Thinkpad T41 and intel 2200 wireless miniPCI

[milka16]

@hyderabadi:

download the Windows 95B bootdisk image from www.bootdisk.info . then create a bootdisk with this image and copy the no-1802.com to the disk. then boot from the disk and execute the file. that's it!

 

[jgrantk]

Hey meyergru,

I just purchased a T41 (bios 1RETd4WW (3.08a)), I tried installing my generic Intel 2200BG and got the standard error. I applied the no-1802 fix and the card works. However, the LED does not. Also when I hit Fn F5, I get a message saying wireless adapters are not installed. Have you found a fix for this yet?

J

 

[imported_meyergru]

@jgrantk

There seems to be no easy fix for the WLAN LED problem, since this turns out to be some kind of hardware difference between the IBM-branded and other cards. I wonder if this is just a kind of wire bridge on the PCB, but cannot even try it, lacking an original IBM card. I guess we have to live with the dark LED.

With regard to the Fn F5 thing, there are updates from IBM available for both the Intel 2200 BG drivers and "IBM Access Connections", which is a software that controls network connections. It has some nice features, but also can get a real pain in the neck (TM). For example, it tries to identify your WLAN card and has trouble if the driver revision is too old (or too new). Even "Windows Update" can get in your way, if the WLAN drivers are updated automatically. Also, you should not use the original Intel drivers if you plan to stick to IBM Access Connections.

Within "Access IBM", there should be an option for automagically selecting and downloading updates for your specific machine configuration.

 

[maulwurf]

can u tell me which bios u modified.

i am searching for someone who is able to modify the firmware of the wirless card - in this case the intel 2200bg could the system be shown as original ibm wifi card?

in 2nd case tell me how you modified the bios in any way plz.

thx

maulwurf

 

[maulwurf]

tell me plz. how u modified and with which tools

Originally posted by: microwave
I installed new dualband/tripple mode ( 802.11 a/b/g , Atheros Chipset) mini pci on my thinkpad T42.<BR>My new device isn't cerified by IBM.At first, I patch the bios by using No-1802.com.Then I installed new device . After that, I find a new device's PCI ID and Subvendor , Subdevice ID and I modified my ROM BIOS Image by using PCI ID and Subvendor ID. I register my new device on ROM BIOS. Finally, I <BR>installed the IBM device driver.( As you know , New device chipset is same as IBM's that.)<BR>Wiress Status LED is Operating as same as Intelpro2200BG certified by IBM. Maybe, Upgrade device<BR>driver Supplied by IBM. <BR><BR>I hope that you will overlook many mistakes in my English.<BR><BR>LeoKim<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Originally posted by: milka16<BR>

Do your WLAN activity LEDs work O.K.?

<BR>no but i read somewhere that the leds work with the ibm card only....<BR><BR>

If so, with what card? Original Intel 2200BG or "IBM-type" 2200 BG or other?

<BR>i have the original 2200bg because the ibm model costs 4 times more

 

[Candid]

Originally posted by: meyergru
Hi all

@milka16, 777php, aphex

I had the same problem with the 1802 error on my T42p with an "non-IBM" Intel 2200BG card

This can indeed be fixed by setting the CMOS bit with the no-1802 utility. After that, the WLAN activity LED did not work any more, although everything else worked fine.

I thought that the firmware might not have initialized the card fully because that magic bit disabled it and fixed the BIOS as well. Even resetting the CMOS bit does not keep my system from booting now, so it seems I "did it right" (TM). Alas, the LED stays off.<BR>

As far as I undestand you set the bit to get the non IBM card working and it did. After this the WLan led does not light. You now cannot use the IBM tools like Fn+F5 and Access Connections to handle the WLan adapter because the Notebook does not recognize the WLan adapter as an IBM like and so the original IBM-Software does not work? Is that true?

Resetting/Unsetting the bit does not reawake the WLan led and does not bring back the 1802-error?

