Solved Acer Aspire 5749 Series WiFi Connection Dropping

Windows 7: Acer Aspire 5749 Series WiFi Connection Dropping

Hello,

I have essentially the same problem as Jesse where it is not a problem with our wifi network because all other devices are working properly and have no problem using our wifi.

The difference between my problem and Jesse's is that I went to Device Manager and clicked on the Network adapters link and it has a different set of drivers:

It has 3 listed:
Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet
Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter

I went to Acer, and just to make sure, I used their Hardware Vendor Detection tool, and it listed that this laptop uses Wireless Lan: Broadcom. So I downloaded the Broadcom driver that Acer has on their support site. This did not solve the problem. Actually, although the laptop would connect and then drop the connection now it isn't even connecting.

I went to the Broadcom website and they have a slightly more recent driver (still 2011) but it asks me what technology I have and I just don't know which to pick for what we have. We use wifi through Time Warner Cable, so is that Cable + Set Top Box?

Maxie or anyone else have a suggestion?

I currently am using the laptop wired directly to the internet so I can connect just not through wifi.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Hi .. Welcome to Seven Forums Your Network Adapter is Broadcom 802.11abgn Wireless SDIO Adapter...


Is your Windows up to date ? Is your Modem/ Router firmwire up to date ? ...

Hi Maxie,

Thank you for responding to my call for help!

My Acer Aspire has Windows 7 Home Premium and yes it has all the most recent updates up to 4 pm today.

I don't know how to update the modem / router firmware, but our family has many devices, including 2 other laptops (1 windows and 1 mac) and various tablets and a mac desktop and none of them are having any trouble whatsoever with their wifi connection. Which makes me think it is a problem with this particular laptop. I have not taken it to connect anywhere else, so I don't know whether it would work with wifi networks somewhere else.

If you could tell me how to update the modem/router I will do that next.

Thank you in advance for your time and patience with me as I am not very well versed in these issues.

It would seem you are correct seeing as you have the issue with just this Laptop ... There is no real point in updating the Modem / Router ... So the next step would be to update the Driver for the Network Adapter ...


I will search for a Driver in the morning and Post a Link for it ...


I have read a few Posts concerning this Network Adapter which quite a lot of people have had problems with it in the past ...


But we shall see how things go before we consider if that might be the problem ...

Thank you! I will check back when it's your morning, my late night.

Are you still having problems connecting to the Net ? If so have you tried to roll back the Driver ? ....


At the present time I have managed to get a loan as the same Model as you have ... Though so far have not experienced any problems with the Adapter ... Still I am testing some Drivers to see if that makes any difference ...


I did Install the Driver from the Acer Website that proved not to work so well the Windows Driver seems to work much better ...


Have noticed though that it does not seem to have a constant Signal seems to drop a bit ...

Hi Maxie,

Sorry I got so busy in the pm that I didn't check for your reply.

That's great that you borrowed the same type of laptop.

Still can't connect to wifi. I have also tried different browsers just to make sure.

Does roll back the driver mean to go back to a prior version of the driver?

If that is it, could you point me to where I would find prior versions?

Also, maybe I should try the Windows driver you mentioned, where is that available?

Thank you for helping me with this.

Go to the Device Manager select the Network Adapter ... Right click select Property's then the Driver Tab ...

You may have the Option there to roll back the Driver ...

The "rollback driver" button is off, so no option to rollback.

I clicked on "update driver" to see what it would do, and that came up that the driver is up to date.

Check that the Adapter is enabled ... You can do this by going to the Network & Sharing center ...

Click on change Adapter settings ..

Select the Adapter then the Status ...

I went to the Network and Sharing Center

There are 3 icons on there:

1. One is the Local Area Connection with our Network name and driver Broadcom Netlink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet.

2. Next is Wireless Network Connection and that says Not connected underneath with Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter under the Not Connected words. There is a red X and a green graph too.

3. The last is Wireless Network Connection 2 that says Not connected underneath with Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter under the Not Connected words. There is a red X and a green graph too.

When I click on #2, there is no "status" option. There is an option "Change settings of this connection" and I clicked that, so that opens the Wireless Network Connection Properties which has 2 tabs Networking and Sharing.

I don't see where I can change the status.

Check in Programs and Features that you have the Launch Manager Installed ? ...

Then read the Link below and follow the Instructions ...


Enable or Disable Wireless Networking

Hi Maxie,

My mom has been sick so sometimes I can't get back to my computer for a while.

