MAC OS 10.4.11 connecting to WPA2 Enterprise not permanently working

Question

Hi,
I have an issue with the following environment. I will try to simply my wording to help understand the problem.
Hardware: Macbook Pro 17" Intel Core 2 Duo and Macbook laptops
Operating System: Both run MAC OS 10.4.11 fully updated (According to Apple Reps, this operating system is no longer supported)
Airport cards: Both have Airport Extreme cards. The Macbook Pro's card is using Firmware version 1.4.4 ( card type requirement to connect to WPA2 Enterprise network)
Connection type: Connected via PEAP (Inner Protocol:MSCHAPv2)
Wireless Access Point (WAP): Cisco Aironet 1142: Macbook connects to WAP to gain access to the Internet.
Cisco ACS version 5 server (validates macbook username and password entries to Microsoft AD servers.)
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Active Directory (holds user accounts) 
Other Operating systems MAC OS 10.5 to MAC OS 10.7 (Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Lion make automatic connections.)
Basically, the process is that the macbook user enters in their email username and password into a WPA2 Enterprise wireless connection. The Cisco 1142 broadcasts the SSID for the user to connect to. Once the wireless connection is made to the Cisco 1142 WAP, the WAP sends the username and password to the ACS server. The ACS server verifies the username and password from the macbook to Microsoft Windows Server AD user accounts. If the password is validated, then the ACS grants access to the wireless Internet to the macbook user.
The wireless configuration involves the following process:
1. Click on the desktop, Go should be available now.
2. Click on Go, then Applications. The Applications window will appear.
3. Click on Internet Connect.
4. By default, The 802.1X connection is not available. We will be using the 802.1X connection to enter and save the username and password. Click on File and select "New 802.1X Connection."
5. A windows should appear. Under Configurations, select Edit Configurations.
6. An 802.1X windows will appear to enter in the following:
- Description: name of connection
- Network port: Airport
-User Name: domain\username or just username of email account
-password: password for email account
-Wireless Network: SSID of Cisco Aironet 1142 Wireless Access Point (WAP)
-Authentication PEAP configured with outer identity of anonymous. We uncheck TTLS, EAP-FAST, LEAP, and MD5.
7. Click Ok. Select Connect and it should connect to the SSID if the username and password are valid accounts.
8. Select File and then "Export 802.1X Configuration to login Window."
To verify connection:
1. We go to Apple - System Preferences and select Network.
2. The Airport should say that it is conected to the SSID. You are connected to the Internet via Airport.
3. Go a little deeper, we click on configure for the Airport.
4. Under By default join: select Preferred networks. Under network name, we should see the SSID connection. We select it and click on the edit button.
5. We verify that the connection has Network Name, Wireless Security, User Name, Password, and 802.1X Configuration entered in correctly. We select Ok after verification or modification. Then we select Apply Now to save any changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------The Problems---------------------------------------------------------------------
1. When shutting down the system and then turning it on. The Airport doesn't make a connecation to the SSID being broadcasted automatically. We would have to turn the airport off and back on for it to make an connection.
2. When the laptop is left idle or goes to sleep, the wireless connection drops. The user would have to turn the airport off and back on to stay connected.
Is there a fix for this?
Thank you to anyone that would take time to read this and provide helpful feedback.

Answer 1

The "v" key at startup is not Safe Mode. Try holding the Shift key down and restart for Safe Mode. This will disable extensions and help it start. It also checks some things out.
Can you start it up from your Tiger disc? Hold the C key down at startup until you see the Apple.
Your hard drive may be going kaput. Hope you have a good backup.