Loss of wireless connectivity for encrypted networks - T60

[hirst60]

Hi All,

I recently discovered that I can't connect to encrypted networks with my T60. What's strange is that I used to be able to connect to them -- they are the networks of friends. These were profiles that were already listed in my access connections listings. The change appears to have occurred in the past few months, although I can't be sure.

I've done some searching here and on the internet and found this plausible-sounding procedure to install new drivers for the relevant software. It seems to be a compatibility problem between the Intel PRO 3945ABG wireless and the Thinkvantage wireless software. Unfortunately, that hasn't worked.

http://trivialproof.blogspot.com/2006/0 ... -with.html

Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and what I might try next.

Thanks,
Chris

[Annobanno]

It could not be something as simple as if your friends changed some security settings /and or other settings on their router? - I tried that a few times, and it was a lil tricky to get it to work with Access Connections But you could also try to run system update and see if you're on the latest drivers and delete the profiles and create whole new ones. Last option worked for me as I had the latest drivers, when I had a similar experience

[hirst60]

Thanks for the reply.

The friends PSA password remained the same, although one friend bought a new router. So it is possible that is the problem.

How would I run a system update for the latest drivers?

[Annobanno]

Run the System Update utility on your Thinkpad if you don't have it you can download it here

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 67853.html

Just choose the one for your OS

I hope this can help you

[hirst60]

Thanks, Annobanno! I feel a bit stupid for not taking advantage of the system update utility before. And I've owned the T60 for 5 years.

Well, better late than never.

I'll see how it goes and report back.

[hirst60]

Well, I tried it again today and no luck. Couldn't connect to my friend's network.

I updated my Thinkvantage utility as you suggested but it didn't change my problem.

I wonder what my next move should be. Any thoughts?

[lmittell]

Try dumping Access Connections and using native Windows networking (also referred to as Zero Configuration Service) instead. AC has brought me so much grief that the very first thing I do on a new Thinkpad is uninstall it. ZCS doesn't have as many bells and whistles, but by golly it's reliable and it gets the job done.

HTH,
Larry

[bill bolton]

I wonder what my next move should be. Any thoughts?

Find out EXACTLY what encryption methods your friends have set into their routers.

They may be using the same key but with a different encryption method, especially if a router has been replaced. This is a common issue when users upgrade routers etc.

ZCS doesn't have as many bells and whistles

The Zero Configuration Service is not a connection manager at all in the normal sense of the term!

Cheers,

Bill B.

[hirst60]

Thanks, guys.

I wonder if I simply need to upgrade my wireless networking card. The friend's router is an N-type, which post-dates the T60. I had thought that the AES setting simulated N type wireless (and it claims it does on the appropriate access connections page) but perhaps it doesn't.

I will reserve the uninstall AC as my "nuclear option". Maybe I'm not quite there yet. I don't know if Windows wireless has the same flexibility.

[lmittell]

The Zero Configuration Service is not a connection manager at all in the normal sense of the term!

But it's reliable, Bill--it just works, every time; I can't say the same for Access Connections.

I have no intention of calling it something it's not, nor did I.

Larry

[hirst60]

Just an update here. I deleted Access Connections and tried connecting with Windows Wireless but no luck. It still can't acquire the network address. So it's something else.

I wonder if I have to upgrade to a better wireless card in order to connect with newer routers, especially the N type. I hadn't heard this, but I'd appreciate any input from people who have done so.

[bill bolton]

it just works, every time

Lucky for you then. It certainly doesn't work "every time" for me, and ZCS is pretty hopeless when it comes to troubleshooting what the problem may be!

Cheers,

Bill B.

[bill bolton]

I wonder if I have to upgrade to a better wireless card in order to connect with newer routers, especially the N type. I hadn't heard this, but I'd appreciate any input from people who have done so.

The 3945ABG will connect fine with a 802.11n capable router that supports 802.11g operation in the 2.4GHz WiFi band.

Some dual band "N" routers, such as the Linksys WRT-600, WRT-600N, e300 and e4200 do that right out of the box. Others may need specific configuration to achieve that end.

I upgraded my T60 to an 4965AGN card as I wanted to use higher 802.11n speeds, but I had to install a non-Lenovo BIOS (from Zander) and fit an addirional antenna under the palm rest in order to achive my goal.... there are messages here from a few years back that describe the exact process I used.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[hirst60]

Yeah. It should work. I borrowed an Airlink N-type capable USB wireless adapter from a friend just to see if it would work. It doesn't.

Nothing works with this thing. It's Kafkaesque.

[hirst60]

Well, I went nuclear and deleted the Lenovo Access Connections for the second time. Miracle of miracles, this time is worked! I'm not sure why it worked this time and not last time, but it did.

Thanks to Larry (lmittell) for reminding me of this strategy.

It's odd why my wireless stopped working all of a sudden. I wonder if it was a Windows update that began to interfere with the Access Connections. A tech-savvy friend of mine told me that most connectivity issues are caused by incompatibilities between competing software/drivers as happened with me.

Anyway, I thought I would tie up this loose end.

Thanks again to the forum members who offered advice.

[lmittell]

I'm glad it worked!

I had further problems under XP, in that the wireless modem would shut down randomly. If you have similar problems, see this thread for the solution: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 38#p533438.

I've not had the same problems under Win 7.

Larry

[mixz1]

I have said this in many replies: Unless you need to move between different wireless sites many times a week Access Connections is a waste of resources and can cause more problems than it solves. Win 7 can keep track of a fair number of different connections. I have 5 at the moment. I connect to each profile seamlessly. Yes, I have to remember passwords and printers, but I connect 100% of the time.

[hirst60]

Thanks again, Larry. Haven't had any other problems yet but I'll know where to look if I do.