My T500's wireless isn't working

Everytime I try to connect to a network, it says "Windows cannot find any networks."

But there definitely are networks here (I'm on a university campus) that I should be able to connect to..and just a few days ago, networks DID show up, but now they don't..

When I click on "Diagnose and Repair" it says:

1. Turn on Wireless Capability - it's already on..
2. The network adapter "Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 with PAN" is experiencing driver or hardware related issues..

I don't really know what drivers are...and I'm guessing that's what's wrong with it..but I don't know what to do about it.

Help???

 

Okay...Nevermind, I fixed it so just ignore this.

 

I'm getting the same error message with my T400 & it's driving me nuts! The wireless used to work, but now it doesn't & I get the message:
Network adaptor "Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 With PAN" is experiencing driver or hardware related issues.

All of my drivers are updated. What did you end up doing to solve it?

Thanks!

 

Ok, although all checks via Control Panel's Device Manager said that the drivers were updated, I ended up having to go to the ThinkVantage Productivity Center/Show system information/Advanced/Components/Problem Devices and find that the ThinkPad itself indicated that the two devices that were not working & then go to the Intel Site for the driver update. Very strange, that the two areas were not in agreement.

Ay, newbie error on the ThinkPad, no doubt & I'm bumping my way around the ThinkPad's proprietary device managers... one would think, tho', that the different systems for detecting problems would be in agreement?

I did take heed from other postings, however, and turned off Access Control.

 

Hey..looks like you figured out how to fix it..I'm not sure I ever completely did though...My wireless isn't working again

When I go to connect to a network, it says "Windows cannot find any networks"
So then I click on "Diagnose why Windows can't find any networks"
and it says: "Turn on wireless capability (This can be done by using a switch blah blah blah" --> I already have the switch on!!

So then I go to my device manager to see if everything's okay and it is, there's nothing wrong with any of the network adapters
Then eventually I somehow arrived at " WiFi Manual Diagnostics Tool", and hit "Run test" and got for Hardware test: "Failed: Wirless hardware is not bound to transport driver"

So I guess that's what's wrong, except I don't know what that means
can ANYONE please help me???

 

Need some info to try and help you out.
The Problem:
1. When did you start having trouble with your wifi? Did it ever work properly? Did you change anything related to wifi software or drivers?
2. Does the lack of wireless only occur at school? Does it work well anywhere else? Any of your school friends have similar problems? Is there a school IT help desk you can contact?

Your Hardware/Software:
1. what is your OS?
2. what model wifi card are you using? and what driver version? Did you download this wifi driver from the card manufacturer or from Lenovo?
3. Do you use Lenovo's Access Connections or Windows to manage your wireless connections?
4. If you use Access Connections, what version are you using.

 

Well it worked pretty well at home, but it would never automatically connect to a wireless network like my old laptop did..I always had to diagnose/repair, then click on "turn on wireless"..but now I'm away from home in college and it like, sometimes works and then sometimes it doesn't at all...it's really random too.

I don't think any of my friends have this problem, and I'm not sure about the ITT help desk..

1. OS: Windows Vista
2. I'm....not sure about what wifi card or driver version I'm using. How do I check that? And I don't think I downloaded it from anywhere, I think it was just on my computer when I bought it..I could be wrong though.
3. I ...actually don't know which one I use =/ How do I check?

Yeah sorry if that wasn't too helpful..guess I'm not very computer savvy =/

 

Ok well there is quite a bit of info to tell you. I will try and tell you everything you need to know to get your wireless working as well as some more general info


1. Intro to Thinkvantage software
Lenovo, like most other manufacturers, install several programs on top of windows that is supposed to add new functionality. These programs as a group are called Thinkvantage. Lenovo releases updated versions of the software to solve problems as they are discovered. Unfortunately for people who aren’t familiar with this and who just by a Thinkpad and want it to work, they usually end up missing these updates. For consumers there is a lot in the Thinkvantage suite of software that is irrelevant, but the one thing that is very important is wireless and the Lenovo software that manages wireless is called Access Connections.

