Freeze - T60p (2007-8JU) Vista, w/ Intel Wireless 3945ABG

[msilano]

Morning all.

I have a relatively stable (mostly) T60p running Vista/32 using an Intel 3945ABG wireless card.

All is usually well, except.....

Starting a few weeks ago (with no correlation to driver/install/system updates that I can see), I started to experience system freezes that occur in the same fashion each time.

First the wireless indicator turns off. Network connections are disrupted and the machine becomes sluggish. High CPU utilization is seen, but is not associated with any running process acccording to taskman and procexp.

Usually, I reboot at this time, but I've had one or two blue screens after an extended period of time. One was a USB_BUGCODE, the other a generic stop. Sometimes, the machine stops at "Shutting down" and requires a power cycle.

* I've updated through each of the available versions of the IBM Intel drivers as well as the native Intel drivers. No change here. Currently using the 11.5.0.32 native Intel version of the drivers.

* Access connections was removed the day I received the computer.

* Toggling the wireless switch has no effect.

* This doesn't appear to be a suspend/resume issue as the machine has done this both after a resume, and after a fresh boot.

* Using device manager to disable and re-enable the network adapter results in a hung device manager.

I've searched the forum and seen a number of Intel-related issues, but not this one specifically. I've already ordered an Atheros replacement mini-pci card in the belief that it is a hardware issue, but I'm trying to cover all of the bases. Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

-mike

[strohscw]

I am also using a t60p since more than a year without any problems. A week ago I installed the xp sp3 rc1 and than i also i had freezing windows from time to time. i uninstalled it again and since that time it works stable again.
is it possible that you also installed the rc1??

ok, sorry. just saw that you are using vista, so this couldn´t be the reason for your problems.

[Crunch]

I also have the Intel 3945ABG in my current T60p, and it works perfectly on it since I got the machine about a month ago. I also had it in my former T60p, with which I never had any problems either (had the same Intel WiFi card). That one I had for 8 months. Actually, it works BETTER on Vista than on XP, thanks to Vista's WiFi improvement. Access Connections didn't make any difference on either OS, so what's left...I also have the 2007 type now, had the 2623 before...

Did you run PC-Doctor 5? What is the driver version and date? The latest driver (6/07) made a big difference. The one from April 5 worked well, too, though. The one before that was a little iffy...There's always warranty if the problem persists.

[msilano]

Just for closure, ordered the Atheros card, installed it, and have been crash/disruption free for 24 hours. Looks like it was either a driver or hardware issue.

Thanks to all those who offered assistance.

Happy Holidays!