T30 Wireless b/g Issue

[DD9th]

Pertinent info:
IBM T30 2366-44u
BIOS 2.10
Windows XP SP3 – Security and Hardware Windows Updates applied.
Old wireless b Card: FRU 26P8520
New wireless b/g Card: FRU 93P3475

Problem: New (used) wireless 11b/g card is not 'recognized', instead a 'Network Controller' is found (shown with the yellow question mark in device manager), but hardware wizard can not find a driver for it, so does not successfully install it. In Device Manager under Network, no Wireless device is listed.

Details:

I have a new neighbor who I offered to let use my DSL/wireless (for free) when he moved in. I thought it would be a nice gesture so that perhaps he might feed my cat for me when I go on travel.

This was a piece of cake, no problem at all. Within minutes, I was able to type in my security key on his laptop and it connected, and I thought that would be the end of that.

Then, several months later, he says he has a new laptop. (New?!? Hardly, it is an old Thinkpad T30).

OK, no problem, I try to get it set up, and HOURS later, I give up, feeling very inadequate that I wasn't able to get a freaking laptop to work on my network. (I think that maybe it is the chemo-like drugs I have to take right now that leaves me very me foggy-headed and so I decide to try again the next day when I'm thinking a little more clearly.)

One last attempt I try turning off the security for my wireless network, and voila! The laptop can now see my network. But of course, this is unacceptable in the long term. In my neighborhood, I'm not worried about neighbors and security all that much, but just for a short while I allow the security to be turned off so he can access the Internet from his flat upstairs.

Next day, I attempt to tackle the problem again. After trying to update drivers for the wireless to no avail, I discover that his wireless card is b only, and that is why when I have the security set on my wireless, the T30 did not 'see' it with its pithy wireless b card.

I'm a support tech myself, but have never dealt with old IBMs before (just one very nice new Lenovo Tablet with modern parts), nor have I had to deal with a b only card since wireless g has come out, so this was a new problem for me, and so I forgave myself for not figuring it out right away.

I try updating the BIOS to 2.03 (I hadn't found any newer BIOS yet), and next the [censored] b card won't even work with the security off!! There is no longer a wireless device listed in device manager, not even yellow question-marks. I tried uninstalling, rebooting to re-install. Nothing.

Clearly, I have made the situation worse (see what you get for trying to be nice?) Hours and hours of my time, and it is worse than when I started.

So I do some more research and find that there is a 11b/g card that works in T30's, and so I ordered and a week later (with my security off all this time) I received it. (the neighbor did agreed to pay for this)

I updated the BIOS to 2.10 then 'uninstalled' through device manager the old 11b card. Turned off the laptop and then physically installed the new (used) 11 b/g card with an FRU 93P3475.

I'm feeling confident and pretty clever, that is until the reboot and the T30 did not detect the new 11 b/g wireless card when it started up! (Huh?)

It did detect a 'Ethernet Controller' that the hardware update wizard could not find or install a driver for. This is not the actual Ethernet hardware as that is listed and functions properly. It is in addition to the main Ethernet card.

So I figure I just need a driver for it. No problem, lets go find one. Hours later after scouring the Internet to see if there was a driver for this, and wasn't able to find anything.

I found that none of the updates other than SP3 have been applied to this T30 (Win XP), so I did go to windows update and did apply all of the critical patches (via the working Ethernet connection).

Even so, the T30 still can not recognize the wireless card, lists an unknown device as a Ethernet Controller that the hardware wizard can not find a driver for.

I've also since discovered that with the T30, there are dozens of different sub models. This one is a 2366-44u.

My conclusion is: The dang card I bought will not work with this sub-model. Gah, I'm going to have to eat the cost of the card I ordered (How can I charge him for something that not only doesn't work, but the original card that used to work no longer works)? Maybe I can return it.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated by those who might know IBMs better than I do.

What a nightmare. You try to be nice, and look what it gets you? Sheesh.

[Harryc]

93P3475 is an Atheros 802.11bg card for a T40 series machine, but it should work in a T30.
This driver should work.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67214

Read the instructions carefully.

[DD9th]

Thank you for your suggestion Harry. I think I saw that earlier, but since it didn't list the T30 I passed it over. Will check it out now.

[DD9th]

Harryc:

I have another question. It seems that I need to install Access Connections (version 4.11 or later), which I do not see any version installed in Add/remove programs, but there is something called 'Intel(R) Network Connections Drivers' that is installed.

I can't tell if that is for the old intel wireless b card, or if it would effect the 'Ethernet Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connections' adapter?

[Harryc]

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... ZLNJB.html

Again, pay attention to all installation details on that page.

[DD9th]

Harryc:

Install .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (Required by Install Access below - Done)
Install Access Connections 4.11 or later (Done 5.50) – Required Reboot (Done)
Install Hotkey Features for Win XP version 1.22.0512 or later (Done)

Then I was ready to download the package, and OOPS! There is no file to download listed!

File details
Version:
4.1.2.156
Release Date:
2007/06/15
 File link
   No available downloads
File size

So I went to the next step:
Software Installer application provides install and uninstall wizards for this Wireless LAN Driver for Windows 2000 and XP.

But 'Software Installer' application is no longer available either.

Then I saw the 2nd url Harry posted:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... ZLNJB.html

I re-read the listing of of all the various adaptors and found that the 2nd one listed was the one I should have installed was for IBM 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI adapter
and this driver: ThinkPad Wireless LAN (11a/b/g/n) for Windows XP/2000 version 7.4.2.132.

..... and (drumroll please)

IT WORKED!!! I now can connect to my wireless network with the security off.

Next to reset my WPA security, and cross my fingers, and see if this works. Going offline a bit to get that set up, I'll post again to let you know. I'm pretty sure this is going to do it!

[DD9th]

Yes! It all works. Thank you so very much.


I can now still be a nice neighbor (and hopefully have someone to feed my cat when I go on travel), as well as have my security back in place.

Thank you thank you thank you! (I am so happy! And I have learned a lot about Thinkpads).

(I've posted all the details of the various steps here in case it helps someone else in the future.)

[BillMorrow]

AND, we here at the forum hope your chemo works out and that your pussycat is well fed..

[jronald]

For what its worth, I have always been better pleased with the Atheros Drivers, than the factory drivers. In this case the IBM drivers. They "seem" to lock on quicker, stronger and when pushed, stay locked on better. Of course your mileage may vary. That said, I dont run the IBM cards, so that may have a bunch to do with the difference.

Ron