Here is a link that lists all the programs that make up the Thinkvantage suite.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-61432

2. The Clean Installers
There are many people who feel that the software Lenovo installs on their computers causes a hit to performance so they do what’s called a clean install. This involves getting a vista or XP install disk and reinstalling the OS from scratch, they picking only the Thinkvantage software they want. If you are interested in doing a clean install I highly recommend you read Stallen’s Vista Clean Install Guide a couple of times (see link below), backup your data, and set aside a day or two to do it. I don’t recommend this in your case though as you just want your wireless working.
Link to Clean Install Guide.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=144783


3. Decide if you want to use Access Connections or Windows to manage your wireless
Some people use windows built in software to manage their wireless connections. In Vista you would click the Vista StartBubble (I don’t know what to call it, the thing that was the start button in XP) then click connect, then you would set up a wireless connection and use it. Using Access Connections is similar except it gives you more options. To use AccessConnections click the Vista StartBubble, type in access connections, setup a wireless profile, and use it. Keep in mind that as soon as you set up a profile in Access Connections, it will try and functions as your wireless manager, so don’t set up a profile and then try and use the windows wireless manager.

Now you may be wondering which to use. If you can get the windows wireless manager working for you and your happy with it great your done. If you’d like to try and get Access Connections working you can keep on reading. It gets a little complicated but once it is setup it works quite well.

4. Readme.txt files are important
To manage your wireless Access Connections needs to communicate with other software. So to get it all working means updating Access Connections and updating that other software as well. One good think about Lenovo that their support page has all the software you’ll need, and each piece of software has a readme.txt file that explains everything you need to know to get it working. There is also a Lenovo program called SystemUpdate which is supposed to automate the process of getting your Lenovo software working, sounds great in theory, and there are people that use it, but I personally don’t trust it to update all the separate pieces of software properly so I recommend doing it manually, that is downloading the software you want, reading the readme.txt file and installing the software, etc.

It is very important that you read the readme.txt file for each piece of Lenovo software to ensure that it will work properly. Print the readme files out if you have to. I also recommend you have a second computer to view the support page with while you update your thinkpad.

5. Identify your wifi card, software, and drivers.
1. The wifi card
Vista StartBubble, type Device Manager, Scroll down to network adaptors, click on the wireless adaptor, rightclick properties, tells you what card it is at top
2. Access Connections
Vista StartBubble, Type Access Connections, start access Connections, help, about, read version number.

6. Upgrade
The process goes like this. Go to Lenovo support page, enter your machine type, go to the second that contains wireless drivers and software, read the readme.txt files, download the software, then install the software.

7. Extra Reading
Below is a post I made regarding Access Connections. It is a little outdated but may be helpful to you. I’m too lazy to edit it so I’m posting it whole. From: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=417309

The pieces of software/drivers that work together with Access Connections are:
1. The wireless card driver, usually intel.
2. Access Connections
3. Hotkey driver. This allows Fn+F5 keys on the keyboard to bringup access connections. (I think)
4. Thinkpad Power Management Driver

A common problem people have when they don't read the readme.txt files is that they download Lenovo software, double click it, and think it has installed. This is not always the case. Sometimes this just uncompresses the software and you have to find the setup.exe file and double click it to actually install the software.

Finally, and this is not well documented by Lenovo, the order in which you uninstall old programs and install the new programs matters when it comes to getting access connections to work.
Here is a good post from the Lenovo support page forums that explains the best order to

Link: http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkVan...d/46291#U46291

1) Uninstall the Intel Wireless Driver from Control Panel
2) Uninstall Access Connections from Control Panel
3) Restart the system
4) Download and install Hotkey driver
Link to hotkey driver
5) Download and install ThinkPad Power Management driver
Link to ThinkPad Power Management driver
6) Download and install Intel Wireless Driver
Link to Download Intel Wireless driver
Please follow these steps to install the driver
Download and extract the driver
Browse to C:\drivers\WIN\WLANINT2\XP\Apps\x32 and click on iProInst.exe to install the driver
Please note this is a critical step to fix your system
7) Download and install Access Connections

you can either install AC 5.02 or AC 4.52 from the web

Here is a link to AC 5.02 ,will be on the web by mid Sep
AC 5.02 XP

Link will stay active for 2 days

8) restart your system

Following these instructions exactly helped me get Access Connections working properly on my X40. Good luck.

 

I've been using windows wireless, but now I'm trying Access Connections (5.32)and it won't give me the option to use WiFi to connect..like I can't click on it.

I went to where it says Intel My WiFi Technology, and it says it's disabled, and when I click on enable it says "Intel My WiFi Technology has been configured with a non-supported profile. Instead, the default profile will be used." and it remains disabled.