I do have Launch Manager installed.
I followed everything on the link you sent me except for Connecting to other access points, which I will do this evening when I go out:

Here is what was on the list of to do's:
• Make sure the wireless on your device is Enabled
• Make sure your wireless is turned on:
• Determine if the wireless hardware on your computer is working
• Check connections and reset your modem and router
• Check your router settings
• Make sure your wireless drivers are up to date
• Disable Antivirus or other programs that may be interfering
o Try connecting to other access points – Trying this today.
• Check for viruses, spyware, and malware
• Use a antivirus program to scan your computer for viruses, spyware, and malware.


After all the above it would not connect. Then last night, my son came and disconnected ALL of our computers, turned everything off, turned off the router, modem and even our cable boxes (?), everything. He restarted everything and lo and behold my Acer was connected to wifi! Hooray!
Oh, but don't celebrate with me just yet.

I went to bed, and now this afternoon I come to my desk and happily open the Acer laptop, it turns on, and...
"Unable to connect to the Internet." appears AGAIN!

So, I am headed out the door to pick up some things for my Mom and I am going to find a place to try using wifi and see if the Acer works there.

Can this just be a hardware problem?

Thank you!

Maxie,
I forgot to mention that I also did a System Restore, but the earliest restore point was only about 2 weeks ago.

I don't know why it didn't save any earlier restore points, I checked for early dates and there's nothing.

It is set to keep track of restore points when changes are made, so I had not changed anything on the computer for quite a while.

It did say the restore was inclomplete because the virus program was blocking it, so then I redid it.

It suggests to do some other process, but that was something that sounded critical. I can't rememer if it was called advanced recovery, it also suggested to restore the computer to its original settings.

Thank you again for trying to help!

Sorry to hear your Mom is not so well .. Hope she gets better real soon ... Think I know what you problem is now ...

Just need to check a few things out will Post a reply soon ... Do not worry about responding quickly ..


Real life must takes preference ...

Go to the Device Manager select the Adapter ...

Right click update Driver select Browse My Computer ..

Then let me pick from a list of Drivers ... There should be two Drivers there ...

Do not pick the one which is highlighted ...

Hi Maxie,

Thank you for your well wishes for my Mom.

I followed what you asked:

Device Manager
then clicked Network Adapters
then right clicked Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
then Update Driver Software
then Browse My Computer
then Let me pick from a list of device drivers...
then what comes up is a window with

Network Adapter:
Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter

That's it,
it doesn't show 2 like you mentioned.
Just that one in the window to choose from

btw the previous window was set to search "My Documents" folder so I set that to search C:

I couldn't try to use it anywhere else yesterday because it turned out that they needed someone to stay the whole 5 hourse with my Mom while they did this lab test on her. I thought I would be able to sneak away and find a cafe or other public wifi to try it.

I will try it later tonight.

At this very moment I turned on the Acer and it is connected, just so WEIRD!

I called our cable company to get someone to come check our wifi and internet service but they are booked up until next week.

Thank you!

The fault could well be with the Adapter being faulty ... From what I have been reading seems a lot of people have had problems with that Model ...

Then again it could be a fault with with the Router ... Will be interested to know what your ISP finds ...


There is an easy fix for this but best to wait and see if the fault is on the ISP side ...

Thank you!

Hi Maxie,

Life took over for a bit, and I had to change the tech appointment from our ISP until just yesterday.

Here's my update:

After my last communication this is what happened. One day and just suddenly all of our devices started dropping their connection, for several days, much to the chagrine of my soon-to-leave-for-college son who was given a PS4 from a cousin for his graduation and he now has no other life but playing.

Then one day out of the blue but before the person from our ISP Time Warner Cable came out, the Acer connected to Wi-Fi and stayed connected. Of course it still left me worried that it would suddenly fail again, but it has stayed connected.

Our ISP tech came and I told him all the goings on and he replaced all of our equipment. He also added a second network that has a faster speed, but my "bad luck" and the Acer will not recognize that faster network! It figures!

Since then, no problem staying connected.

Thank you for your advice and help, I learned quite a bit doing all the checks and troubleshooting.

My Mom is much better too! It's 3 am here and I have to drive her to an appointment (1 hour away) in the a.m., so good night and you have my gratitude for your patience and help.

P.S. I want to start another question, do I just start a new thread? I want to enable Bluetooth for the same Acer laptop.

Hi there ... Seems you sort of got sorted out that is good news ... You are most welcome for any help which I have provided ..

Yes just start a new Thread under Hardware & Devices for your issue ..


Glad to hear your Mom is feeling much better take care and best wishes for the future