disable wifi adapter

samjesse · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:23 pm

Hi

My Wifi adapter does not support WPA2 Personal AES. I happened to have a Belkin USB external wifi adapter. Can I disable the built in adapter and use the external to fix my problem?
if so, how to?

thx

ajkula66 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:28 pm

What ThinkPad and which wireless card are we discussing here?

It's more than likely that the card can be upgraded to one that support WPA2...

samjesse · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:34 pm

A31
Actiontec Electronics, Inc
PRISM Wireless LAN
Dreiver: 2.00.09.010
Config. Uti: 2.00.09
NIC Firmware: 1.07.02.00

ajkula66 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:40 pm

I've got some good news and bad news...

The bad news: the only way to disable the wireless card on these machines is to physically remove it. There's no option in BIOS to do that like what we've seen on later models.

The good news is that you can buy an Intel 2200BG wireless card for $10 or so, install it in that A31, getting the full WPA 2 support. That's the card I currently have in my own A31p.

samjesse · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2011 10:02 pm

OK.

thx, I got the manual somewhere where I can follow it to remove the current card and install the new one "as you said" in its place.

samjesse · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2011 10:05 pm

ebay is ok for that?
http://shop.ebay.com.au/?_from=R40&_trk ... Categories

ajkula66 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2011 10:14 pm

Take the item # 270770218188

It's an IBM-issued card and is less likely to trigger the "1802 error" on boot.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm NOT affiliated with the seller in any way. Proceed at your own risk.

dr_st · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 4:50 am

ajkula66 wrote:

The bad news: the only way to disable the wireless card on these machines is to physically remove it. There's no option in BIOS to do that like what we've seen on later models.

Wouldn't Fn+F5 work as a soft disable though? One can also disable the networking device through the Windows standard interface.

ajkula66 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 6:43 am

No Fn+F5 on A3x units...

One could disable the card in Windows, absolutely.

samjesse · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 3:43 am

the card recommended has been installed after removing the old one.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270770218188&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
It did not have a plug for a third wire (not the Main and Aux) but the other one which is a 2 pin connector.
on boot I got.
Error
1802: Unauthorized network card is plugged in - Power off and remove the miniPCI network card.

ajkula66 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:25 am

Oh well...it was worth a shot.

Google for "no 1802 error" and follow the instructions, it's a quick and easy fix on these machines.

Good luck.

samjesse · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:23 am

what about the missing plug for the wire with the 2 pin connector?

ajkula66 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:25 pm

That's your 56K modem.

If you really need it, it can be put on a separate daughter card.

disable wifi adapter

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