T41, "Acquiring Network Address" problem

[mystps]

Hello. I have got Thinkpad T41, updated Wi-Fi adapter drivers (from that which can be found on the Internet), but every time I try to connect I just see "Acquiring Network Address". Can you suggest me to solve this?

[Harryc]

What is the machine type/model # of the T41 from the sticker on the bottom of the laptop? It will be a (7) digit alpha-numeric like 2347-3CU. Also, from a command prompt, run he following command and post the results here;

ipconfig /all

Reference - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314850

Post a link from where you downloaded your current driver. Also, what encryption is your wireless router set for?

[mystps]

Type 2373-9HG.
I have done it and I got that IP rpoting and WINS proxy are off, Dhcp and auto adjust are on and IP adress and IPv4 subnetting reference are 0.0.0.0, DHCP server 255.255.255.255, DNS 192.168.0.1, but I don't know what exactly I need from all the rest.

[mystps]

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 46258.html, AES encryption

[Harryc]

To do a Cut & Paste from a DOS box, go to the very small box in the top left of the DOS box, usually a small black box showing 'C:\', this has a drop down menu where you can select Edit, which has a 'Select All' and 'Copy' menu items.

In your forum message, then just do a Control-V to paste.

Reference - http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w ... 2f57bb9240

[mystps]

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . : 839c023e29724ad
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . :
Node Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mi
ni PCI Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-F1-06-BB-3A
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateaway . . . . . . . . . . :
DHCP-server . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
DNS-servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

[Harryc]

Well, you definitely are not picking up an IP address from your DHCP server, which is most likely your router. Lets talk about encryption. Is it set in your router, and how is it set? Is the WEP's 40-bit or 128-bit encryption key set properly in Windows? Does it match what is set for an encryption key in your router?

[mystps]

I don' have a router, I try to connect in various cafes and in my university

[Harryc]

OK, when you ran ipconfig /all were you in one of those (2) places?

[mystps]

No, I were not, but I'll try tomorrow and tell you the results. Thanks for your attention

[Harryc]

.. Talk to you tomorrow.

[mystps]

Now, every time I use ipconfig /all in one of those places I get this:
Windows IP Configuration
An internal error occurred: A device attached to the system is not functioning.
Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services for further help.
Additional information: Unknown media status code.

[Harryc]

Try disabling the Ethernet adapter in device manager.

[mystps]

It worked, but ipconfig brings the same as yesterday

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . : 839c023e29724ad
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . :
Node Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mi
ni PCI Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-F1-06-BB-3A
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateaway . . . . . . . . . . :
DHCP-server . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
DNS-servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

[Harryc]

Has this ever worked? From your first post it almost sounds like it was working until you updated drivers. Is that correct?

[mystps]

I got the laptop about two weeks ago and since then I haven't succeeded in making Wi-Fi work

[Harryc]

Product: ThinkPad T41 2373-9HG

Original description: P M 1.7GHz, 1GB RAM, 60GB 7200rpm HDD, 14.1 SXGA+(1400X1050) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 9000, 16x10x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD, Intel 802.11b wireless, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ether, UltraNav, Sec Chip, 6 cell Li-Ion Batt, WinXP Pro

As a next step I'd recommend uninstalling all wireless drivers, rebooting, then install the driver linked here -
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-59438

[RealBlackStuff]

Your problem might be the old wifi 802.11B.
Possibly the cafes and university routers no longer use the slow B-band, but are all on G or N.
Get a faster Intel 2200BG wifi card, one with IBM P/N or FRU on it.

[mystps]

Harryc, I tried it several times, but without any success.
RealBlackStuff, I think I will follow your advice and buy it.

Thank you all for your participation )

[Mike Blake]

Just a comment with no relevance to our Russian friend's problem,
but occasionally my systray icon will have the same symptom
(stuck on the little searching animation and the "Acquiring network address"
message), but the connection works fine!

Usually on my T42 with either of two external adapters connecting
via a Linksys router, but it's not unknown on this z61t with the built-in
3945ABG connected to a Netgear. Odd.

[RealBlackStuff]

3945ABG is nobody's favorite really. The older 2200BG is way better.

[dr_st]

I've had my share of problems with both 2200BG and 3945ABG, but overall they both work. Can't quite say had more issues with one or the other.