T42 - Access Connections suddenly can't connect anymore

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acidreign · #1 Post by **acidreign** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:25 am

Hi all,

I was using my T42 last night and watching a movie, when I noticed that my MSN messenger and Gmail notifier were no longer working. I then noticed that my Access Connections was no longer connected to my wireless connection.

Not wanting to reboot, I (perhaps foolishly) right clicked on my Windows Wireless Network Connection and chose Repair. I can't recall my rationale for doing this at the time. It went through the disabling of the connection and enabling of the connection, and then tried to re-connect. It was then stuck at connection, so I opened Access Connections and tried to reconnect to my network. Access Connections wasn't able to connect and when I clicked on Help Me Fix This, it returned a an Error Code 010.

I rebooted my computer and tried to reconnect again, but received the same error. I checked my Windows Wireless Connections to make sure that I wasn't using Windows to configure my wireless settings. I also tried to create another profile with the exact same settings in Access Connections, and received the same error.

Is there some little switch that I inadvertently triggered, or do I have to reinstall Access Connections or something else? Please note that prior to this, I have never had a problem with Access Connections and would prefer to use it over Windows Wireless Networking, if possible.

Thanks!

agarza · #2 Post by **agarza** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:57 am

I don't use Access Connections but here's a tip may serve you well.

If you can't connect to your router anymore, even though you have clicked on the 'Repair' button, what I do is to disable completely the WLAN card via Device Manager, Start, Run, devmgmt.msc
Then re-enable it. Try accesing it again.
It works for me on XP with the integrated wireless assistant. I don't need any more software to connect to the web.

Good luck

jimjamx · #3 Post by **jimjamx** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 6:49 pm

I'd like to say that I am having the same issue as the first poster. Getting error code 010. One day it just stopped connecting.

I tried to disable and re-enable the device, but still no luck. It gets caught up on the Association phase.

The thing is, that my Thinkpad only does this when connecting to my home's Linksys WRT54G router. All other devices still connect just fine to this router, including: other laptops, Wii, DS. All connect fine. So I'm not sure if its my Thinkpad or my Linksys.

My girlfriend has the same model (Linksys WRT54G) router at her house, and my laptop connects just fine there.

There are 3 other wireless routers in my neighborhood which I can connect to easily.

Its been months and the issue isn't fixed. I REALLY need help on this.

(sorry for hijacking this thread, my post is relevant though)

Tim M · #4 Post by **Tim M** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:25 pm

jimjamx wrote:I'd like to say that I am having the same issue as the first poster. Getting error code 010. One day it just stopped connecting.

I tried to disable and re-enable the device, but still no luck. It gets caught up on the Association phase.

The thing is, that my Thinkpad only does this when connecting to my home's Linksys WRT54G router. All other devices still connect just fine to this router, including: other laptops, Wii, DS. All connect fine. So I'm not sure if its my Thinkpad or my Linksys.

My girlfriend has the same model (Linksys WRT54G) router at her house, and my laptop connects just fine there.

There are 3 other wireless routers in my neighborhood which I can connect to easily.

Its been months and the issue isn't fixed. I REALLY need help on this.

(sorry for hijacking this thread, my post is relevant though)

What, if any, wireless encryption are you using? And have you installed SP3?

There is a known issue of WPA and SP3 not working well together with some wireless cards. A forum search should yield those threads.

#5 Post by **richk** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:17 pm

I had a similar problem often when I used a Linksys router. I connect lots of different machines all the time. I could get by it by rebooting the router. (unplug it from the wall) I replaced the router with a 2Wire router and never had it again.

jimjamx · #6 Post by **jimjamx** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:20 pm

I'm using WEP encryption, and I believe my Thinkpad is still only Service Pack 2.

The thing is, my thinkpad was working just fine on this same WEP key, and same router setting for almost 2 years. Then it just stopped working one day.

jimjamx · #7 Post by **jimjamx** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:34 pm

richk wrote:I had a similar problem often when I used a Linksys router. I connect lots of different machines all the time. I could get by it by rebooting the router. (unplug it from the wall) I replaced the router with a 2Wire router and never had it again.

I did try unplugging it. I even held the reset button, and had to completely reconfigure the router, but still no Association.

And again, my Thinkpad does establish connection to any other Linksys router I've ever used. And its been established with my router for over a year. Just one day stopped.

I'm beginning to wonder if its maybe a program on one of the computers that causing issues. Like a virus program or something that regulates networking.

