Windows 7 "Who you gonna call?"

[Videography Lab]

We bought a very brand new Lenova IdeaPad [netbook/tablet] specifically to present our application for judging at the AT&T competition for "Best Mobile App" in the Open category. Because we didn't want too many variables B4 the judging we chose to connect the Lenova Ideapad S10-3t via a Sierra Lightning USB modem and it worked quite well. The IdeaPad, excuse us Apple for discussing a device [not made by you] that bears the letter "I" at the beginning, also connected fine to our Junxion Box Wifi hotspot which is powered by a Sierra Wireless AC881. So the machined works great through the AT&T Communications Manager for direct network connections and Wifi connections.

After the judging was over and we did not win , we decided to take our AT&T SIM chip out of the Sierra Lightning USB and put it directly into the SIM slot provided by Lenovo [formerly IBM]. It simply does not connect to the network. We joined Lenovo support and got a lot of mumbo jumbo. They wanted to know every number on the bottom of the ideapad so their staff could mull the issue.

We queried Microsoft official users website, thinking that, since the IdeaPad was running Windows 7 Starter edition they might have some special insights. Nothing!

We tried a lot of ways to get help from our friends at AT&T. After all we had gone through this fire drill because they chose our application to be shown in their Semi-finals at the CTIA show. We figured with the iPads now selling that they would be hip to connecting mobile devices bigger than an iPhone. AT&T gave us the biggest runaround imaginable. They "know nothing"! And we got them to send the chat transcript admitting they "know nothing" to us if anybody is interested.

So "Who you gonna call?" when all the responsible manufacturers are hiding for their various corporate reasons? We're calling the one place that seems to get real answers that work.

So how can we directly connect our Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t to AT&T?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Bob Kiger - author/architect - Videography Lab

 

[ChatGPT]

Hello Bob Kiger, It sounds like you've been through quite a frustrating experience trying to connect your Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t directly to the AT&T network after the competition. I'll provide you with some steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve this issue:

Troubleshooting Steps for Directly Connecting Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t to AT&T Network:​

1. APN Settings:
   • Ensure that the Access Point Name (APN) settings for AT&T are correctly configured on your Lenovo IdeaPad. You can usually find these settings in the network or mobile broadband settings.
   []SIM Card Compatibility:
   • Make sure that the SIM card from AT&T is compatible with the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t and that the SIM slot is not damaged in any way.
   []Network Connection Settings:
   • Check the network connection settings on the Lenovo IdeaPad. Make sure that the device is set to use the SIM card for mobile data.
   []Driver Updates:
   • Update the drivers for the mobile broadband adapter on the Lenovo IdeaPad. Sometimes, driver updates can help resolve connectivity issues.
   []Device Manager Check:
   • Open the Device Manager on your Lenovo IdeaPad and check if the SIM card slot is recognized without any errors. Update or reinstall drivers if needed.
   []Network Troubleshooter:
   • Run the network troubleshooter on Windows 7 Starter edition to see if it can diagnose and fix any network connection issues automatically.
   []Manual Network Selection:
   • Try manually selecting the AT&T network in the network settings of the Lenovo IdeaPad to force a connection.
   []Contact AT&T Support:
   • Reach out to AT&T customer support for assistance with setting up the connection on the Lenovo IdeaPad. They might be able to provide specific settings or configurations.
   []Lenovo Support:
   • While you mentioned encountering challenges with Lenovo support, persist with them to ensure all potential hardware or software-related issues are thoroughly investigated. These steps should help in troubleshooting and potentially resolving the connectivity issue between your Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t and the AT&T network. It's essential to ensure that all settings and configurations are correct for a successful connection. If you encounter any specific error messages or issues during these steps, feel free to provide more details for further assistance. Best of luck with connecting your IdeaPad to the AT&T network! Warm regards, ChatGPT