So setting the bit is one way? Can you confirm that please or did I misunderstand you?

How did you unset the bit after setting it? no-1802.com won't do this I think?

I tried to read the BIOS with phlash16 /BU but it did not work. It asked for a ROM file to write even with /BU option which should tell it only to write the current BIOS to a file. Is there another solution/programm for reading the BIOS?

I hope that one of the specialists will write a tool that fixes that bullshit issue of the IBM-BIOS. I contacted IBM support but I am shure I know the answer.

 

[Candid]

Originally posted by: jgrantk
Hey meyergru,

I just purchased a T41 (bios 1RETd4WW (3.08a)), I tried installing my generic Intel 2200BG and got the standard error. I applied the no-1802 fix and the card works. However, the LED does not. Also when I hit Fn F5, I get a message saying wireless adapters are not installed. Have you found a fix for this yet?

J

So you are not able to enable/disable WLan I think. I only enable WLan when I need it and so no-1802.com won't be a good thing I think.

Seemes we need a tool that reads the BIOS, patches the IDs and writes it back or IBM has to remove that bug.

 

[imported_meyergru]

Sorry for replying so late, but I was on vacation.

@maulwurf:

> can u tell me which bios u modified.
>
>i am searching for someone who is able to modify the firmware of the wirless card - in this case the intel >2200bg could the system be shown as original ibm wifi card?
>
>in 2nd case tell me how you modified the bios in any way plz.

I think there is a kind of misconception you have: The BIOS modification just lets the Thinkpad think it knows that specific kind of WLAN adapter. Every PCI card has so-called PCI IDs and the ones IBM sells are hard-coded into the BIOS. If a non-IBM card is detected, the BIOS stops with an error code. Modifying the BIOS is moot, since setting the magic CMOS bit with the no-1802 program disables the check anyway. The only difference between the two methods would be if you cleared the CMOS completely (e.g. if the CMOS battery fails), the computer would fail to work if you used the no-1802 method. Modifying the BIOS is a complicated and dangerous task and I will give no details.

Modifying the BIOS does not influcence the WLAN card whatsoever. There is no way (at least not documented) to "modify the firmware of the wireless card", most likely, it does not even have a firmware.

None of these methods does provide the display of the WLAN activity LED with non-IBM 2200 BG adaptors, since Intel delivers different types of hardware for different Centrino vendors. The differ in PCI IDs (causing the 1802 error in Thinkpads) and in WLAN activity activation (an optional feature of the Mini-PCI standard).

@Candid:

Maybe the section above does clarify what happens with regard to hardware and BIOS startup. After that, Windows starts up and the drivers take over. The LED problem seems to be unrelated to drivers. With different hardware (e.g. non-2200BG, such as Atheros a/b/g cards), even the LED might work.

What poses a little problem is that a) Windows b) Intel and c) IBM all provide drivers (plus utilities) for the same type of card and the different online update procedures (Windows Update, IBM Access, Internet download) can interfere. IBM for example provides the Intel drivers but uses an own utility for WLAN selection and parameter changes (IBM Access Connections). Thus, three types of utilities can interfere: IBM Access Connections, Window's own WLAN utilities (even more so with SP2) and Intel's utilities if you ever installed their 2200BG drivers. The IBM utility does check for the driver version numbers and refuses to work with versions it does not know (much like the BIOS). But: the IBM drivers do in fact work with a non-IBM 2200 BG card (since they are plain Intel drivers sans the Intel utility). Every software function works, including enabling and disabling WLAN.

As for modifying the BIOS: yes, the problems you describe are exactly the ones you can expect, since the format IBM uses for their images is compressed. And as I have written, the whole process is utterly useless, since setting the magic bit by no-1802.com is essentially equivalent. No other problems than disabling the 1802 error can be achieved by modifying the BIOS, sorry.

