intel wireless problems

Alright here's the problem. I have an IBM ThinkPad R51 laptop (type 1831) which I bought in 2004 so it's a little old. I basically just use it for browsing the web but the problem is with the wireless. Sometimes when I turn on the computer the internet will work just fine. Other times the wireless signal comes in and out, never staying on long enough for me to be able to do anything. If I go into the device manager the network adapter shows three things.

1. 1394 Net Adapter #2
2. Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Mobile Connection
3. Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection

If the internet is going in and out, I just disable the 2nd one (PRO/100 MT Mobile Connection) and everything seems to work just fine. Does anyone know what that one is for? Any way to completely disable it? I am trying to stabilize the laptop for 6 more months before I buy a new one. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

IBM T41 and T42 have same wireless chip and had issues as well. I updated wireless drivers, tried several different wireless routers, with several different machines (T41 & T42) and when downloading it would always drop. What I did was get a used Netgear wireless router. For some reason that was the only router that would work with these models. Possibly same issue for you.