, is T42 and earlier owners mosly likely won't IMHO need new "updates" from Lenovo ... I think all the problems are either fixed, or permanently deferred.

Edited for clarity.

coloradoz · #16 Post by **coloradoz** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:48 pm

The odd thing about the Intel/Lenovo installer for the wireless updates is that it will first de-install your old driver - then attempt an installation of the new one. If the 2nd installation fails, then you are stuck without a driver. The Intel/Lenovo installer does not re-install or restore your old driver. I re-created this one just this past week with both the v11 version of the wireless driver from Intel and Lenovo. And sure enough both the Intel and Lenovo versions fail in exactly the same way.

Once you get it in a state whereby the wireless is no longer working perform a System Restore (assuming that you have a good restore point and making sure that you do it in safe mode) will restore your wireless - but don't update your laptop anymore. I think either the QA is piss-poor or as in the last post, regression testing on the T42 platform is no longer performed. In either case - shame on Intel and Lenovo for putting out these updates in the wild without testing.

#17 Post by **bill bolton** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:00 pm

coloradoz wrote:In either case - shame on Intel and Lenovo for putting out these updates in the wild without testing.

Just because it fails on your particular software environment does not indicate anything beyond that and certainly does not support your conclusion

Cheers,

Bill B.

coloradoz · #18 Post by **coloradoz** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 1:01 am

I don't think I'm the only one that has experienced this issue. That is one of the purposes of this site isn't it - to provide insight and remedies into Thinkpad issues??

Now on this wireless issue, it is a fact and irrefutable that the Intel/Lenovo installer will blow away your present wireless driver - it is also true that if you are not fortunate to have it install properly, it will - at the first sign of trouble - back out of the installation leaving you in a lurch without wireless. I have made many-many calls into the Lenovo product support line over this (and the RnR issues) - and their recommendation will be to re-image your drive - almost like a mantra in 1st and 2nd level support (I've tried both - and no one over there will assist in providing a reasonable investigation into the issue). Albeit, the issue maybe complex and obviously not be worth their while to investigate. I think that is one reason why this sort of forum is useful to those of use that don't want to (nor find it 100% necessary) to re-image a drive when trouble strikes.

So, it may be true that my machine may have a registry value or some other environmental setting that the installer sees and decides to bail on the install - but in no case should a failed installation leave your machine unusable (which it most certainly will). I appreciate and even agree with your comments (in general terms), but I think I'll stand behind my comments.

On the RnR issue, I think it is extremely well documented, and I also believe that my comments there are irrefutable as well.

Cheers.
..AJ

Access Connections no longer work when Wireless upgraded

Access Connections no longer work when Wireless upgraded

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