I need help with bizar WiFi behavior

[dataBoy]

I have a T40, 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter, Windows XP Pro.

All of a sudden I stopped being able to connect to my router using WiFi and the IBM Access Connections software, it will connect to my neighbor's router just fine, but not mine. My wifes Dell has no problems connecting.

If I go to the properties sheet of the Wireless connection and check "use windows to configure my wireless network setting" I can connect to my and other routers just fine.

I am at a loss as to what to do since The "use windows to configure my wireless network setting" keeps getting unchecked and I'm back on the IBM Access Connections and the wrong network.

I don't know that one is better than the other, is it?


Can anyone shed any light on why any of this is happening and how to fix it? Either get IBM to connect or get it to stop changing my settings so I can.

[edit] model number is 2374-PU7

TIA
Jack

[killer]

Which version of Access Connections are you using?
(I have version 5.20 and it works well.)

[dataBoy]

I'm not sure what version I am running but it works great for me too, accept to connect to this one network, which it had no trouble connecting to a week ago

[dataBoy]

OK I was able to check this. I have v 4.23 When I run the check for updates I get an Error 95 recieved from the System Update server. Please contact Support Center

[jdhurst]

Given your description, try deleting the Access Connections profile for your router, restart and set it up again. If that doesn't work (it should), try uninstalling and reinstalling Access Connections. ... JDH

[killer]

dataBoy,
I have no problem accessing the Download and Support pages. I am beginning to suspect you may have malware on your machine.

[dataBoy]

Killer,

Hum, I suppose it could be some sort of malware, but I do have Zone Alarm internet Security Suite active and running all the time along with WinPatrol.

Even so I did just download and am running th Microsoft® Windows® Malicious Software Removal Tool (KB890830)

Is there another tool to try?

I am able to get to the Lenovo Download pages and got the latest version of Access Connections. when done scanning I'll delete and add back in the profile.

Jack

[killer]

Jack,
My suspicions about malware are caused by some weird activity on your machine. I suggest you download Avira antivirus and run a scan. If it finds nothing then you are clean. If it finds something then quarantine the guilty parties. Better to be safe than sorry.
Good luck, matey.

[sjthinkpader]

In order to get the latest AC and NIC driver/SW package working, you need .NET Framework v3.0 or v3.5. Then load the driver/SW released in Feb/09 and the latest Access Connection.

Double check the driver version via the Windows System/Hardware/Device Manager.

Also have you checked WiFi channel usage in the neighborhood? Are there any other 2.4Ghz device between you computer and the Access Point?

[dataBoy]

Ok I think the deleting the profile and adding it back worked

Only think is I've lost the Access Connections icon in my tray and I'm not sure how to get it back

Is there an advantage to installing the newer version of AC? I have no restore disks, and the restore partition has been deleted so I have no way of easily going back if I need to

TIA (again)

Jack

[jdhurst]

If what you have works for you, there is no particular need to move forward. I think (I am on a newer version in Vista) that if you run Access Connections (Start -> Programs -> .... ) and look in Global Settings -> Notification Tab, that the system tray option is in there. Hope that helps. ... JDH

[dataBoy]

Great, thanks again, yea I guess if it ain't broke....

[sjthinkpader]

Most of the newer features such as WPA2 and AES encryption only work in newer version of AC. If you are using a 802.11n access point, you are pretty much forced to update to the latest driver and AC.

[jdhurst]

True, but there are still a lot of routers and network cards out there still at WPA. I use WPA myself because I go places where WPA2 is not supported.

I am not saying that dataBoy should or shouldn't upgrade, but for the time being, having a stable working system for some time is also of key value. ... JDH

[sjthinkpader]

I am one of those that get a new wireless router every year. It gets changed so often that I set them up as access point instead of bothering the router/gateway setup. I have two 11n APs in the house and one is off at the moment. So I can set any test scenario without bothering normal WiFi use.

My AP actually accepts WPA and WPA2 at the same time. I don't have everything supporting WPA2 yet but one step at a time.

I just got a T23 with Windows 2000 working on a late version AC and WPA-PSK+AES. Late last night I have the access door open and a test antenna hanging out just to make sure antennae are not the issue. Took a little time but eventually problems are solved.

[jdhurst]

I don't buy a new router every year, but I see your point.

So to go off track a bit:
I run Office 2007 in Office 2003 compatability mode because there are so few 2007 users.
I run IE8 in IE7 mode because few sites have adapted to IE8.
I use WPA in a WPA2 machines because so few access points are yet WPA2.

I am ready waiting for Godot

... JDH

[Microspeed]

I have had similar problems with what I thought was just one of the 4 laptops I have. Turns out, every one of them would do the same thing to different degrees depending on where they were in the room at a given time. Once they got “Zapped” I would have to reset the router or laptop. After buying new numerous wireless adaptors and routers the problem just kept reappearing. I fought this problem for over a year.
I solved it with help of a neighbor. He works for a cell phone company and brought over some kind of gizmo that sniffs out any kind of signal. He found my 4-year-old Seimens phone to be throwing out random signals. Seems the darn thing would scramble settings on my cards or adaptors and / or mask just my router. Not any of the others in range. The random signals were intermittent in strength and how often they happened. On his advice I bought a new phone system (DECT 6.0), removed all encryption and installed MAC filtering on the router and shut off the SSID. Everything works fine now. There are a lot of members who are really sharp here, much sharper than I. Just thought I would suggest another possible cause.
Good Luck
Micro

[sjthinkpader]

I had Siemens 2.4Ghz phones and just replaced them all with DECT too. I wouldn't know if them had these spurious emissions also.

What was important was that I placed the phone base station and WiFi Access Point at opposite ends of the house. So any phone or computer device had a direct view of its respective base station. I did notice that WiFi transfer rate went to pots if the phones were being used.

One of the reasons to use a separate Access Point was to remove heat from the router. For a while I had to reset my router every week. After I moved the WiFi function to a separate box, the router became much more stable. Although I change the WiFi Access Points frequently, they were never expensive. The last one was a 802.11n with 4 port gigabit switch for $40.

In addition, I placed the public IP address and DNS server addresses in the DSL modem. Since these are the responsibility of my carrier, AT&T; they can take charge of all these things.

So my main router is only responsible for routing function such as NAT, DHCP service, being the network Gateway and provide VoIP service.

The main network switch, a gigabit version, generates a lot of heat and is a separate box also.

[hhmcsv]

I've had similar symptoms of erratic wireless behaviour. The cure in my case was to download Intel PROset software and using this instead. Seems stable now!