I have McAffee security center... version 8 or so on my Thinkpad. I can't access it right now to be sure, but I wonder if McAffee is some how interfering with connection.

I could disable it for a moment and check, but I am VERY affraid of what could happen. I have a lot of really important and personal data on that laptop that I don't want anything to happen to. Is there any other way I could check if McAffee is the issue, without disabling it?

#8 Post by **richk** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:54 pm

Try turning off windows firewall and whatever one comes with your anti-virus

denisky · #9 Post by **denisky** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:23 am

One day, my Dad's T41 suffered from this problem too. Reinstalling wireless drivers and Access Connections didn't solve it. I had to restore the Windows to the state when the wireless could work.

sjthinkpader · #10 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:38 am

Take a look if you have a neighbor using channel close to your channel.

Also are there any 11n access points around? You want to use a channel as far away as you can.

Move the computer close to the access point during association then move it back to your normal work place once it is connected.

jimjamx · #11 Post by **jimjamx** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:47 pm

richk wrote:Try turning off windows firewall and whatever one comes with your anti-virus

I am REALLY REALLY afraid of doing that. My friend has her computer with no firewall/virus protector and its getting pop ups, and viral crashes every 2 minutes. I'm not like her though, my very lively hood is on this machine. I could try to back it up, but I don't know if I have a spare drive big enough.

jimjamx · #12 Post by **jimjamx** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:53 pm

sjthinkpader wrote:Take a look if you have a neighbor using channel close to your channel.

Also are there any 11n access points around? You want to use a channel as far away as you can.

Move the computer close to the access point during association then move it back to your normal work place once it is connected.

The funny thing is, that my router was sending signals on channel 6. But there were also 3 other routers in my block also using channel 6. And this was when it was working just fine.

I thought that might be the issue, so I changed the channel to 11 (different from everyone elses), then tried channel 1. Neither worked.

LI am currently using my Thinkpad at my girlfriends house (the one that also connects to the same router model as mine). And as you can see, I am connected to the internet.

Proof that this Thinkpad will work with Linksys. ( just not mine for some reason)

sjthinkpader · #13 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:38 pm

jimjamx wrote:...
The funny thing is, that my router was sending signals on channel 6. But there were also 3 other routers in my block also using channel 6. And this was when it was working just fine.

I thought that might be the issue, so I changed the channel to 11 (different from everyone elses), then tried channel 1. Neither worked.

...

No need to use the end channels. Just two channels away will be fine. Try channel 3 and 9.

jimjamx · #14 Post by **jimjamx** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:56 pm

sjthinkpader wrote: No need to use the end channels. Just two channels away will be fine. Try channel 3 and 9.

But if 1 and 11 didn't work, why would 3 and 9?
From what I understand, they're just small alterations in signal frequency.

Any way, channels 6, 9, 10, 11 are being used on my block. One of the routers is unsecure, and I can connect to it fine (but I only do it for a test, because its technically stealing).

I set my router to work on channel 3, and still fail.

I tried disabling my firewall, and the thinkpad still won't connect.

UPDATE: Ok, I just tried something, and something very weird happened. There is an open network on my block called "ACTION TEC". I don't know who it is, but I tried connecting to it as a test to see it work. (this is the one I said previously that I could connect to in the area.

The connection was successful... but as soon as it finished, access connections popped up again, trying to connect to "linksys" (my router) and said successful! But when I checked my connection, it said failed... Now its getting past the association phase, and I'm getting 2 green checkmarks (meaning everything is successful) but it says "connection failed".

What is going on?

jimjamx · #15 Post by **jimjamx** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:22 am

Ok, it changed. Now its just getting stuck up at the Association phase like before.

Still no connection.
Is there a diagnostic program I could run or something, that might be able to find an issue?

sktn77a · #16 Post by **sktn77a** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:31 pm

Right click on my computer and select "properties". Does it say SP3? SP3 is now an automatic update for those who don't have this setting disabled.

The Action-Tec router you connected to was open (no encryption). Have you disabled encryption at your home? What about at your girlfriend's?

sjthinkpader · #17 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:16 pm

Actiontec is probably not a access point but another computer, ad-hoc or peer to peer connection. You want Infrastructure connection.

In the encryption properties, is it set to WPA-PSK? If so, are you using TKIP or AES. This must match on both ends, AP and client.

jimjamx · #18 Post by **jimjamx** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:59 am

sjthinkpader wrote:Actiontec is probably not a access point but another computer, ad-hoc or peer to peer connection. You want Infrastructure connection.