So, my point being is: Use the no-1802.com, it will fix all that is fixable. Use the IBM drivers and utilities (but be sure to download the newer versions). IBM's point of view is that they tell everyone on their website that only IBM hardware is supported, so "nothing is wrong" (TM).

 

[Candid]

Originally posted by: meyergru
@Candid:
[...]
The IBM utility does check for the driver version numbers and refuses to work with versions it does not know (much like the BIOS). But: the IBM drivers do in fact work with a non-IBM 2200 BG card (since they are plain Intel drivers sans the Intel utility). Every software function works, including enabling and disabling WLAN.

Sorry that I have to ask again. But I really want to be shure what I do before I use the patch.

If I understood right you can use the IBM software (Fn+F5 and Access Connections) with the WLan Intel 2200BG not IBM branded card if you use the the original Intel drives prvided by IBM (current version is 8.1.0.25 for my T41). Only the WLan-LED won't work.
The only thing I have to look at is that I use compatible versions of the IBM software. I check the driver matrix for my T41 every some weeks and normally update the drivers so that I always use compatible versions. Today this would be Access Connections 3.30 and WLan driver 8.1.0.25 for the 2200 BG.
In another posting I read that Fn+F5 won't work anymore so I was confused about that.

Originally posted by: meyergru
So, my point being is: Use the no-1802.com, it will fix all that is fixable. Use the IBM drivers and utilities (but be sure to download the newer versions). IBM's point of view is that they tell everyone on their website that only IBM hardware is supported, so "nothing is wrong" (TM).

First I will contact IBM support and let them know what I think about that BUG. It won't help I think but maybee in future IBM will become somewhat compatible.

Thank you for your quick response!

 

[imported_meyergru]

@Candid:

Yup, that's what it does for me. Although I have not verified the driver and utilities versions (I have the newest, as far as I know). The posting with the Fn+F5 version referred to older versions, there were some incompatibilities with the IBM keyboard driver as well (which is in charge of interpreting the Fn keypresses).

I (and some other people) have complained to IBM. So far, to no avail. Bad for the customers, but understandable. Maybe one could argue that Intel is responsible in part. They told me: "Bei den Intel[R] PRO/Wireless 2200BG und 2100 Adaptern handelt es sich um OEM Produkte, die als Bestandteile der Intel[R] Centrino[TM] Technologie nur an Notebook Hersteller weitergegeben werden. Installation der Technologie durch Endbenutzer wird nicht unterstuetzt. Bitte wenden Sie sich mit allen Anfragen an den Notebook Hersteller." which roughly translates to: "Centrino products are meant for OEMs only. Installation of this technology by end users is not supported. Please refer to your notebook manufacturer for all support questions." If this is so, then why are the WLAN cards sold separately in the first place?

 

[Candid]

Originally posted by: meyergru
@Candid:

Yup, that's what it does for me. Although I have not verified the driver and utilities versions (I have the newest, as far as I know). The posting with the Fn+F5 version referred to older versions, there were some incompatibilities with the IBM keyboard driver as well (which is in charge of interpreting the Fn keypresses).

Wow, that sounds good to me. So werde ich dann wohl auch den Patch anwenden, sofern ich nicht doch die Karte umgetauscht bekomme. Da wir nicht wenige IBM Notebooks und viel andere Hardware von IBM kaufen ist das vielleicht machbar.

For the english speeking people: I will try the patch if IBM does not change the WLan card. We are bying many IBM notebooks and other hardware and so I hope our IBM dealer will "transform" my non IBM Intel 2200 BG to an IBM proved.

Originally posted by: meyergru
I (and some other people) have complained to IBM. So far, to no avail. Bad for the customers, but understandable. Maybe one could argue that Intel is responsible in part. They told me: "Bei den Intel[R] PRO/Wireless 2200BG und 2100 Adaptern handelt es sich um OEM Produkte, die als Bestandteile der Intel[R] Centrino[TM] Technologie nur an Notebook Hersteller weitergegeben werden. Installation der Technologie durch Endbenutzer wird nicht unterstuetzt. Bitte wenden Sie sich mit allen Anfragen an den Notebook Hersteller." which roughly translates to: "Centrino products are meant for OEMs only. Installation of this technology by end users is not supported. Please refer to your notebook manufacturer for all support questions." If this is so, then why are the WLAN cards sold separately in the first place?

