"MikeB" <MPBrede******.com> wrote in message
news:1b74e233-f1dd-4aa9-be89-4d2c5de1f964@l38g2000vba.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> I'm about to chuck my new $2K laptop with Vista Ultimate out of the
> window due to my frustration with wireless networking on the thing.
>
> Lenovo T500 Thinkpad
> Intel Core 2 Due Centrino with something called VPro
> Intel Wireless AGN 5300 wireless card
> Lenovo Access Connections (something that's supposed to manage and
> configure for various networks one might connect to).
> Firewall is Windows LIve OneCare firewall.
>
> My Router is a Netgear supplied by Time Warner Cable. I have two other
> computers running Windows XP that connet flawlessly and seamlessly to
> the wireless network.
>
> On the new laptop the wireless intermittently goes into something that
> Windows Networking reports as "Local Access Only" as opposed to "Local
> and Internet Access" when the computer is connected to the network.
> This is what the little networking icon in the notification section of
> the taskbar reports.
>
> I've managed to get it to reconnect by a process of try-this-and-see
> doiing one or more of the following. I have not yet identified a
> consistent sequence of activities that restore access.
>
> - powering off the wireless radio using the Access Connections icon
> in the notifications section,
>
> - disconnecting and reconnecting to the network from the networking
> icon in the notifications section of the taskbar
>
> - adjusting the settings of the firewall from "public place" to "Home/
> Work". Not sure why this doesn't remain as specified.
>
> - uninstalling the entire wireless network defiinition and
> reinstalling it.
>
> Sometimes one of the above actions seem to precipitate changes in the
> other areas and I"ve not yet manages to understand cause-and-effect in
> this area. For instance, sometimes disconnecting from the wireless
> network will turn off the wireless radio.
>
> Any help/advice will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks.[/color]

After about three agonizing months of dealing with Lenovo tech support,
including two in-home service calls which yielded zero help and cost me
hours of additional wasted time, and stubborn refusal on my part to get off
the phone until tech support put a manager on the phone, I managed to get
Lenovo to replace my T61 Thinkpad. The replacement Thinkpad was equally
problematic and after painful escalation of my myriad of issues, to include
the wireless networking issue you describe, I managed to get Lenovo to take
the second Thinkpad back and refund me my money. I won't bore you with the
details of the second phase of my war with Lenovo to get them to refund me a
15% restocking fee they withheld from the refund.

I tried everything you mentioned to get the Vista machine to sustain a
robust connection. My Windows XP desktop connected to my router flawlessly,
every time. the Lenovo Vista Thinkpad connected sporadically and often lost
the connection or would connect "local only".

Have you tried uninstalling the Lenovo Access Connections. I seem to recall
that it was a redundant program. Vista pretty much can do everything that
program does.