Windows 7: Laptop is connected to wifi but still shows yellow star and grey bars?

Laptop is connected to wifi but still shows yellow star and grey bars?
Title says it all. I've reinstall the drivers, changed the settings in the registry editor that someone on another forum suggested, delete all the wifi accounts and rebooted the computer. No errors in device manager, the Windows wifi connection software is the only one running. Internet is working but it wont allow me to setup a vpn. I've rebooted everything.



I just noticed that no matter what wireless network I connect to it still does this. Also, I connected to a wireless network that this laptop never connects to and it never asks what kind of network it is. It just sets it as a public network. My other laptop connects to both fine.

Three hours later and no one has a clue. This thing is giving me a headache. I've tried everything I can think of or find online short of formatting and reloading.

Don't worry about it, honestly. There are hundreds (potentially thousands) of people in al countries with all versions of Seven with this problem, myself included. It doesn't seem to cause any harm nor instability, and you learn to ignore it after a while.

Well, it is causing me problems. It wont allow me to connect to a VPN. Says I need to connect to the internet first.

You mention reinstalling the drivers. Are you certain that they are correct. What you are showing us says that the network adaptor is not working. Changing the Registry is not a good idea either. Did the Laptop work correctly when you first got it? Does it work when hard wired/ethernet? Did you use the password assigned to the wireless router?

We need the complete set of system specs (make, model and Version of Windows) in order to help further.

Network setup in Windows 7 is very easy compared to earlier versions. The type of network (Home, Work or Public) will impact what you can do between local machines and in some cases the Internet.

If you can post a screen shot of your ipconfig/all I can take a look at it.

It could be a secondary network interface causing the problem.

It might also help if I could see a screen shot of Xirrus wifi inspector.

http://www.xirrus.com/Products/Wi-Fi-Inspector

Like I said before the laptop is connecting to the internet through wireless fine. It's show that it's not connected for some reason. Yes I download the drivers off of Dells website for this laptop. Dell Inspiron 1540.





Changed picture

The ipconfig looks ok but you should disable the Microsoft virtual wifi mini port adaptor, it can be problematic at times, it's only there to create a secondary access point.

The Xirrus inspector shows that you are using TKIP encryption which can be problematic in some cases. You might try making adjustments in your "Modem or Router" and try using WPA2 with AES encryption. You might also try resetting your modem or router before making those adjustments.

Let me know if any changes occur from making those adjustments.

Doesn't matter if I disable or uninstall it it just keeps popping back up. I've connected this computer to three different wireless access points all with different settings and it does the same thing. My other Dell laptop connects to all three fine.

You seem pretty convinced that the problem is hopeless and that somehow Windows 7 is responsible.

I can assure you that is not the case.

It will probably pay to look around for a more updated version of the driver for your 1397 mini card.

Newest one I could find was released 4-18-12 but say's it's for XP, though I believe this is the one to use with Windows 7.
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/...iverId=R208883