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Centrino and VPN crash WinXP?

M

manko

Golden Member
Has anyone run into this problem? Does this problem with PROSet only happen when using the full Centrino package with Intel's wireless chipset, or will it also happen on a Pentium-M machine using another vendor's wireless card?

Intel's Centrino Chip Crashes Windows

Notebook and laptop computers based on Intel's new mobile and wireless Centrino chip architecture can experience a "blue screen" crash in Windows XP when running widely distributed virtual private network security software from Nortel Networks.

The conflict between Centrino and Nortel's Contivity VPN client stems from an adapter-switching feature in PROSet that allows users to automatically change from a wired to a wireless connection.

Intel spokesperson Daniel Francisco said the company "is looking into the problem" identified by Nortel, but he declined to provide any details. According to Intel's Web site, the problem extends to all VPN clients, something the company was aware of before it launched Centrino on March 12.

In an advisory authored on February 26 and posted on its Web site, Intel said, "The Intel PROSet Adapter Switching feature must be disabled when VPN client software is in use."
Click to expand...

 
It sounds like its a bug in intel's wireless driver/software. I'm sure if you disabled it and used another vendor's card you'd be ok. I can't tell if this is saying it only happens with Nortel's vpn client or not. I guess I could try to connect to my home machine from school tomorrow and see what happens with mine.
 
Thanks for the feedback. Actually, I'm still shopping so I don't have this problem myself, but I was wondering if it's common or not.

Here's a follow-up story:

Intel Squashes Centrino Bug

Intel spokesman Daniel Francisco said the chip maker had determined that the problem occurs when VPNs are used with the adaptive-switching utility in its Centrino PROSet software. That utility allows users to maintain a connection when they switch from a wired network connection to a wireless LAN connection.

Intel believes that most Centrino systems shipping today have the adaptive-switching functionality turned off, Francisco said. He added that the problem occurs with laptops made by more than one manufacturer and with VPNs from a number of vendors.
Click to expand...

It doesn't seem like the problem is actually fixed, but there is a workaround with some loss of functionality.
 
Actually, my T40 has been crashing when the wireless adapter is used. I don't use a VPN, but I had it set to auto connect using the fastest connection (either wired 10/100/1000 or wireless). I'm hoping that this is the bug. I'll give turning it off a shot.
 
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