Danke habe ich verstanden. I got it. So at the end only the not working WLan LED will be what I would have to live with. For saving 110,- EUR it is something I can accept.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Candid]

Hi,

now I patched with no-1802.com and the card works fine. Access Connections does two. But I cannot enable/disable the WLan-Card with the Fn+F5 Commodity. I only get the Bluetooth network adapter displayed.

I uninstalled all the tools and the WLan card drivers and reinstalled them with the IBM installation programm but it is not displayed in the Fn+F5 Commodity.

Does anyone have a solution for that?

I checked the version numbers and I have the newest one running.

 

[mibas]

If You want to use IBM tools instead of Intel's one You have to modify it, IBM software has another "whitelist" of allowed hardware inside.
To do it You need a hex editor (i.e. freeware Hview) and You have to modify two files - qcon.dll and TpFnF5C.exe. The first one allows you to search for existing wireless network around You within IBM Access Connection software, the second one allows You to switch on and off wireless adapter with Fn+F5 key.
How to do it? At first make a backup of this files. Check the PCI Vendor &amp; Device ID &amp; Subs ID of Yours card (if it's Intel 2220BG - it should be 8086 4220 27018086 or 27028086, an "Intel from IBM" is 2711 or 2712) Next run Hview, load file which You want to modify and look for string "VEN_8086&amp;DEV_4220&amp;SUBSYS_27118086" if your card is "2701". Change "2711" (IBM) to "2701" (yours). Probably contents of modified file is protected by checksum, so sum of modifications should be equal zero. Find any _another_ similar string (i.e. next one) and add one to it. I.e change "8086" to "8186", save the file. Repeat on second file. That's all.
Unfortunately LED is controlled by hardware, so it will not work.

cheers
Michal

 

[Candid]

Perfect!

Thank you very much. It works now fine for me. I really have to thank meyergru and mibas very much for their perfect and quick support.

One question only: I did not know how to find out my 2200 BGs PCI Vendor &amp; Device ID &amp; Subs ID. So I tested with 8086 4220 27018086 and 8086 4220 27028086. The second worked. How can I find that IDs in my system?

 

[mibas]

any good diagnostic program can show it (i.e. AIDA32 - now EVEREST), or You can check it in registry:
HKLM->System->CurrentControlSet->Enum->PCI
or HKCC->System->CurrentControlSet->Enum->PCI

Michal

 

[zebbe323]

Hello there!

Im new at this and i have a T40 without Wifi+BT...

So, correct me if im wrong...

If i buy a intel 2200 wificard, i can put it into the empty slot, and if i exec the no-1802, it should work? My qusetion is however if the card uses the built in antennas? Thats the important issue for me since ordinary PCMCIA cards sucks when it comes to range...

The issue of getting the LED to glow, how about that?

Thanx guys...

 

[Candid]

Originally posted by: zebbe323
If i buy a intel 2200 wificard, i can put it into the empty slot, and if i exec the no-1802, it should work? My qusetion is however if the card uses the built in antennas? Thats the important issue for me since ordinary PCMCIA cards sucks when it comes to range...

The issue of getting the LED to glow, how about that?

Thanx guys...

Yes thats the way it works. But if you want to use the original IBM software like Access Connections and/or the Fn+F5 Commodity you have to patch them like described by mibas (thanks for that).

The LED does not glow. I hope that I can have a look at an original IBM Intel 2200 to find the glitch. But concerning the IBM price (133,- EUR I think) and what you pay at eBay or some dealers (I paid 26,- EUR) its is not hard to live with that.

