Toshiba Satellite A85 S1072 Driver Problem

R

roger

I am trying to resurrect a Toshiba Satellite A85 S1072 laptop.
I have XP SP3 installed on it, and have resolved all the drivers
except for the Ethernet. I have found and tried two drivers:
sa85lanx.exe
tm4wlanutilax.exe
But XP Device Manager still shows the Ethernet to be bad.

What I believe is the Ethernet hardware unit is tagged:
AR5BMB5
PA3458U-1MPC
but I have found nothing that helps through that.

I fear that maybe the hardware unit is bad or that I have it installed
wrong. You see, I had to dismantle this laptop in order to kill the
BIOS password that had the laptop locked. Just maybe I reconnected
things wrong. But since the OS seems to detect the presence of the
Ethernet, i have the hope that I did things right. If so, can anyone
suggest something I can try? Paul?

Thanks

Big Fred
 
P

Paul

I am trying to resurrect a Toshiba Satellite A85 S1072 laptop.
I have XP SP3 installed on it, and have resolved all the drivers
except for the Ethernet. I have found and tried two drivers:
sa85lanx.exe
tm4wlanutilax.exe
But XP Device Manager still shows the Ethernet to be bad.

What I believe is the Ethernet hardware unit is tagged:
AR5BMB5
PA3458U-1MPC
but I have found nothing that helps through that.

I fear that maybe the hardware unit is bad or that I have it installed
wrong. You see, I had to dismantle this laptop in order to kill the
BIOS password that had the laptop locked. Just maybe I reconnected
things wrong. But since the OS seems to detect the presence of the
Ethernet, i have the hope that I did things right. If so, can anyone
suggest something I can try? Paul?

Thanks

Big Fred

The drivers page on the Toshiba site, has LAN and Wifi.

http://support.toshiba.com/support/modelHome?freeText=1042295

RealTek LAN Driver for Windows XP
Posted Date: 2005-06-14 | Version: 5.612.628.2004 | Size: 2.0M
http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/sa85lanx.exe

;; Realtek RTL8139/810x/8169/8110 all in one NDIS Driver
;; Copyright 2004, Realtek Semiconductor Corporation
;; .this release is primarily for OEM for WHQL test.

*******

Atheros Wireless (802.11 a+g/g) Client Utility for Windows XP/2000
Posted Date: 2005-04-22 | Version: 3.1.2.45.i132 | Size: 14.6M
http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/tm4wlanutilax.exe

Atheros Mini PCI Wireless Lan (802.11 g/b) Driver for Windows XP
Posted Date: 2005-04-21 | Version: 3.1.2.45.i120 | Size: 2.78M
http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/tm4wlanax.exe

The Wifi appears to be on a Mini PCI card. When I google your
part number, AR5BMB5 appears to be Atheros wireless.

The RealTek LAN chip (drives the Ethernet cable) could be
soldered to the motherboard.

Maybe you could give the "code" value that tells
you "Ethernet to be bad". As someone might
recognize it.

Of the two Wifi drivers, one will be the plain driver
(the small one), the other package the Wifi management.
Windows also has Wireless Zero Config, so it is possible
in some cases, that no Wifi management is needed, if
Windows manages the Wifi. But the driver portion would
still be required.

Paul
 
R

roger

The drivers page on the Toshiba site, has LAN and Wifi.

http://support.toshiba.com/support/modelHome?freeText=1042295

RealTek LAN Driver for Windows XP
Posted Date: 2005-06-14 | Version: 5.612.628.2004 | Size: 2.0M
http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/sa85lanx.exe

;; Realtek RTL8139/810x/8169/8110 all in one NDIS Driver
;; Copyright 2004, Realtek Semiconductor Corporation
;; .this release is primarily for OEM for WHQL test.

*******

Atheros Wireless (802.11 a+g/g) Client Utility for Windows XP/2000
Posted Date: 2005-04-22 | Version: 3.1.2.45.i132 | Size: 14.6M
http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/tm4wlanutilax.exe

Atheros Mini PCI Wireless Lan (802.11 g/b) Driver for Windows XP
Posted Date: 2005-04-21 | Version: 3.1.2.45.i120 | Size: 2.78M
http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/tm4wlanax.exe

The Wifi appears to be on a Mini PCI card. When I google your
part number, AR5BMB5 appears to be Atheros wireless.

The RealTek LAN chip (drives the Ethernet cable) could be
soldered to the motherboard.

Maybe you could give the "code" value that tells
you "Ethernet to be bad". As someone might
recognize it.

