CF-29 Wiireless and CenturyLink Fiber optics

CenturyLink came through the neighborhood and upgraded the DSL line we have to Fiber optics. Old CF-29HWQGZBM worked great connecting with either Intel Proset or Windows.
New line installed. NOTHING. Little wireless icon in the righthand corner won't go to the color green from yellow. Get a "cannot connect to network" after putting in password key. Downloaded AT&T Communications Manager 7.2.032. Still nothing. Support tech is guessing CF-29 uses old WEP and the fiber link now uses WPA - WPA2. Does this mean I'm up a creek and have to put the puppy down (Ebay)? The other CF-29 works fine (typing on it now) because it is linked directly to the modem. Any help or suggestions appreciated.

 

Believe you guessed it, no WPA support. The 29 Mk3 prolly has an Intel 2915 wifi card. It is not hard to open the bottom and swap in a newer wifi card, which can get you WPA support. Some folks like the high-powered EnGenius 8602+S because it has great range, but first check to make sure it supports WPA. Keep in mind you will need to load a new driver also.

 

AFAIK, 2915ABG supports WPA and WPA2, might need newer firmware though.

I was working on a non-ToughBook last week (ThinkPad T43p to be precise) which had one of these cards and had no issues connecting to my WPA 2 network...

 

Shot in the dark based on the previous post above, possibly go to the intel site here:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sea...Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection
and make sure you have the best driver for your operating system. Worth a try before opening her up and putting in a newer wireless. I've heard the 8602 (high powered) is a good choice for the CF-29. I'm also wondering if you re-ran the set up disk that came with your wireless modem using the CF-29 optical drive and set it up all over again if maybe that might work.

 

I recommend to reboot your wireless router. Just unplug and then plug it on. After booting up completely. Then try to connect your 29 to your wi-fi network.

ohlip

 

Appreciate all the suggestions. Got yanked out of town for a couple of days after posting. Did do a reinstall of Windows using my factory setup discs (lifesavers!) No luck. Not sure what firmware I need to update, but I'll look into it and also keep the EnGenius 8602+S option open. Did go to CenturyLinks webpage for modem setup, signed in and changed from WPA to WEP but still no luck. Should have mentioned that CenturyLink actually sent a new modem C1000A to old customers like me still running an old M-1000 Actiontec (sp?) That's where my problem started but hey, again, thanks for all the comments and suggestions!

 

Try downloading the newest driver from Intel... That should fix you. Uninstall the old and then install the new.

You have WPA support... But I have found that the Intel drivers don't always get along with XP updates.

Try it.

 

Check the settings on the new router. Probably 192.168.0.1
I just got a new(to me) Actiontec Q1000 router. I fought for hours with the thing connected directly to my cf52 and met with total fail. It would not even save my settings to the router. So today I booted Ubuntu on a cf73 wired direct to the router. I was able to save my changes and the router connected to DSL and internet.
Did you enter your pass key in directly or use a WPS button? I have much better luck with manual entry of the pass key.

 

Also might check router settings to see if it is set to support G network cards. Router may be set to work only with N adapters.

 

Installed newest Intel driver (UNCNDL1 & Toughbook). Unplugged and plugged in router (Ohlip). Manual entry pass key. Key works on wife's newer Mac notebook so it is being in keyed correctly, also checked CenturyLink's modem configuration webpage and settings are being saved (Shaw). "Check router settings to see if it is set to support G network cards (theoak2). This suggestions threw me. Went all over router settings and found not reference to G or N card setting.

 

Do you still have the old router? If you do. hook it back up and see if you can still connect to it. Possibly your WLAN card in the CF29 coincidentally went south at the same time the router was changed..
Do you have a different WLAN card to try in the CF29?

 

Still have the M1000 modem. All wireless - a Mac and 2 CF-29s went down when CenturyLink techie in neighborhood switched out to fiber. New C1000a modem works fine, ethernet connects both CF-29s (writing on one right now) Mac connected to wireless fine. Just both CF-29s won't connect - Network connections box reads "Wireless Network Connection Not connected, Firewalled Intel(r) PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection" and of course that danged red X symbol indicating there is no connection.

Old modem not compatible with fiber optics; which is why CenturyLink sent a new modem free (which surprised me).

 

Did you try disabling all security (WEP-WPA etc..) on the WIFI and see if it connects?

 

Just did. Went from WPA-WPA2 Personal to Security Off. Modem applied change and saved (scary running with security off) Rebooted cf-29 and no change whatsoever. Dinky computer icon in lower right with the right "X" and Wireless Network Connection Not Connected message. Went back in and turned security back on.

Appreciate all the help Shawn. This site is dedicated to discussing serious moding of Toughbooks and I feel like I'm taking up time with this dinky connect problem. Brother in law is a whiz and will be up for Xmas, I'll just have him look at it. Best regards.

 

Not all modems have settings for G, TurboG, etc. Here is the setup instructions for the C1000:

C1000A | Actiontec | Modems

Many people don't like the way WIFI managers (Intel's, AT&T's, or anyone else's) work, and uninstall them, and let Windows handle the wireless connections. Might try deleting the wireless profile in XP, and letting Windows re-detect the SSID. Then type in the password when asked for it. To delete the WIFI settings in XP, do this:

How to remove existing wireless network profile in Windows XP - Welcome to TP-LINK

 

Both my 29's (Mk.5) have the 2915 card and are running Windows 8, both cards connect to a mi-fi HSPA+ device.

Network Adapters in Control Panel shows "Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG" - but W8 "Networks" shows connection is 802.11n and WPA-PSK.
I thought the 2915 wasn't "n"-equipped?

When both laptops were running XP SP3 they eventually connected to this same mi-fi device just fine but I think I may have had to select WPA, maybe even WEP, not WPA2.
I think I had to pull batteries and mains leads on both 29's, hold switch, then switch back on with the mi-fi device already running.
Learned that here of course and now can't even remember whose work it is that I'm currently plagiarising

I do remember W8 found the connection right away. Both 29's connect automatically now, not sure if I chose that or if it's the default setting.
Failure to connect hasn't happened since I stopped using sleep and hibernate - no problem, I just shut down every time.

Sorry if none of this is any help. Stumbling around in the dark here...

 

No need to worry about our time. It's not a small problem. Who knows who may have the same problem next week. Your questions will help us help others.
Besides, I had a very similar problem this weekend.
I have an idea for you to try. Download the following file and let your DVD burning software burn a cd with the file. It will create an Ubuntu live cd which is bootable. It is a complete operating system. When the cd is done burning. put it in the cd drive of your cf29 and boot from it. You should have access to the router using Ubuntu:thumbsup:. THANKS :hi2:JEFF:hi2: for all of your work on that.

http://toughbooktalk.com/public_downloads/index.php?dir=Ubuntu%2010.10%20%27Toughbook%20Version%27-/&file=ubuntu-10.10-desktop-i386--.iso

Sleep and hibernate, especially in XP can cause problems. 2915 are not N devices.

 

This might also be a work around; try downloading this link and seeing if your hardware works to make sure it is software not hardware inhibiting you;
Jolicloud - Joli OS
This os has always worked for me wlhen xp would not