Using an IBM ThinkPad T42 with Windows XP -- everything worked until earlier today, suddenly I've got "Windows cannot configure this wireless connection" for some reason.

Went to various websites (on another computer), tried about 50 things, most of which involved Start > Run > typing things in the little box and none of which worked.

Device Manager says everything is working properly.

Many of the help sites mentioned going into Properties in my Wireless Network, but they consistently refer to a tab which I do not show, so that makes it difficult to use.

Tried to do a System Restore, but it will not allow me to go back any farther than Jan. 14 (which would probably be OK, but....) but when I try to do that, it tells me that System Restore was unsuccessful and that no changes have been made.

Anybody run into this sort of thing before?

Look at the Think advatage software. I think that is what it is called. Comes preloaded on the thinkpads and is a pain in the azz. Look at what software is controlling your wireless device.......

There are tons of IBM files in there but I can't find anything relating to internet controllers.

For example, this came from the Microsoft help site:


Use Windows to configure your wireless settings
Step 1: Go to the Start menu and select the Run option
Step 2: Enter ncpa.cpl� and click OK� to open the Network Connections� menu
Step 3: Select your wireless connection service and choose the option Change settings of this connection�.
Step 4: Go to the Wireless Networks tab and check the box labeled Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings�


....the problem is, there is no "Wireless Networks" tab to click on....

Go into control panel. Go into the properties of your wireless connection. Try deleting your wireless connection and then add it back......

I have seen this. That is when the software takes over. Have you tried shutting everything down and bringing it back up?

Tried that about a dozen times. It gets to "Renewing your IP address" and then either freezes or says it could not complete the process because it could not renew the IP.

It also won't show anything in the list of available wireless networks, which has never been a problem before. This computer usually sits about 5 feet away from the modem it's working off of.

Many times. No go.

Are you using a wireless router? Have you tried restarting that?

The computer is set up with internal WiFi. (Or it was until a few hours ago.) I've reset the modem I'm tapping into several times to see if that would help, but it didn't.

Where is the signal coming from? From your wifi? If I remember correctly those older thinkpads used to have a wifi on/off switch.

I went a few miles down the road and I'm able to connect here for some reason. It makes no sense. I've never had any problems connecting at the other place until today....?

Other then this issue how do you like the pad ? im in the market myself

Design-wise, I like it. It's easy to haul around and I like the fact that the letters on the keys aren't wearing off -- I had a Dell where the letters just vanished off the keys after about a year.

A couple of downsides -- there are "Last Page" and "Next Page" buttons right above the left and right arrow keys, and it makes it difficult to play some games where the arrow keys are used, without suddenly finding yourself elsewhere.

Also, there's this weird red circle thing in the middle of the keyboard (it's some sort of cursor controller, but they already provide a touchpad, and I'm using a mouse) and I keep jabbing it every time I try to hit the B key.

I'd give it a B+ (ooops, there's that damn red button again) overall.

i think it is something to do with XP... i remember having that same problem a while back, but i cannot remember how i fixed it... i'm pretty sure there is a reset button somewhere that will reset the windows to a like a new install, but it wipe everything from your comp...

Yeah, there's an "Access IBM" button that you can use before Windows boots up, but, like you said, it does a complete wipe. I'm not quite ready for that one.