Also, I try turning my wireless on and off using the little switch at the front, and when i turn it back on, it says "To modify the power states of the wireless radios, press Fn+F5..so when I do, it says "No supported wireless adapters (802.11, WAN or Bluetooh) are installed in this system.

So I'm guessing it's a hardware problem..

 

It is difficult to want to help you when you don't give the information I'm asking for. But what the hell I'll try again...

You mentioned you have Access Connections version 5.32.
You still need to Identify your wifi card and wifi card driver.

What is your machine type? It is written on the bottom of your Thinkpad.

First decide if you want to use windows or Access Connections to manage your wireless. If you decide on AC then delete your wireless profiles in the windows wireless manager. This is to stop it from interfering with Access Connections. I'm not sure what you mean when you say "it won't give me the option to use WiFi to connect..like I can't click on it". What is it that you cannot click on? Did you download an intel driver for your wifi car that is not from the lenovo website?

Clarify what you are referring to here. Is this in device manager? Explain what windows application you are seeing this message in.

Identify your wifi card and your wifi card driver version.
Did you install a wifi card driver at anypoint in owning your Thinkpad?

 

I don't know exactly which one is the wireless adapter..So I'll just tell you what I have under network adapters:

-6T04 Adapter Version 6.0.6002.18005
-Intel(R) 82567LM Gigabit Network Connection Version 9.52.25.0
-Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 With Pan Version 12.4.0.21
- My WiFi PAN Version 12.4.0.15
- WiFi STA Version 12.4.0.15

Machine Type:2240-CTO

I mean that when I open Access Connections, it has options like: "WiFi" "Mobile Broadband" "WiMAX" and "Other Connections"..."Other Connections" is already selected, but I can't select any of the other ones..it's like faded out and I can't click on it..

I don't remember how I got there, but that's the name of the application.."Intel My WiFi Technology"

I'm not 100% sure, but I really don't think so.

 

Machine Type
Are you sure your machine type is 2240-CTO? Cause I don't see that listed on Lenovo's support page, 2241-CTO is listed though. I'll assume that's what you have for now.

To recap, here's what you have.
wifi card: This is your wireless card. Also called WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) - Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 With Pan Version 12.4.0.21.
- My WiFi PAN Version 12.4.0.15
- WiFi STA Version 12.4.0.15 I had to look up PAN on intel's website, it stands for Personal Area Network for connecting your computer to other devices like a digital camera over wifi.
LAN Card
- Intel(R) 82567LM Gigabit Network Connection Version 9.52.25.0 This is the networking card that you plug in an ethernet cord to.

Access Connections You said you’re using vesion 5.32.
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Before Looking at my recommendations below you should checkout the forums and Lenovo’s support page. Notebookreview.com forums are great, but the Lenovo support forums may have more info on your particular problem.

Recommendation
I actually have two.
First, I recommend you first try updating to Access Connections version 5.33, it’s the latest version. Make sure to read the readme.txt file, Particularily the Notes sections that states “Before installing ThinkVantage Access Connections, it is required to install
the following software.” Verify that you have all the required drivers and software installed.

Second, if that doesn’t work I recommend you try uninstalling and then reinstalling the following software components in the following order.
From: http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkVan...d/46291#U46291
1) Uninstall the Intel Wireless Driver from Control Panel
2) Uninstall Access Connections from Control Panel
3) Restart the system
4) Download and install Hotkey driver
5) Download and install ThinkPad Power Management driver (Note that the Power Management Driver is not the same as the program called Power Manager.
6) Download and install Intel Wireless Driver
7) Download and install Access Connections
8) restart your system

Lenovo’s Support Page
This is where you find all the above software
go to Lenovo.com > click Support > enter in your machine type, 2241-CTO I believe
> then you'll see some the most recent updates for your computer (You do not need all of them, and they may not be compatible with your computer, you have to read the readme.txt file to check),
>Click on "Drivers and software - ThinkPad T500, W500" and this will list all of the software components for your T500

If you have any problems please post them and I’ll try and help.
If it works out let us know.
Good Luck.

 

One thing I forgot to mention is check your System Update settings. System Update is Lenovo's own software that is supposed to keep all your lenovo software, like Access Connections and other things up to date. In my opinion it is much better to choose what lenovo software versions you want to udpate yourself, and read the readme.txt files to make sure you have all the prerequisite software and drivers. Other's may disagree though.