In the encryption properties, is it set to WPA-PSK? If so, are you using TKIP or AES. This must match on both ends, AP and client.

I'm fairly sure both are set to WEP, with the same bit of encryption. I've retyped the WEP key on both at least a dozen times. But I'll go check right now again, just to be sure. I don't know what TKIP/AES is, but I'll check again right now to make sure all information is matching.

sktn77a · #19 Post by **sktn77a** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:04 pm

Why don't you try disabling all wireless encryption on your router and laptop just to see if you can connect. If that's the problem, you can just use MAC address filtering which isn't great but will keep most of your neighbors off your connection.

Actiontec are a manufacturer of wired and wireless routers, broadband modems and DSL/VOIP solutions, so someone in your neighborhood appears to have one (like a "netgear"or "Linksys" that you'll frequently see). Hey, if all else fails, just use theirs!

jimjamx · #20 Post by **jimjamx** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:49 pm

sktn77a wrote:Why don't you try disabling all wireless encryption on your router and laptop just to see if you can connect.

Ok I'll try that.

But the Nintendo DS uses WEP security to connect, and I don't know if it has an option to use unsecure networks.

I'll still try anything once though. In my next post I'm going to try posting as much information as possible from both ends.

EDIT: I just disabled WEP security on both ends, and connection successful! Well, at least I know what the problem is. But I'd REALLY like to use WEP security. Its never failed me in the past, and I'm sure I can solve. I'd like some additional help in maybe figuring out what the problem could still be?

I just don't feel safe accessing my online banking and other things through an unsecure network. I hope you can understand.

jimjamx · #21 Post by **jimjamx** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:55 pm

When disabling Security Encryption, the connection is successful. Its also still working while Windows Firewall and McAfee Firewall are enabled.

Here are the stats of when I set up WEP encryption:
---

Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router:
SSID = "Linksys_SES_14022"
WEP Security, 128 bit, 26 hex digits (I verified the key is the same on both devices)
Wireless Channel = 3 2.422 GHz
Wireless Mode: Mixed (a/b/g)
Default Transmit Key = 1
Wireless MAC filter = Disabled

My Thinkpad Wireless Settings:
SSID = "Linksys_SES_14022"
"Static WEP" 128 bit, 26 hex digits (I verified the key is the same on both devices)
Connection Type = Infrastructure
Wireless Mode = Auto (a/b/g)
Signal Strength = 100%
Encrypt Data Transmission using = Key 1
Transmit Power Level b/g = 100%
Transmit Power Level a = 100%
802.11b Preamble = Short and Long
QoS = Enabled
Power save mode = Low (Best network performance)

Report -- When trying to connect:
Connection Failed on "Waiting for association," Which is before "Renewing IP"

Error code: 010
Recommended Actions:
(1)"Verify that encryption settings (WEP/TKIP/AES) specified in this profile match those expected by the wireless network" (I did this several times)
(2)"Verify that the wireless adapter in your computer has not been restricted from accessing the radio channels being used by the wireless network." (what does this mean? How can I check if my adapter is restricted?)

jimjamx · #22 Post by **jimjamx** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:30 pm

Wow. I feel really stupid. I don't know what just happened.

What I did was this: Retyped the WEP key in the Linksys's settings page. The same Key that I've used for years. The same key that wasn't working a few seconds ago. And then my Thinkpad connected...

The funny thing is, I've retyped the Key on both my laptop and the router dozens of times. I did it 3 times just during this topic's lifetime. And each time I read it over carefully to verify no mistakes in either one.

In total I've retyped the key on both machines at least 12 times in the past few months its been down. But it suddenly decided to work this time.

Well anyway, its connected and WEP secure. Thank you to everyone who helped me on this issue. I'll be back here again if there is ever an issue.

troubadix · #23 Post by **troubadix** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:00 pm

...got the same prob on my T42 WLAN: IBMabg-mPCI (XP SP3 WEP working WPA not, before SP3 everything's fine). Solved it by using Access Conections 5.02 (I'm really not fond of) and using NOT option "automatic" for WLAN-Mode ( "802.11a" or "b" or "g" or "auto" ) in profile setup.

Ciao, troubadix

T42 - Access Connections suddenly can't connect anymore

T42 - Access Connections suddenly can't connect anymore

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