Averatec Wireless connection problem

I bought an Averatec 5400 series laptop last week along with a wireless router. It's been working great and I have been very pleased with it.

Yesterday I downloaded the updated BIOS from Averatec's website and ever since, I have been having a problem connecting to my wireless router.

The laptop used to go wireless automatically, but now I have to press the Fn+F2 key to enable wireless and wait for a while until it connects.

I called Averatec's technical support and they said it was made that way and there was no way to fix it.

I'd like to know for sure if this problem is related to the new BIOS and if I can re-install the old BIOS so that I can once again connect automatically.

The new BIOS installation utility said it made backups of the old BIOS, but I am unable to find it and unsure of how to reinstall it.

--
Thomas Main
[email protected]

 

thomasmain,

It's a safe bet that the BIOS update is the cause here. I have a few questions for you...

1) Did you read any documentation on what that BIOS was supposed to fix? Was that supplied? Normally, release documents are provided ahta lay out EXACTLY what is "fixed" or changed in a specific BIOS upgrade. This would explain the Tech support comment.

2) What medium did you use for the "backups"...CD, floppy or HD?

You might want to do a search all for the BIOS extention. But for some reason you truly don't have the old BIOS, then Averatec shold have the old version somewhere! You can always flash down. I have not ever seen a company only supply the most recent BIOS and not the prior . As far as reflashing, you should follow what ever steps and tools you used the for this sucessful, but troublesome, update.

If for anyreason none of the above are available or sucessful, you are likely stuck with a new process to get connected, and may even be benefit your battery in the long run (less auto connect=longer batt life)

DD

 

Well, unfortunately, I didn't read the documentation for the BIOS update until today. I pasted it below this message; looks like the second iten, the "* Set wireless lan default as disabled" is what's causing my "problem." I called technical support again and asked if the old version of the BIOS was available, but they said it was not. I found a file called BIOS.old in the directory created by the flashing program, renamed it to BIOS.ROM and tried to re-flash - but it looks like the new version still - A.4G

If anyone happens to have the BIOS.ROM for A.4A I would appreciate having it -- having to turn on the wireless after booting messes up my ad blocker and I think it's just a pain compared to having it come on automatically. Would have been nice if the new BIOS had this feature as a user selectable option instead of a new default, IMHO.

Here's the update doc:

Description: 5400 BIOS update
Filename: 5400_XP_Bios_A4G-0517-0812.exe
Operating System: Windows XP/2000
Version: A.4G-0517-0812
Size: 1.70 MB

update from A.4A to A.4G

* Set vga frame buffer size as 32MB
* Set wireless lan default as disabled
* Set LCD brightness to highest level when ac out for Averatec specification
* Remove Graphics aperture size item from setup menu for Averatec spec.
* Change setup item "Frame buffer size" name as "Video" for Averatec spec.
* Change battery information manufacture name as AVERATEC.
* Fixed Windows XP SP2 basic function fail issue
* Add setup item for keyboard selection
* Change VBIOS back to 0517
* Update K8 microcode workaround
* Fixed system have bo sound when pressing power button under dos and DC mode

--
Thomas Main
[email protected]