Note: Nothing is this email should be construed as coming from Intel
or as any kind of official announcement or committment. They are
simply the private opinions of the author.

John Navas <spamfilter1@navasgroup.com> writes:

> On Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:59:02 -0400, Chris F Clark
> <cfc@shell01.TheWorld.com> wrote in
> <sddd53b1d3t.fsf@shell01.TheWorld.com>:
>
>>Well, this is interesting. I've seen the output of ipconfig before and
>>I know this is NOT the expected output. And, it's particularly
>>surprising, since at the moment I am NOT having a problem with my
>>wireless connection. I then called up the wireless access connections
>>and it gives the information below.
>>
>>ipconfig /all
>>
>>Windows IP Configuration
>>An internal error occurred: A device attached to the system is not functioning.
>>Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services for further help.
>>Additional information: Unknown media status code.
>
> This is a known problem to which I've posted work-arounds -- see
> <http://groups.google.com/group/alt.internet.wireless/browse_frm/thread/1f5b6a321fd8ef35>
>
> --
> Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
> John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
> Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
> Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

The workarounds are problematic. I work for Intel and this laptop
(and the software on it) is managed by Intel's IT department. The
corporate security policy is that we need to use Thinkpad access
connections (and Intel PROSet) on our laptops. In fact, they take a
very dim view of us reinstalling or rolling-back any drivers on our
systems. They don't even let us use Windows Update, since it might
introduce patches that "they" (the corporate IT department) haven't
"verified".

Thus, you've just turned a technical problem into a political one for
me--how to "fix" my machine without breaking my conditions of
employment.

Are there any "current" drivers which work? If not, what is the "most
current" driver that works? I will need to call IT and get permission
to install them, but there is a chance for that to be allowed,
particularly if it is a current driver (and not an older one).

The machine in question is a thinkpad T42p (and the wireless card, is
that standard one that IBM built into such units).

However, if the problem is just ipconfig not working (e.g. not
displaying the information). Is there another workaround possible?
Can I get the relevant information another way?

As I said, using access connections I get a connection and within that
program I can see the various addresses (well, I didn't find the DNS
server addresses, but I did find the addresses I previously
displayed). Moreover, I *always* use access connections, someone
(IBM? the IT department?) built turning it on into the laptop boot
procedure--access conections (and perhaps a new driver) was part of a
recent patch applied to the machine (automatically, by the IT program
that keeps our machines "in spec").

Therefore, I don't care very much if ipconfig is broken, except as it
relates to tracking down the mysterious problem of sometimes losing
connectivity, which if I recall correctly predates ipconfig being
broken (as I knew it worked at one time, since I used to use a perl
script that ran ipconfig and grepped the address to determine whether
my laptop was at home or at work).

On a related note, if there is some problem with the drivers, and you
have information that I should pass along, I can see if I can do
that--I don't know if I will be able to find the right people to pass
it along to, but I will try. We do try to "eat our own dog food" and
thus force ourselves to fix the problems that we have created.

Thanks,
-Chris

Note: Nothing is this email should be construed as coming from Intel
or as any kind of official announcement or committment. They are
simply the private opinions of the author.