T42 wireless issue

[JimL]

I have a T42 with XP Pro SP2 on it. In Network Connections I have enabled Wireless Network Connection. The wireless light (micro tower) lights.

I have no home wireless equipment, but a local laundromat has a sign up saying Wireless Internet Available.

Is there any chance that I _should_ be able to go there, start my T42 and connect? Because nothing happens except a notice of "No connection."

Assuming someone has used a similar service, are there hoops to jump?

I know there are possible problems:

1. Maybe their system isn't even turned on.

2. Maybe it just doesn't work.

3. Maybe they require previous arrangements.

4. etc.

I'm just looking for clues here before making a long distance call to the laundromat owner. (He's never there.)

PS. I suppose there are those who will jump on my case because I haven't asked about this in the correct way or haven't provided enough professionally necessary details. At least that is a common thing in many newsgroups. I can't help that. If I knew enough to supply all that I would probably know enough to not need to ask. And I'm not expecting a detailed solution, just some pointers in the right direction, being purely neophyte.

[Paul Unger]

PS. I suppose there are those who will jump on my case because I haven't asked about this in the correct way or haven't provided enough professionally necessary details.

I hope that doesn't happen here. We may ask you to try a few things--and certainly any information you can provide will help us help you--but in my experience, the only 'jumping' that people do around here is to each other's aid. Oh, and for joy when things work!

So, you're using the Windows Wireless Network Connection. I use the ThinkVantage Access Connections. They both do the same thing--help you get connected to wireless networks. We'll try to get you connected first before we argue the merits of either! One feature they both have is to "Find / View" available networks. If your wireless light is on, that's a good first step, but I'd like you to confirm your wireless adapter is really on by clicking Fn+F5 and checking its status on the Wireless Radio tab (the micro tower should be green and 'status' should be 'on'). If your adapter is well and truly on, click "Find / View" available wireless networks. If you're on and the laundromat is on, and you're close enough (w/in 50' or so, though closer is better) you should see a listing of available networks. Now, if there's a picture of a locked lock you're going to have to ask the nice people at the laundromat for a password and what kind of encryption they use (we'll help you with getting those settings figured out if you need it). If there's no lock, or the lock is open, you should be able to click Connect and--after the magic wireless gods bless your computer--you'll be reading all the exciting posts at the thinkpad forum! So try a few things and let us know how it all goes. Good luck.

[JimL]

We may ask you to try a few things--and certainly any information you can provide will help us help you

Glad to dig out whatever if someone tells me what to dig for.

but I'd like you to confirm your wireless adapter is really on by clicking Fn+F5 and checking its status on the Wireless Radio tab (the micro tower should be green and 'status' should be 'on').

The Fn+F5 thing - where/how does this need to be done? Here at home Fn+F5 gets me nothing. I'm thinking maybe that's a bad sign.

If it's worth anything, the micro tower light below the LCD blinks about every 4 or 5 seconds.

[Paul Unger]

Do any of your Fn key combinations work? E.g., Fn+F4 "Suspend", Fn+F7 "Display switching", Fn+F12 "Hibernate"? If not, you may want the Hotkey Features application. But let's let that go for now and try using the Windows software. What do you get when you click "View wireless networks"? Anything?

By the way, a flashing micro tower light on my machine means that the wireless is communicating (or at least trying to) with another device. I don't think you're "in trouble" without the ThinkVantage software (Access Connections, Hotkeys, etc.)--the Windows software should get you connected just fine.

[JimL]

Do any of your Fn key combinations work? E.g., Fn+F4 "Suspend", Fn+F7 "Display switching", Fn+F12 "Hibernate"?

Yes, all those work.

But let's let that go for now and try using the Windows software. What do you get when you click "View wireless networks"? Anything?

I get a Wireless Network Connection windoe with an error saying:

Windows cannot configure this wireless connection

If you have enabled another program to manage this connection,
use that software

If you want windows to configure this wireless connection, start the Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) service. For information about starting the WZC service see article 871122 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base on the microsoft.com web site.