Of the two Wifi drivers, one will be the plain driver
(the small one), the other package the Wifi management.
Windows also has Wireless Zero Config, so it is possible
in some cases, that no Wifi management is needed, if
Windows manages the Wifi. But the driver portion would
still be required.

Paul


Thanks Paul.

Actually I had the drivers you specified already, so I tried them
again. This time I have Ethernet and it works. That's what I really
wanted. Device Manager shows the Realtek RTL8139/819X Family Fast
Ethernet NIC as working, but 'Ethernet Controller as not working under
'Other Devices'. I am concluding that the AR5BMB5 is my Wifi. It is
what I disassembled and reassembled, so maybe I did the latter wrong.
There were only two mini-cable little connectors - one red the other
plain. I have connected the red to 'Main', the other to 'Aux'

I tried re-installing the AR5BMB5 drivers, and Device Manger remained
the same, but now I have lost my Internet connectivity again. Go
figure.

BF
 
R

roger

I tried re-installing the AR5BMB5 drivers, and Device Manger remained
the same, but now I have lost my Internet connectivity again. Go
figure.

BF


I got my internet connection back. My cat5 cable had worked loose
from the router. Device Manager still shows the one problem though.

Thanks again

BF
 
P

Paul

I got my internet connection back. My cat5 cable had worked loose
from the router. Device Manager still shows the one problem though.

Thanks again

BF

The two mini-cables are for antennas. The coaxial connectors
on the mini-PCI, carry RF signals to some patch antennas. The
patch antennas have to be arranged underneath some plastic, so
the RF can get out. Those connectors are easy to squash and
deform, so you have to be careful. They're not robust like
regular cabling.

You would have to open it back up, remove whatever plate covers
the mini-PCI, and check the insertion. If it is being reported
in Device Manager though, that probably means the Wifi module
is making electrical contact.

So probably just your Wifi is broken, and the RealTek Ethernet (RJ45
connector) is OK.

Paul
 
R

roger

The two mini-cables are for antennas. The coaxial connectors
on the mini-PCI, carry RF signals to some patch antennas. The
patch antennas have to be arranged underneath some plastic, so
the RF can get out. Those connectors are easy to squash and
deform, so you have to be careful. They're not robust like
regular cabling.

You would have to open it back up, remove whatever plate covers
the mini-PCI, and check the insertion. If it is being reported
in Device Manager though, that probably means the Wifi module
is making electrical contact.

So probably just your Wifi is broken, and the RealTek Ethernet (RJ45
connector) is OK.

Paul


I think I will let it go the way it is.

Thanks

Fred
 
R

roger

I think I will let it go the way it is.

Thanks

Fred


I have changed my mind on living with the non-working wireless. I
quickly realized that the laptop will not connect to the web unless
physically connected to my router (via CAT5). That prevents a main
functionality of the laptop of course - that I can use it on the web
in another room.

So, that said, let's see. I assume the little 1-2 inch hardware
tagged AR5BMB5 & PA3458U-1MPC is the culprit
As I said, I had removed and replaced it and other stuff, and
reconnected the two wires, red and non-red tipped, to the 'main' and
'aux', resp. Am I correct on that?

I downloaded and installed both downloads at


http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/tm4wlanutilax.exe
and

http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/tm4wlanax.exe

but Device Manager still shows a problem as 'Ethernet Controller'
under 'Other devices'.

The downloads were
tm4wlanax.exe
and
tm4wlanutilax.exe

If I am looking at the correct problem piece, what should I look for
that could be causing the problem? Or just maybe, it is okay, and I
still am not downloading the correct driver?

Thanks for all you helps

I gotta leave this AM, but will return around noon local.

Big Fred
 
R

roger

You know, I am wondering if the wireless is really showing up in my
Device Manager. I say that because I see no actual wireless there,
just a working network adapter shown to be Realtek, and an 'other
device' that is shown to be a non-working Realtek, which is not the
wireless. Right?

So maybe the thing is not connected correctly? Could be, in my
ignorance.

Thanks

Big Fred
 
P

Paul

You know, I am wondering if the wireless is really showing up in my
Device Manager. I say that because I see no actual wireless there,
just a working network adapter shown to be Realtek, and an 'other
device' that is shown to be a non-working Realtek, which is not the
wireless. Right?

So maybe the thing is not connected correctly? Could be, in my
ignorance.

Thanks

Big Fred

Check in the BIOS, and see if there is a setting for it.
Like, to turn it on and off.

Look with msinfo32.exe for Problem Devices. See
if some VEN/DEV device is in there.

Some of those Wifi things, have more than one
chip on them, and are "combo" devices. And that
could be the Other Devices thing.

