Thinkpad T40 WEP, WPA, WPA2 with Linksys WRT160N router

[henni]

so I discovered tonight my T40 has only WEP wireless defined (either Open,Shared) and no matter what I try in my Linksys WRT160N router wireless options, it does not connect

is there a way to add "WPA Personal, WPA2 Personal" or "WPA Enterprise, WPA2 Enterprise" driver so that the passphrase is accepted?

does Lenovo have a driver update that adds these? I looked at this link, but not sure if it is correct

currently when I use Windows (XP Pro Sp2) to configure wireless, the only option in the dropdown list is WEP or Disabled

just to be certain, I also tested my Thinkpad T61 and it connected without sweat to the Linksys in wireless mode, using the WPA2 Personal passphrase setup in WRT160N

[sjthinkpader]

intel 2100b and early "high rate" 11b only card will be WEP only since newer drivers don't supprt them. The latest drivers with WPA and WPA2 do support 2200bg, 2915abg, high rate 11bg, 11abg cards.

[henni]

ok, so the only option then would be to get a pcmcia wpa,wpa2 card for the side slot - correct? I think Linksys makes one so will try that option as they also supply the drivers with the card.

just repeating myself here but I understood from your reply that the answer is "No, there is no way to run WPA,WPA2 but only WEP for the Thinkpad T40 and no drivers exist"

is this true also for T43/T43p ?

[uncarvedblockhead]

Henni -

The WiFi adapter in your T40 won't do WPA or WPA2 encryption as the card itself is built on older technology. No driver update can change this.

The T43/p's is a newer model that shipped with newer WiFi cards and they work fine with WPA and WPA2. I'm typing this on a T43 connected to a WPA-PSK access point.

Your options certainly include purchasing a PC Card (newer name for PCMCIA) to plug in the side, and as long as it says on the box that it works with WPA2, it should work fine.

However, if you're feeling a little more adventurous, you could purchase an Intel Pro/Wireless 2915ABG mini PCI WiFi card used off eBay & swap this out for the older card in your T40. This would be a little cheaper, but you've got to take the keyboard of the laptop off along with the plastic palmrest, keyboard bezel, and then replace the card.

If you decide to take this road, you'll need a good set of small Phillips-head screwdrivers, the T40 Hardware Maintenance Manual (free download from Lenovo's web site - http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46464) and enough patience to last about an hour of work on the laptop.

If you've never opened up a desktop or a laptop before, make sure you read the safety info on the first few pages of the manual. They'll keep you from ESD'ing out your components, shocking yourself, etc.

[henni]

ok, appreciate the directions

on the point, I just managed to get Linksys WRT160N router to work with all models, T40,T43 and T61

the key was to disable the wireless security and just enable MAC Address filter for the machines, after that, the T40,T43 are running Wireless-B and the T61 is running Wireless-G protocol and all are happily sharing the router.

now since I've run various Linux machines, I know how to spoof Mac addresses but don't think any of my neighbors have the knowledge or patience to try

[henni]

- http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46464)

getting message at
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46464


Our apologies

There is a problem retrieving the document MIGR-46464.

[uncarvedblockhead]

Try http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... 192_01.pdf

[uncarvedblockhead]

the key was to disable the wireless security and just enable MAC Address filter for the machines, after that, the T40,T43 are running Wireless-B and the T61 is running Wireless-G protocol and all are happily sharing the router.

now since I've run various Linux machines, I know how to spoof Mac addresses but don't think any of my neighbors have the knowledge or patience to try

For what it's worth, I wouldn't be worried about your neighbors. I'd be more worried about people who drive around looking for open WiFi for kicks that will go in and change your SSID or admin password. You can fix this with a hard reset, but it's really annoying. Or worse, someone could attach to your network & access any files you have shared on your other PC's. Or download kiddie porn through your internet connection, or send threatening emails, or anything else that someone would want to do without having an IP that can be traced back to them.

I'd re-enable WEP at the very least - keeping in mind that it's like one of those bathroom privacy locks that you can open with a butter knife or a wire coat hanger. But WEP is decidedly better than MAC filtering, which is the equivalent of using "Hello, my name is ________" stickers for security purposes.

And FYI - as long as your T40's "b" adapter is connected to your router, nothing else will go faster than "b" speed. If you're just sharing an internet connection, this isn't a big deal. But if you want to move files around on your WiFi, it will take a while.

[sojourner]

My experience with enabling WPA is quite different than what I've read here. I HAVE had WPA security enabled on a Thinkpad with an (IBM) Intel 2100b adapter ... and it worked flawlessly!

Here are the details I recall / somewhat recall, albeit they are sketchy; I cannot confirm everything because the specific laptop it was working on (X31 Centrino) has been sold.

Used XP with SP3; not sure if you need to upgrade from SP2 to SP3 but I think so. You'll also need to download and install Atheros Air Client Utility v5.2.exe. It is the ACU which when setup properly allows WPA security.

Again, I wish I had the laptop here to confirm this information but it's sold. If you have a good backup of your current system, give the SP3 upgrade a try. I like it and am very fussy about what get's installed. Lastly you'll need Atheros ACU version 5.2 and it needs to be setup different from its defaults with one switch specifically ... it has something to do with which software controls the adapter. And I believe you'll have to hunt for that switch; but once you're setup properly and the installation see's your network, you try to connect, you will see a prompt for a passphrase.

Lastly, it seems I did a google search for '2100b WPA' and information from those searches yielded useful information. Hope this helps!

[uncarvedblockhead]

Sojourner,

Thanks for this info; I've got a 2915ABG that I pulled out of a non-working T43 installed in a then-working T40 because I didn't want to go back to WEP. Since then, the T40 has developed the video issue, and I've identified a blown fuse as the possible culprit of the T43's no-power issue.

In short, it will be a while before I can get either notebook fixed & give this a shot, but I look forward to trying.

Henni,

My apologies because it sounds like I mis-informed you. I'd give the new drivers a shot alone before the SP3 upgrade.

Please let us know if this works for you.

[radiator]

@henni
I have T41 with 2100 b and tried lots of times to make my little box co-work with my router. Unfortunatelly, I failed. Than tried wit my friend devices other vendors than mine. Failed again. So I downloaded the newest drivers, intel software to manage my wifi card - no luck again.
I did a research on my card and some people say it must work and does work with wpa security, the other say it doesn't.
At present I use wep security and mac filter with only 3 IP range of sddresses for my 3 computers.
Another problem came when my friend, who has dell borrowed me his 2200 intel card. Bios spit out an erros saying wifi not recognized. And indeed it did not work at all. So if you really insist on usin wpa I do encourage to look only for those wifi cards that a seller assures it'll work with ibm or it was taken out of ibm machines.

ps
sorry for my rusty english....I'm from Polans

[sjthinkpader]

My experience with enabling WPA is quite different than what I've read here. I HAVE had WPA security enabled on a Thinkpad with an (IBM) Intel 2100b adapter ... and it worked flawlessly!
...

It would be nice if you can post the driver/package and AC version numbers you had success with.

Personally I would not bother with 2100b but it seems many readers are still interested.

[radiator]

Personally I would not bother with 2100b but it seems many readers are still interested.

There are people whostill have the card in theirs laptops. And so do I. The problem is that you must be sure the newer wificard is designed to work with IBM laptops. I found on other forum that intel 2200 taken out of T42 should work with t40/41 but the same card from dell won't. An I can confirm it's true. Another problem is that regarding to fnctionality of 2200 intel, the card is too expensive IMO.