HELP! grad student laptop wireless problem

[saspur]

Hi.

My Thinkpad X61 suddenly cannot find any wireless device. It happened when I was downloading an antivirus trial version at school yesterday. It simply cannot locate any wireless device when I do "search for wireless ". I thought the school's network was down. But when I went home and put it next to the Verizon router, it stil says "cannot find network" when I clicked "search for WLAN". All WLAN configurations are correct (with non-key at my school and 10 digit WEP key at my home). But the signal itensity is 0%, with a "not assigned IP address". I clicked the link "help me solve this problem" and under "connection status" it says "error code 007, chosen wireless network out of range or inaccessible, please move to a closer position and retry". This is wrong because all my roomate's and labmate's computers have excellent wireless connections at home and school.

My question is, is it a software problem or a hardware malfunction? I need help!

I am doing research, and without a laptop that can go online is completely frustrating.

Thanks

[timuralp]

My question is, is it a software problem or a hardware malfunction? I need help!

I am doing research, and without a laptop that can go online is completely frustrating.

Could be either one, but most likely hardware. The laptop should have an RF kill switch, which disables the antenna. From the Setup guide picture the switch is on the front (http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/42w9980.pdf).Then I guess there is also the fn+f5 combination which can be used to disable the card. I would make sure it's not disabled through either of these.

You can check that the card is recognized and working properly in device manager. If it's not disabled, then maybe the card or the antennae were damaged. In the worst case, replacing a card with a different mini-PCI card is only $40-50. Replacing the antennae would be more tedious, but should also be pretty inexpensive. Lenovo has guides on how to take the laptop apart to do that. To access the card, very little need to removed, I think (only a few screws and a backplate).

[Eigen]

The only other thing I can think of is that the antivirus trial included a firewall, which is screwing with your ability to access wireless networks.

[saspur]

Could be either one, but most likely hardware. The laptop should have an RF kill switch, which disables the antenna. From the Setup guide picture the switch is on the front (http://download.leno...pdf/42w9980.pdf).Then I guess there is also the fn+f5 combination which can be used to disable the card. I would make sure it's not disabled through either of these.

You can check that the card is recognized and working properly in device manager. If it's not disabled, then maybe the card or the antennae were damaged. In the worst case, replacing a card with a different mini-PCI card is only $40-50. Replacing the antennae would be more tedious, but should also be pretty inexpensive. Lenovo has guides on how to take the laptop apart to do that. To access the card, very little need to removed, I think (only a few screws and a backplate).

Thanks a lot.

I checked the fn+f5, and under "wireless communication" the bluetooth connection is on, but the 802.11 wireless connection is off even though the wireless connection indicator light at the bottom of the screen is on. I tried clicking "open" at the fn+f5 panel but the 802.11 wireless connection label is still gray (the bluetooth label is shining green)

[timuralp]

I checked the fn+f5, and under "wireless communication" the bluetooth connection is on, but the 802.11 wireless connection is off even though the wireless connection indicator light at the bottom of the screen is on. I tried clicking "open" at the fn+f5 panel but the 802.11 wireless connection label is still gray (the bluetooth label is shining green)

Have you checked the switch that's on the front of the laptop? Could you please make sure it's set to "on" (i.e. laptop with waves coming out of it)? It should look like this:

[saspur]

Have you checked the switch that's on the front of the laptop? Could you please make sure it's set to "on" (i.e. laptop with waves coming out of it)? It should look like this:

Yeah, the switch is set to "on".

[saspur]

The only other thing I can think of is that the antivirus trial included a firewall, which is screwing with your ability to access wireless networks.

I have already deleted the antivirus trial but my wireless is still down

[timuralp]

Can you upload a screenshot of the menu when you press Fn+F5? Is there a way to turn it on after you press Fn+F5? I don't have the same model laptop. It would maybe make sense to either call customer service or post on one of the TP discussion forums.

[saspur]

Can you upload a screenshot of the menu when you press Fn+F5? Is there a way to turn it on after you press Fn+F5? I don't have the same model laptop. It would maybe make sense to either call customer service or post on one of the TP discussion forums.

It looks like this.

[saspur]