Paul
 
R

roger

Check in the BIOS, and see if there is a setting for it.
Like, to turn it on and off.
All I see in the BIOS related to a LAN is

build-in LAN which is enabled

Look with msinfo32.exe for Problem Devices. See
if some VEN/DEV device is in there.

For 'problem devices' it has Ethernet controller
PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001A&SUBSYS_7094144F&REV_01\4&253A0906&0&10A4
the drivers for this device are not installed

Suggest anything to you?
Thanks
Big Fred
 
R

roger

Paul -

Can you come up with a URL that works to get the driver download for

Atheros AR5006X Wireless Network Adapter FOR XP?

I think it may fix my situation - worth a test anyway.

I can't - Al I get are multiple bad-driver-scan apps.

Thanks

Big Fred
 
P

Paul

All I see in the BIOS related to a LAN is

build-in LAN which is enabled



For 'problem devices' it has Ethernet controller
PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001A&SUBSYS_7094144F&REV_01\4&253A0906&0&10A4
the drivers for this device are not installed

Suggest anything to you?
Thanks
Big Fred

http://pciids.sourceforge.net/pci.ids

168c Qualcomm Atheros
001a AR2413/AR2414 Wireless Network Adapter [AR5005G(S) 802.11bg]

When I download this...

http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/tm4wlanax.exe

the AthInst.REG.txt has
"InternalDevice22"="PCI\\VEN_168C&DEV_001A&SUBSYS_7094144F"

So that should have done something for you.

*******

Using the hardware string for that Wifi, there are a ton
of drivers with the same string. You don't have to download
from here, but admire just how many re-packaging efforts for
the same drivers took place.

http://www.driversdownloader.com/hardware-id/pci/ven_168c&dev_001a&subsys_7094144f

Atheros AR5005G Wireless Network Adapter

Qualcomm Atheros AR5005G Wireless Network Adapter

I had poor luck, starting with that list.

*******

Now, this site has a driver, but it's sneaky. It's an "unofficial"
download site, meaning it has nothing to do with Atheros.

http://www.atheros.cz/atheros-wireless-download.php?chipset=9&system=1

I actually had to go to another web page, to find out how to *use*
the page.

The page is divided into panes. The top pane shows:

File: xp3264-10.0.0.260-whql.zip (1727 KB)

If you click the small button one inch wide and rectangular that
says "Click to download", the "Downloaded" status indicator
in the upper right hand corner changes to "Searching for files...".
You have to be patient, before your file shows up. The delay
is meant to get you viewing the advertising links and so on.
The file save box eventually shows up, and the file is
actually coming from here.

http://download3.dvd-driver.cz/atheros/drivers/ar5xxx/xp3264-10.0.0.260-whql.zip

Inside, is an INF style installer. The netathw.inf file is the one.

It says:

%ATHER.DeviceDesc.T001A% = ATHER_DEV_2054.ndi,
PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001A&SUBSYS_7094144F

If you right click the .inf file, there will be an "INSTALL"
entry in the context menu. And that's how you install the driver.
The driver will copy athw.sys to the system folder (2142336 bytes).
You may already have that file by now. It'll be set up as a service.

If you installed no other file, you could then use Wireless Zero Config
to manage the new Wifi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Zero_Configuration

"The drivers for the wireless adapter query the NDIS Object IDs
and pass the available network names (SSIDs) to the service."

The above athw.sys is an NDIS5.1 driver for the Wifi. And as
far as I know, if a Wifi has an NDIS driver, then the WZC can
manage it. Something like that. I would expect, if you installed
a proprietary Wifi manager, it'll override WZC and do the
management function instead. To use the Wifi, you need to
select the router, use the correct encryption standard
or whatever. The management function presumably collects
all that info, so you can make a connection. The bare
NDIS driver is "interface free" by comparison.

Paul
 
R

roger

http://pciids.sourceforge.net/pci.ids

168c Qualcomm Atheros
001a AR2413/AR2414 Wireless Network Adapter [AR5005G(S) 802.11bg]

When I download this...

http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/tm4wlanax.exe

the AthInst.REG.txt has
"InternalDevice22"="PCI\\VEN_168C&DEV_001A&SUBSYS_7094144F"

So that should have done something for you.

I'll be darned. I installed the tm4wlanax.exe driver I had downloaded
earlier today again because it was what I got from the above URL at
that time. It worked! Wifi is established and is working.

I can't explain this, except I must have done something wrong earlier.
You did a lot of work for which I am grateful.

Thank you much

Big Fred
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top