Wifi software/firmware upgrade reduces performance..?

Hi all,


(Thinkpad A31p 2GHZ 512MB WinXP/Win2k on separate partitions,
but sharing the same /Drivers directory; IBM MiniPCI 802.11b card; 3COM
Officeconnect 802.11B/G Router).

forgetting the timeless rule "if it ain't broke" and so on, I
downloaded
Lenovo's software installer and most irresponsibly told it that it has
"carte blanche" to upgrade everything in the Win2k partition. Well it
also upgraded my wireless drivers and Access connections software from
version 2 to 4.01 (I don't know what version the driver was since it
doesn't say on the software installer screen)

and after that it stopped connecting from the low reception areas of my
house, where before it used to work with no problems (albeit slower of
course). I have a 3COM router and L2TP cable connection, with DHCP
(PC's working with automatic IP/DNS settings). Now it only connects
when the reception is high. Elsewhere, it says:

ThinkVantage Access connections Toolbar Icon: "data frame errors"

The "Access connections" manager screen says "waiting for ip
configuration"

I tried to do a renew ip/release IP in diagnostic tools, which fails
for any of the lan adapters (unless in a good reception area).


tried ipconfig /flushdns it succeded but didn't solve the problem.


ipconfig /renew results in:
The following error occurred when renewing adapter Local Area
Connection: DHCP Server unreachable


In Windows XP on same notebook (where I wisely didn't upgrade the
drivers) everything works fine in the poor reception areas of the house
where the newer drivers fail.
When I went back to the older drivers on Win2k it worked ok. but is it
worth it trying to make the newer lenovo drivers working?

One other thing: I also installed the wirefirm.exe miniPCI Wireless
card firmware upgrade, and now it seems to me that web page lookups
(i.e. the time spent on DNS lookup) take longer. Is it possible to go
back to the older firmware?

secondly, this experience suggests it is inadvisable to upgrade
wireless firmware unless its to fix problems.. (well duh..!)

P.S. I have a 128 bit WEP encription and Router security only allowing
certain MAC addresses.

P.S. 2 I want to keep the Thinkpad on automatic IP and DNS settings
because so other users can go to public Wifi hotspots with it and get
automatic connections without reconfiguring.


Thanks for reading.