T400 Vista vs Access Connections

Question

(I hope this doesn't show up twice.  My first try failed with an undecipherable server error)
Basically, wifi is unusable on my new T400 when running Vista Ultimate or Vista Business 64.  If I run XP it works just fine.  All 3 are stock Lenovo OEM installs from factory media.
My home wifi router is sitting close to the laptop.  W/Vista, I can usually see it via "find" but usually can't connect.  Occasionally after rebooting I can.  Sometimes I can't even see it in find.  W/XP on this T400, or with XP on my T61, it works as expected.
I suspect confiicts between Vista wifi management and Access Connections.  With XP, one could solve this by unchecking the "let windows manage..." box in wifi properties.  There doesn't seem to be such an option in Vista.   I have tried disabling the windows "Zero Configuration" service (WLAN Autoconfig after SP1) but that doesn't help.  Without that service, AC can't even turn on the radio.  Worse (!) I can't turn the radio on manually via Fx-F5 either.  Bluetooth yes, wifi no.
It looks like AC actually uses some/all of the WLAN Autoconfig function.
One thing I haven't tried yet is uninstalling AC and just using the Vista wifi management.  Even if that works, it gives up a lot in terms of profile management.
I welcome any suggestions.  As it stands, this shiny new T400 is unusable.   It's a nice little machine, but this isn't the first of the frustrations....
Thanks,
Z
Message Edited by zoltanthegypsy on 10-24-2008 03:38 PM
The large print: please read the Community Participation Rules before posting. Include as much information as possible: model, machine type, operating system, and a descriptive subject line. Do not include personal information: serial number, telephone number, email address, etc.  The fine print: I do not work for, nor do I speak for Lenovo. Unsolicited private messages will be ignored. ... GeezBlog
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Answer 1

Unfortunately, I need to use this thing on the road as well as at home, so a fixed IP address isn't an option since I won't know what subnet(s) will be in use.  I experienced the same problems last weekend at two hotels and in the Denver airport, so it isn't my router.
I have done quite a bit more experimentation with this problem, without any resolution.  I do notice that when it fails Vista thinks it is connected, but only locally.  It has assigned a 169... address which I take to mean that DHCP has failed.  Trying a command: ipconfig /renew fails with an error.
If I let  it fail, then reboot, it usually will succeed as long as I try to connect to the same access point that failed before the reboot.
I tried uninstalling Access Connections, but Vista has the same problem(s) when it is doing the management!  Failed connections, local only connections, and often success after a reboot.  One interesting and nasty difference is that when using the Windows management w/out Access Connections, wired connections will also fail in the same way!
I see many, many people on the web who are having similar problems.   Some of the threads go back more than a year with no resolution.
I have gone around and around with IBM/Lenovo support.  They have escalated the problem to a series of lead techs who never return phone calls.  Very disappointing, since the first tier techs are quite friendly and helpful - and generally return calls.
My next step is to go back to the nice man who handles escalations from the sales side, and ask him where to send this piece of junk.   It boggles my mind that Microsoft and Lenovo will put this kind of half-baked crap in the marketplace, and then do nothing to get it working.
Z.
The large print: please read the Community Participation Rules before posting. Include as much information as possible: model, machine type, operating system, and a descriptive subject line. Do not include personal information: serial number, telephone number, email address, etc.  The fine print: I do not work for, nor do I speak for Lenovo. Unsolicited private messages will be ignored. ... GeezBlog
English Community   Deutsche Community   Comunidad en Español   Русскоязычное Сообщество