Computer Help Request

[eredien]

So, I don't usually do this, but I'm a bit desperate for my machine to work again.

I'm running an IBM Thinkpad T42 with Linux Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Lucid Lynx.

For the past week or so, internet connectivity was very spotty. The card would basically keep searching for the network every 5 minutes or so, even if it was right next to the router.

Then, I turned on the computer early last week and, after the 1st bootup screen, got 2 beeps and the following error:

ERROR
Resource Conflict - PCI Network Controller in slot 01
Bus:02, Device:02, Function:00
Press to setup

So, I pressed F1, poked around a bit on forums, reset everything to factory defaults, saved, and restarted. Same error.

Later, some other docs I found online suggested talking out the network card and putting it back in to reset the BIOS. This worked for a day, and then poof, back to the error again.

The only way I can get the computer to start the OS at this point is by disabling the wireless card during system startup. But then I can't get online to, say, post my resume.

I even reinstalled a slightly newer version of the OS this morning (10.04.1) hoping that maybe the older version of ubuntu was just missing some kind of dependency or package somewhere, but no luck.

And I have no idea how to do the other stuff suggested, like flash the BIOS, or if that is advisable at all.

I'm getting kind of desperate; this is really impacting my ability to apply for jobs and also wasting my time and making me stressed. Any help would be appreciated.

Comments

[navrins]

Could there be a hardware problem with the wireless card? Maybe try another card, if you can get hold of one, and see if the problem goes away.

[trifles.livejournal.com]

Our in-house computer-knowing guy agrees with this theory -- but it's a really weird error, he says, in keeping more with a '90s computer than a more recent machine. Because it's an error from the BIOS, it's fairly likely that it's not the OS having the problem.

Two suggestions:

1. Do what navrins suggested and replace the card.

or

2. Disable the card in the BIOS and buy a USB wireless card. (It's cheap -- $20-40 -- and would be a quick fix.)

Hope this helps!

[thomasyan.livejournal.com]

2.such a thing looks kind of like a thumb drive/stick? If so, Eredien, I think I have a spare one you can have. I will be back in town Monday afternoon.

[eredien]

Thomas, that would be fantasic. I would really appreciate it. Could I pick it up from you Monday or Tuesday?

[thomasyan.livejournal.com]

Tuesday evening should work for me, and gives me time to go look for it.

[eredien]

Thomas, can you email me with your address and also public transportation directions, if that's where you'd like me to pick it up? Thanks.

[thomasyan.livejournal.com]

Crap, I'm really sorry. I found the doohickey, but it is an Ethernet-to-USB converter, not a wireless USB adapter or whatever the thing we were hoping it was is called.

[ab3nd.livejournal.com]

This is likely true, it is the BIOS, and shutting the card off in the BIOS turns off the message.

The thing is, the Thinkpad BIOS was written by competent coders in the employ of greedy shitsacks. If you put a card of a different type in, despite it being a typical Mini-PCI slot, the BIOS will refuse to use it, and according to some reports, refuse to boot. There is a patch for this, but applying 3rd-party BIOS patches is kind of an involved and slightly risky undertaking, and so a weapon of last resort.

[daisho.livejournal.com]

I feel a bit embarrassed for even asking this, but is there any chance of getting an ethernet cable into whatever hardware is providing the internet connection? I'm sort of assuming that isn't an option or you wouldn't be concerned about the wifi hardware, but I also don't want an obvious (if temporary) solution overlooked.