IBM ThinkPad wireless LAN + Windows Updates = ARRRGGH

[TheGrandHooHa]

I have an IBM ThinkPad A31 laptop here, with built in wireless via an IBM High Rate Wireless MiniPCI. I recently installed Windows XP on it (was using 2000), and put SP2 on, and the wireless was working fine with the drivers I got from IBM's website. I installed some very minor automatic updates (i.e., not any huge service packs or anything), and when once I rebooted, I couldn't connect to my wireless network.

The device status (from the Device Manager) says that the device is working properly. However, if I look on the 'Status' tab for the device, it says 'Unable to communicate with device driver' for the state of the device. I have uninstalled-reinstalled the device and checked for any special drivers, but as far as I can tell, everything should be working. I installed about 16 updates all at once, so I can't really say what update did it, and they are not listed under Add/Remove programs, so I can't easily uninstall them.

Any ideas for me to try here, other than using this thing as a paperweight?

System specs:
P4M 1.6ghz
256mb ram
Win XP SP2
IBM High Rate Wireless LAN MiniPCI card

 

[Dogma420]

Did you install just 'critical updates'....no drivers from windows update right?

I would 'update driver' from ibm's website for the card or use rollback...windows critical updates shouldn't hose your wireless...I work on a lot of A31s and haven't seen this...although I have seen wireless be a bitch at times on all computers.

As a general rule, only critical patches should be installed from windows updates. If a driver is working ok, it is almost a sin to update it from windows update. Many a machine can be hosed in this way.