Windows 7: Wireless Limited Connectivity Issues

Before I begin, I'd like to note that I'm not incredibly experienced when it comes to computers, and the information I give you may not be thorough enough. If that is the case, please ask for any extra necessary information and how to get it, if you'd so please. Thanks.

I bought a Dell Inspiron 1545 December 19th of last year, with Windows 7 Home Premium. I didn't get an opportunity to use the internet on it until after Christmas, I connected wirelessly to a linksys router with no problems. After using it for a few hours, I was disconnected and the router would not appear on my search. I then hardwired my computer with an ethernet cable to get it to work, with no problems. I then stayed a week at a resort, in which I could select connections but I'd only get limited connectivity on every one. Once again, I was able to hardwire it.

I'm back at school and I'm still unable to get a connection without limited connectivity. I've tried several different places to try to connect, all giving me limited connectivity.



I'm not sure how I successfully used wireless for a few hours then for it to stop working altogether, but I'm in desperate need for it to be fixed.

Thanks for your time everyone and as I said, if you need more info, please ask.

I think it's significant that you have tried connecting wirelessly with many different access points and had the same error with all

what model and make is your network adapter and have you tried getting the latest drivers for it ?

goto my computer > right click\properties and in that window click device manager, your adapter will be listed under network adapters

you can find all the drivers here on the dell site, make sure you pick 32 or 64 bit to match your system

Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card

I've searched and my driver is up to date. Hmmh...

ok can you connect with your wireless then go to a cmd prompt and run as administrator then type in ipconfig /all (observe the space) then post a screenshot here

you may want to uncheck IPv6 in the adapter properties and reboot and see if that helps

what are you using for security software

Sorry for the delay guys. I've had a hell of a past few days. Anyways.

Here's your screenshot ickymay:
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...ood/cmd2-1.png

And computersplus:
I unchecked IPv6, rebooted, reconnect, no dice.

disable IPV6 on your LAN connection. Disable your wireless adapter in Device Manager and turn off your "radio".

From what I read about this problem with the Dell 1545 is that it only wants to connect using WPA2 security, so if your router doesn't have that level of security it might not connect properly. Hopefully your router will support WPA2 security. There were many similar complaints all over the internet

One person fixed it after talking with Dell support in reference to the Dell inspiron 1545. I just talked to dell support, I changed my security to WPA2, now it's working, seems there are little problems still with the drivers and Windows 7.

Others with your same model laptop said the same thing...
SET-UP:
The only issue I had with setting up this laptop was with my home network not being accepted because Windows 7 didn't like the security settings I had in place. I could get the 1545 to recognize my network, but it wouldn't connect until I changed the settings. I had my wireless settings on WEP and Windows 7 wanted WPA. Once I changed the settings, the laptop connected.


If you can't see the network at all try doing what this guy did.

I had a similar problem with a brand new Inspiron 1525; it just refused to recognise any wireless networks. The solution was to remove (Uninstall) the Dell WLAN Management software this removes the device as well. Then Reinstall the wireless card with the Drivers ONLY. (It seems the DELL software doesn't work properly with the DELL branded network card in a DELL Laptop; go figure)
When you download the driver it will unzip and try to install automatically; but this will only reinstall the offending software again, so you must cancel the installation after you unzip the file.
When I searched for new hardware again it found the device as a Broadcom wireless card but could not install the drivers. This allows you to click Update Drivers and point to the 'drivers' folder in the location that the files were unzipped to. Once the device driver alone is installed the wireless card works immediately and finds any available networks.

this looks like a driver issue, your ipconfig shows your NIC can't find your default gateway and your DNS servers are using ipv6 ?

chev65 has posted some workarounds that look like they might work , and we could try some manual entries for the default gateway and DNS servers.

If your short on time and just want to get a connection maybe you can try and borrow a friends USB wifi dongle and see if you can get connected that way ?

N.B. what antivirus are your using ?