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    T420S Wireless Issue: Not finding networks

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by rudyr, Jan 2, 2012.

  1. rudyr

    rudyr Notebook Enthusiast

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    A few times the wireless (ultimate/6300) picks up absolutely no networks (about 5 available). I disable the re-enable the adapter and it will then find them all. I've tried:

    - Disabled the power savings of the network adapter
    - Disabled all the Intel AMT / AT in Bios, though the Intel Control Center shows them still as enabled...

    Still doing this, when I start up, not finding networks unless I disable and re-enable the adapter each time.

    *Edit*

    - Removed Intel Proset and Lenovo Access Connections, but now having to deal with driver issues. Going to try and install those separately.
     
    rudyr, Jan 2, 2012
    #1
  2. rudyr

    rudyr Notebook Enthusiast

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    All is fine now. For anyone else who has to deal with this, nix the Intel and Lenovo software, reinstall the wireless driver and you should be all set.
     
    rudyr, Jan 2, 2012
    #2
  3. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Are you letting Windows manage the wireless? The Intel software isn't bad, nor is Access Connections (if you have alot of wireless networks around, I use Access Connections for my status report for the corporate office).
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Jan 2, 2012
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  4. jimbob83

    jimbob83 Notebook Evangelist

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    Which driver did you reinstall? The reason I ask is that the 6200 card in my T410s would only connect at 180 Mb/s with the Lenovo driver, even when I'm only a few feet from my router. I've occasionally seen it go higher briefly, but it always drops back down.

    I tried Intel's driver update utility a couple of days ago and it installed a newer Intel driver, which gets me a stable 300Mb/s connection. I installed the driver only, not the ProSet software, since I'm using Access Connections.
     
    jimbob83, Jan 3, 2012
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  5. rudyr

    rudyr Notebook Enthusiast

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    I installed the one off of Intel's website, still working perfectly.
     
    rudyr, Jan 4, 2012
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  6. rudyr

    rudyr Notebook Enthusiast

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    Back to square one. Even when I do a factory restore the basic issue is this:

    From cold boot - never finds any networks, the green wireless light comes on then turns off before log in.

    Upon restart or turning the adapter to disabled then reenabled, I can see and connect to all networks.

    Does anyone have a suggestion for a fix? I'm basically resigning myself to taking this to a service center on Monday as I'm wondering if it's either a hardware issue or an obscure registry fix only they might know to apply.
     
    rudyr, Jan 7, 2012
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  7. mariol90

    mariol90 Notebook Consultant

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    there's an option in access connections that turns off the wireless when it can't find any networks. try disabling that. it sounds like your problem is a little more than that, but if you haven't tried this, that's where i would start.
     
    mariol90, Jan 7, 2012
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  8. rudyr

    rudyr Notebook Enthusiast

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    I don't even have access connections installed at the moment. Yeah, I think this is going to the service center because it shouldn't be this way on the factory image.

    Edit - wow, thanks for the idea. I switched the computer to maximum performance mode and now the problem is fixed. So, it must be related to power savings like you alluded to.
     
    rudyr, Jan 7, 2012
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  9. rudyr

    rudyr Notebook Enthusiast

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    Got it back from Lenovo. The work order seems to suggest they replaced the 6300. But, not sure if anyone else has this patch installed:

    Registry Patch to Enable Maximum Power Saving on Wifi Adapters for Windows 7

    For some reason, don't recall that ever being there.
     
    rudyr, Jan 17, 2012
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  10. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes, that was there in System Update a while ago.
     
    vinuneuro, Jan 18, 2012
    #10