Article 871122 tells me to run:

%SystemRoot%\system32\services.msc /s

Get the Wireless Zero properties, Set Startup Type to "automatic" and start Service Status.

Having done that I still don't get any response from Fn+F5.

I'm going to run over to the laundromat again and see if any button pushing I've done made any difference.

Thanks

[yak]

If Windows tells you that another program manages wireless networks then you probably have Access Connections installed. Check Start/Programs/ThinkVantage/AccessConnections link. If it's there, start it and select Search from the toolbar. This should open a window displaying all networks found in your area.

Access Connections is normally also available in system tray (near the clock, at the bottom of the screen). It has an icon of small computer with a network cable underneath it.

I prefer Access Connections in favor of Windows wireless management functions but if you won't, just uninstall it (using the control panel).

Good luck.

[Paul Unger]

I get a Wireless Network Connection windoe with an error saying:

Windows cannot configure this wireless connection

If you have enabled another program to manage this connection,
use that software

Sounds like you have Access Connections installed. However, all is not lost. Just below what you quoted should be the instructions to allow Windows to configure the wireless connections. I quote (from what I see on my machine): "If you want to use Windows to configure this wireless connection, click "Change advanced settings," click the Wireless Networks tab, and then select the check box labeled "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings."" Maybe once you've got the WZC service up and running (which it sounds like you did) you'll see this part of the instructions. From there it's a piece of cake.

Having done that I still don't get any response from Fn+F5.

Yeah, and this is part of the reason I'm trying to get you up and running with Windows. Access Connections has some 'dependency' issues that, once sorted, work great but until then can be a real bugger to figure out . . . In short, Fn+F5 is part of the ThinkVantage Hotkeys Features that Access Connections depends on. It sounds like something is 'broken' in your ThinkVantage software (which CAN be fixed), but we won't worry about that right now.

[JimL]

It sounds like something is 'broken' in your ThinkVantage software (which CAN be fixed), but we won't worry about that right now.

I apparently poked something right, because I got a Linksys connection at the l-mat this time and got on the internet briefly.

(GR. The spell checker I'm using doesn't even know the word "internet." Oh! It wants a capital "I.")

Still no result from Fn+F5.

While connected to their Linksys I got all kinds of flak telling me I was on an unsecured connection. Do you happen to know the ZoneAlarm personal firewall? I can't find a way to run the wireless through it.

It doesn't really matter, because I have my dialup. But now I do have more options - if I can hang onto them.

Thanks

[Paul Unger]

Sounds like you're making progress! Yay! As for ZA, I don't use it anymore . . . I've satisfied myself with the XP built-in firewall. True, it doesn't block outgoing traffic, but it seems to be OK for incoming. I just had too many issues trying to configure ZA, but I'm sure there's a guru around here who could help! But if it's just a matter of clicking OK or Cancel, as long as you stay connected it shouldn't be a problem. Happy surfing!

[JimL]

Sounds like you're making progress! Yay! As for ZA, I don't use it anymore . . . I've satisfied myself with the XP built-in firewall. True, it doesn't block outgoing traffic, but it seems to be OK for incoming. I just had too many issues trying to configure ZA, but I'm sure there's a guru around here who could help! But if it's just a matter of clicking OK or Cancel, as long as you stay connected it shouldn't be a problem. Happy surfing!

Ahem. I found your help excellent. I used the wireless connection just fine, but I'm back again with a real problem.

After surviving a multi-headed attack from the nether worlds (ZLOB, and several others) I ended up with both my LAN and my wireless non-functional. Both computers say everything is installed right, but neither can find the network path to the other. On a networking newsgroup all I can get is confusing instructions on how to dig around in winsock whatever, etc., etc. And the resident guru insists that my brain is sufficient to the task, no matter what.

Has the method of un-installing networking completely and letting the system install networking pretty much automatically been eliminated at the XP Pro level? I can't even find a place where the IP address is stored - easy enough in Win98.

TIA