 

[imported_meyergru]

@candid:

I hope that I can have a look at an original IBM Intel 2200 to find the glitch.

If you are so lucky and get access to such a beast, you should look for the soldering/layout with regard to Mini-PCI Pins #11 (LED1_GRNP) and #12 (LED2_YELP). There is a reference to a copy of the Mini-PCI standard at http://www.congenio.de/infos/thinkpad.html . If you get any info, please post it here!

@mibas:

I really missed the Fn+F5 problem, there really is the PCI ID hardcoded into both qcon.dll (this does the actual switching) and TpFnF5C.EXE file (which is the controlling application). In my case, also the 2702 sub-type did it instead of the 2701 (I had to patch in more than 2 places, I think). Thanks very much for the info!

 

[mibas]

You are welcome.
My 2200BG is also "2702".
I think, that the difference between "Intel" and "IBM" card is caused by differences in internal configuration memory. Probably it's necesssary to switch only one bit to make LED working and change another memory cell to turn "2702" into "2712". But how to do it and which one?

Michal

 

[imported_meyergru]

@mibas:

I think, that the difference between "Intel" and "IBM" card is caused by differences in internal configuration memory. Probably it's necesssary to switch only one bit to make LED working and change another memory cell to turn "2702" into "2712". But how to do it and which one?

There is indeed strong evidence that this might be feasible:

The Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG network connection is also software upgradeable, allowing it to support future security and other service enhancements.

If this relates to deeper-going changes like WPA2 with different encryption algorithms (AES), this cannot mean usual driver upgrades, but must refer to firmware or microcode, IMHO. But, there is no firmware update available yet as far as I know. Intel may already have chosen to include such upgrades in the drivers as well, so nobody would notice at all.

Maybe there is a kind of manufacturing utility which can do such things, but I have not yet found it. This would be a great thing to have, since we seem not to be alone with our problem:

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/ser...wer.do?threadId=567021

(Also interesting is that FCC regulations seem to be involved. Notebooks get certified as a whole, including a predefined set of broadcast-relevant add-ons.)

Anyone with good relations to Intel help out?

 

[zebbe323]

Hi there again! I've bought the card now.. but there seems to be no good instruction for how to run the no-1802.com file... i went to the page where there were supposed to be a win95bootimage or something like it.. but i didnt find it... isnt it enough to start dos, whatever operating system(win95, 98, ME, asf)..??

 

[Candid]

Originally posted by: zebbe323
Hi there again! I've bought the card now.. but there seems to be no good instruction for how to run the no-1802.com file... i went to the page where there were supposed to be a win95bootimage or something like it.. but i didnt find it... isnt it enough to start dos, whatever operating system(win95, 98, ME, asf)..??

1. go to http://www.bootdisk.info/index.php
2. click on 'Downloads' in the main menu
3. click 'Bootdisk standard'
4. choose 'Microsoft Windows 95/98/98SE/ME'
4. choose 'Microsoft Windows 95 B'
5. click 'Download file: here'

That is the Windows95B-Boot-Disk. Copy the no-1802.com file to that disk and boot with it. The start no-1802.com. That's it.

 

[zebbe323]

Hi there! I got my card today!

However, i didnt occur to me that i dont have a floppydrive... what to do? Can i boot from a CD?

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: zebbe323
Hi there! I got my card today!

However, i didnt occur to me that i dont have a floppydrive... what to do? Can i boot from a CD?

Yes. Follow above steps on a pc w/ a cdburner and a floppy drive. Use the cdburning software to create a bootable cd using that floppy disk. If you don't know how to do that, search her or google for that particular program and 'bootable cd' and it should be fairly straightfoward.

 

[Arschloch]

For the uninitiated out there (me)...

Can someone please explain the advantage(s) of using the wireless miniPCI adapter versus a standard wireless PCMCIA card?

I have a Thinkpad R40 without miniPCI, so I have a wireless card that seems to work fine for me.

Thanks.