[Ham-Computers] RE: Fujitsu Laptop Question

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

It's definitely an Intel component as evidenced by the "VEN_8086" in the
PnP device string.  Let's do a quick Google search on device 4220...

Hmmm, looks like it's a ProWireless 2200BG wireless NIC.

As mentioned in an earlier post, have you tried installing the
ProWireless drivers for the 2200BG?  The "generic" drivers are available
on Intel's website.  Current version is 10.1.1.3 and it's 78MB.  Here's
a direct link to the 2200BG support page:

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/pro2200bg/index.htm

Now, here's a twist.  Many vendors, in order to lock you into buying
"authorized" components, will not allow generic or 3rd party components
(such as RAM or Wireless NIC's) to be recognized.  The 2200BG is a
common miniPCI NIC and you can find the non-branded "generic" version on
Newegg for about $40.  The equivalent 2200BG card branded for HP/Compaq
costs $90.  The only difference is in the PnP ID - the SUBSYS and REV
numbers will be modified from the "generic" part.  However, it is also
possible that vendors will request additional changes to the hardware,
but this is not common.

There is a tool available that allows you to modify the EEPROM on 2200BG
NICs and change the PnP number.  This allows you to by the $40 part and
modify the string so the laptop sees it as a "authorized" part.  Is it
possible that your laptop has a "generic" 2200BG that was has an altered
PnP string?  Looking at the Intel drivers, "27018086" and "27028086" are
listed, so you just might want to try generic drivers mentioned above.
More specifically, "27018086" is described as "Intel 2200 mPCI 3B -
MoW".  Not sure what the "MoW" means, but it does indicate that
something's "different" from the generic part.  It looks like the P5010
is marketed in Asia, so it's possible that the "MoW" part supports
802.11b/g frequencies that aren't available in the U.S.

So we know for a fact that it's an Intel ProWireless 2200BG NIC.
Question is, can you use the "generic" drivers or do you need to use the
vendor specific drivers?  Considering the fact that you've already used
the OEM driver disc's), let's try the generic Intel drivers.

Testing is not a problem.  If the driver detects the NIC, then the
ProWireless client software will allow you to manage it.  If the client
can't find the NIC, it will tell you.

Also, another thing to consider.  Most laptops have some way of
disabling the Wireless NIC.  My older Compaq laptop has two buttons.
One button turns off the wireless NIC - when "pressed", the wireless NIC
is "disconnected" and doesn't show up in the device manager.  The second
"soft-key" button just turns the RF radio off - the NIC still shows up
in the device manager, but it can't connect to anything.  On my newer
Compaq laptop, it has just one button that disconnects both the WiFi and
Bluetooth devices.  A second option, in the Intel 2200BG Wireless
Client, allows me to turn off the radio - when it's "off", it still
shows up in the device manager, but the Intel Wireless "icon" in the
system tray has an "X" through it.  For reference, IIRC, on Dell
laptops, if you use the Wireless "soft-key", it disables the NIC, but it
stays in the device manager as a "disabled" device (with a red "X").  On
your Fujitsu, make sure the Wireless NIC is fully "enabled", via by
button, soft-key, or even the BIOS (there are often options to disable
WiFi via the BIOS).


Good luck!

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O
 


-----Original Message-----
From: ham-computers-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:ham-computers-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
paulahkolik at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8:50 PM
To: ham-computers at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Ham-Computers] Fujitsu Laptop Question

Greetings to thelist,


Hopefully, someone out there will be able to suggest a solution :-)

I have a Fujitsu Lifebook P5010 (specs are at
http://www.pc-ap.fujitsu.com/products/lb_p5010.html) running Win XP Home
w/ SP2, with all MS updates (as of this writing) and the usual yadda
yadda (firewall, antivirus, EchoLink, etc)

Here's the problem. I seem to have a "missing driver" according to
device manager, that despite using the OEM driver/applications CD, and
numerous calls to Fujitsu tech support, the driver can't be located, as
I've yet to determine exactly what this mysterious controller is.

According to device manager, it's a "Network Controller" but the only
"info" under properties is;


Location: PCI bus 1, device 13, function 0

Device Instance ID: 
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_4220&SUBSYS_27018086&REV_05\4&16793A72&0&68F0


Can anybody out there help?



Thank you

Paul W5PDA/4