T500, clean install, Fn-F5 wifi does not work...

[tlyczko]

I recently did clean install of Vista x64 to my T500 a while ago.

I can't recall now if the wireless drivers were installed through MS update or through ThinkVantage System Update.

It is an Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN.

Yesterday I discovered that Fn-F5 does not turn on the wireless in this laptop.

How can I fix this??

I do need to use wireless from time to time.

Thank you, Tom

[Kirkwood]

I had the same issue with being able to turn the Bluetooth radio on and off.  You have to install the Hotkey driver so that the Fn keys will work properly.

[tlyczko]

I installed the hotkey driver from the Lenovo support site and Fn-F5 still does not start wifi.

Maybe it has to be un-docked...I will try this next.

Anybody with any other suggestions??

Thank you, Tom

[ThinkGreen]

I assume you installed the WLAN drivers using the INF method.

To be able to use the FN-F5 key you need to install the MSI package. There is a way to get rid of the unwanted Intel profile manager which installs along with the drivers (Intel ProSet) by means of tweaking the MSI package with a tool like ORCA. This is a bit tricky as generating the TRANSFORM file needs a deeper understanding of what can be omitted and what is mandatory.

Anyway as a first shot I would try to manually install the Intel drivers and then install the Hotkeys again.

[LANOgre]

Also, a another good way to install the driver without getting the Intel PROSet is by following the instructions from the README... 

  1. Start Windows Vista and logon with administrative privileges.
  2. Double-click the driver package to extract it to your hard drive. (Follow
     default extraction settings.)
  3. Click Start, select All Programs, select Accessories, then click Run...
  4. Specify C:\DRIVERS\WIN\WLANINT\Autorun.EXE and click OK.
  5. Follow the instructions on the screen.
  6. Restart the computer*.

[tlyczko]

I don't recall how I instaled the WLAN drivers...inf or exe, probably exe since I have the Intel PRO/Set thing in my notebook.

However, I know this if I installed with the *.inf I would not get the Proset thing.

Furthermore, I discovered that the hardware switch is more than adequate for my needs rather than the Fn-F5.

BTW I got Fn-F5 installed and working -- turned out the first time I tried I only extracted the installer. LOL

After installing it and seeing how it works I discovered that the hardware switch works better for me.

Thank you, Tom