Wireless stops working when I switch to battery

[mynameiskate]

I have an IBM ThinkPad R40 running Windows XP professional.  I don't have my Windows CD because my computer was issued by my university 4 years ago (which also means I'm not longer eligible for tech support through them!).

For the past few months, I have been having a problem where if I am using a wireless connection and I switch from AC power to battery power or vice versa, the wireless connection loses connectivity.  If I click "repair," the problem is fixed and the internet works fine, but this continues to happen.  My wireless card is a Cisco Systems PCI Wireless Adapter, I think.

This does not happen if I am connected via ethernet cable, and happens no matter what network or ISP I use.

Can somebody help?  I'm sure you'll need more information, but please feel free to ask.

[Jonas Wauters]

Welcome to CHF Skate
This could have something to do with the power options.
You can modify the priority of some programs and hardware (in some power option programs). If you set it to low than you could have this sort of problem.
Are you still using the Default power option program (than I mean the one of windows)?

Jonas

[mynameiskate]

Thanks for the reply!

The only power management settings I have ever changed are that I set my monitor to turn off sooner when the computer is idle.  Otherwise, everything is the same as it was when I got the machine.

[Jonas Wauters]

And you didn't have that problem from the begging?
I'm guessing you didn't.
What are you recent changes before it started happening?

Jonas

[mynameiskate]

No, I had the computer for about 3 and 1/2 years before it started happening.

It was a while back, but I do think it might have started happening when I changed some of my power settings--but the only things I did were change the amount of time before the monitor shuts off when the computer is idle (I changed it from 20 minutes to 5).

I went back and changed all that--even put it on "minimal power management"--and nothing changed.

Other than that, I have really left my computer alone as best I can, since I knew I wasn't going to be able to afford a new one for a while:)

[2k_dummy]

Right click your LAN connection and select properties. Next to the network controller click configure. Look at the power options and see if allow computer to turn off to conserve power is selected.

[Jonas Wauters]

I did not know that you could do it that way.
Looks like your getting better help.

Jonas

[mynameiskate]

Thanks Jonas:)

I changed the setting you suggested, 2k_dummy, by unchecking the box for "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."  I am still having the same problem.

Is there a way to do this for my wireless connection?  I did it for my LAN, but couldn't find how to do it for the wireless connection.  Would it amount to the same thing?

[2k_dummy]

Yes. Locate the wireless card (probably in a drop down menu) and set it the same way.

[Jonas Wauters]

Alright now that you know that it isn't the power setting who disconnected you we can try something else.
What protection do you have?

Jonas

[mynameiskate]

I use Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition.

[Jonas Wauters]

Oh No not Norton!!
Alright, try to do a scan and be sure that you're up-to-date before scanning.

Jonas

[mynameiskate]

Done.  Nothing strange came up.  Recently I got a virus, which norton caught, but this problem is months old so I doubt the two are connected.

[patio]

How old is the battery in the Thinkpad ? ?

[mynameiskate]

About 4 years old.  Surprisingly, the battery still works fine--I get about 2 hours of life out of it, which is nearly as much as I ever got.

[patio]

OK. I was just suspecting the battery as they do lose effectiveness over the years.

Is there any documentation for the Cisco wireless card in this issue or have you traveled to their site ? ?

The other place to look into since you have checked all the Windows based power options would be the power saving modes built into the laptop itself. These are normally  under a seperate listing in Control Panel and would be run by the Thinkpad software itself and or in the BIOS
Check your laptop documentation as well...

[mynameiskate]

Thanks to everyone for your help.

Since my computer's from my university, I called up their tech support yesterday on the off chance that I was still covered (I graduated in May, so I assumed my tech support coverage had run out).  Turns out yesterday was the last day of coverage, what luck!

Anyway, the problem is apparently one that many ThinkPad R40s and T40s have, and it has to do with a driver needed for Think Vantage Access Connections, the default LAN management program.  I uninstalled that program about a year ago, because it was giving me serious trouble and making my computer run extremely slow. 

Basically, there is no way to fix the problem unless I reinstall Think Vantage Access Connections with the new driver, which I'm not too keen on.  IBM doesn't support any kind of fix if you're using windows to configure your wireless connection.  On the upshot, the guy said that the IBM program is now much better and doesn't slow down your computer as much, so I'm at least going to give it a shot.

Thanks again everybody--at least if this same thing comes up again, you'll all look like geniuses for knowing the answer