T41h Notebook Wireless problem

Hey folks - I have a t41 notebook, and im having a major problem with the wireless networking. Whenever I press fn and f5 to enable the wireless network, the bluetooth symbol lights up however the antenna to indicate that the laptop has detected the wireless card will not light up. I can access the internet via the Cat 5 cable - but I really want to get the wireless sorted - anyone able to help?

All the best

Scott

 

Does the card show up in device manager? You re-installed the driver/Access Connections?

 

Also whenever I go to press fn and f5, the bluetooth symbol lights up, but it comes up as showing usb device not recognised, although no usbs are used!!!

I cant see anything wifi related in the device manager - also to be fair, i dont know what I am looking for - although there is a conflict there for the ethernet device, however im using the ethernet cable for the internet on it as i type this second!

I have downloaded a driver from http://www.driversdown.com/ViewDownloadUrl.asp?ID=35970&brNum=3&show=0

to which i think is the right driver but what to do next i dont have a clue

 

download system update from lenovo.com

run it and get all of your drivers via that

what you are looking for is the hotkey driver/app that will enable fn+f5 function to let you choose which device to activate

edit: make sure wireless in enabled via bios

 

What's the machine type? Not all T41s came with WiFi.

 

that website does not work for the download/support section - I logged into the bios and the wireless card is enabled.

 

My T41 works ok, but very slow because it is 802.B so I only get data at 11mps. I installed a Belkin 54G pci card and now it runs at 54mps after I disabled the card that came with the system.

My T41 was a made in late 2002/ early 2003 and wirelaess comunication has made Big advances in the last 5-6 years,

I would suggest getting a 54G or draft N pci card for your T41. Then the problem becomes the Video card, because it is also 5-6 yo so that will slow you down

Oh and don't forget to mannualy reset the virtual memory or the old girl will come to a stand still.

I love my T41 but decided that it was time to get a T61 and stop dealing with old hardware. My t41 stll works fine, just not able to keep up with the new younger computers.

 

Just because it's enable doesn't mean you have a WiFi card, What's the machine type.

 

the machine is the ibm t41 thinkpad - is that what your refering to mate?

 

The machine type is printed on the bottom of the machine. Mine is 9456-55U. If you google it, it should tell you if it has a WiFi card. Or you can use the parts lookup in the sticky to see if your machine came with a WiFi card.

 

the model is 2373-tg5, and at the bottom of the laptop it says 802.11 a/b/g so am i right to assume it does have the wireless card?

 

I only asked because my T41 did not have a internal WiFi card. Does the card show up in the device manager, it would be under network adapters.

 

again, you should check lenovo's support site. you need the hotkey app to enable the fn+f5 combo that opens a screen in which you can turn on or off the wifi card

 

zaz thanks so much for your guidence up to now, it is appriciated - the only device that is showing is the intel pro 1000 mt mobile connection.

Batman, im doing that now mate - the support page did not work last time i went to the lenovo site - i have installed the driver for the t41 and have rebooted yet all that happens is that when i goto press fn and f5, the bluetooth turns on, and that the usb icon appears saying that a usb device is not recognised, when there is no usb plugged in at all

 

did you get the hot key driver/app?

edit: also make sure any "hard" switch is on and that in control panel->network that they wireless adapter is "enabled"

 

I dont have a Network icon in control panel just the network connections and network setup icons.

When I fn and f5 its trying to install a usb root hub, yet nothing is plugged into any usb, would this be a factor as to the problem?

yes i got the hotkeys - downloaded, installed, and dont know where to go from there as it still does not change anything

 

hmm. ok try this (assuming you have xp)

start->control panel->network connections

now right click the wireless adapter and disable it. Now right click again and enabled it

 

are you using system update? please use that and it will detect what you are missing.

you will need
1) driver for wifi
2) hot key
3) power management driver
4) on screen display

after you run system update, please tell me what it says in terms of what you can install(you dont need to install everything, but we want to make sure you have everything needed for wifi)

 

something is not right here....The wizard was interupted before the system update could be completely installed therefore no changes have been made....

 

system update is a lenovo app that will scan your machine and find the right drivers for you.

download it from here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=TVSU-UPDATE

you may need to install .net first, it should let you know

 

installed the framework which thus enabled me to install the system update - the update did not let me specify as to which components i needed to install and just did it automatically - and low and behold......it didnt work, and when I goto fn f5 the wireless - the usb root hub thing comes up again etc etc....

 

run it again. it should give you a page with 4 or so tabs. read off whats under "critical updates", "recommended updates" and "optional updates"

once we are sure the driver and all necessary support files are installed, we can troubleshoot the card.

also does the t41 have a wifi switch BESIDES the fn+f5 combo?

 

Hi bud

Right, I have reinstalled the drivers, and it still did not show any dialogue box which you pick and choose which drivers to install, why, I dont know....

From pressing all the fn and f keys, it would appear that there is only one which refers to any kind of wireless networking, and thats the f5 key.

 

when you run system update do you get to a screen like this?



when you do, read off whats under the first 3 tabs

 

please find attatched the photo of the install process that it is doing - as you will see, its just a generic installation screen which does everything for you.

 

no that is just the install to install system update (the application itself)

now go to start->thinkvantage->system update to actually run the program and get the screen shot you see in my post.

system update is a program you can run over and over again as you feel needed. it checks with lenovo and gives you a list of possible updates that apply to your system. that screen shot you posted is only for the installation of "system update" itself. Now you have to actually run it.

 

Use the parts lookup to find out which if any WiFi card you have. Then download the driver from the driver matrix on Lenovo's website. You need to punch in your machine type and serial number:

L ink

 

guys a big thank you for your help - its now installed and asking for the network key etc and has detected my network final q....... how do i use the bluetooth?

thanks again folks, geniuses at work

 

after you have the hotkey, bluetooth driver, and lenovo power management driver and on screen display installed, try hitting fn+f5 and turn on the bluetooth

you did get system update working correctly, right?

 

yeah everything is installed and im wireless as we speak, so thanks to eacn and all for you help guys - a credit to the forum