Solved In desperate need of some help!

[sarrrrraaaaa]

Hi There! I am in desperate need of some help. Whatever this is it is driving me insane and I have been googling about it for months so I apologize if I have made the same topic as somebody else.

I am not a computer master so have come here for some guidance so I have to also apologize in advance if I don't explain anything in correct terms!

I have a DELL INSPIRON 15R and it is obviously running windows 7. I am at the point where I would like to throw the laptop out the window even though the laptop is not the problem, something is going on with the wireless connection somewhere i think.

I have tried NUMEROUS full factory restores and basic restore to restore points to fix this but no luck I have also tried command prompts with no luck.

Okay so the problem; When I go to the internet (firefox) or IE when im desperate but still with no luck, the wireless icon on the bottom right hand side comes up with a little yellow yield sign on it. The connection pretty much dies out of no where! It's like the connection times out or something. Then i have to keep refreshing it until it says "internet access" with the picture of the house, or i just disconnect and reconnect until it works. But the strange thing is sometimes it will just work? Like before it was having a spazz attack but as I have typed this whole thing out it has been fine! It does that sometimes. weird.

ANY HELP GREATLY APPRECIATED! My iPhone works FINE on the wireless by the way, as does my dads. My ps3 also works fine on the wireless.

I am using avast antivirus. I am at my wits end

-Sara

HAHA oh my. I just went to post this and it did it AGAIN. "server not found." I HATE MY LIFE.

 

[sarrrrraaaaa]

So after trying about 10 times I could finally post this topic!
Thought I would post the ipconfig /all results thingy incase it would be helpful.. (If it says something about "Ronaldino" that is my wireless name thanks to my dad )

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Sara-Laptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 5C-AC-4C-E6-A1-64
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom Virtual Wireless Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 1C-65-9D-5F-89-31
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : DW1501 Wireless-N WLAN Half-Mini Card
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 1C-65-9D-5F-89-31
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::a8e0:abdf:b136:c9b4%11(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.59(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, 5 June 2011 10:24:28 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, 6 June 2011 10:24:27 PM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 219964829
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-14-31-E4-27-F0-4D-A2-96-3B-54

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter isatap.{C7C7F605-8BE3-45AF-A9D0-48EEC82DDAB2}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{E2402A77-FB55-4015-A147-801ECB9BBEDB}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e76:289e:3af2:2dce:a25c(Pref
erred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::289e:3af2:2dce:a25c%16(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

C:\Windows\system32>

 

[kegobeer]

Completely uninstall Avast, reboot, and report your results.

 

[sarrrrraaaaa]

Completely uninstall Avast, reboot, and report your results.

Don't get me wrong, your probably right but I have to run it past my dad first or he may kill me for having no anti-virus on there. :busted: (17 year old girl here who knows nothing about anti-virus) I'm good with computers, just not THIS side of computers!

Before you posted I was doing more googling and disabled the LAN and got rid of the power saving settings on the wireless card as suggested as other people. That seems to be working good so far! But knowing this bloody thing it will **ck up in 5 minutes.

-Sara

edit;; just did an ip config and its all different now.. not sure if this will help?

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Sara-Laptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : DW1501 Wireless-N WLAN Half-Mini Card
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 1C-65-9D-5F-89-31
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::a8e0:abdf:b136:c9b4%11(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.26(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, 5 June 2011 11:11:23 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, 6 June 2011 11:11:23 PM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 219964829
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-14-31-E4-27-F0-4D-A2-96-3B-54

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter isatap.{C7C7F605-8BE3-45AF-A9D0-48EEC82DDAB2}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e76:289e:3af2:2dce:a25c(Pref
erred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::289e:3af2:2dce:a25c%16(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

C:\Windows\system32>

 

[sarrrrraaaaa]

oh my gosh i hate this.. it happened again.
i will talk to my dad in the morning about uninstalling avast.
thanks for your suggestion!

 

[kegobeer]

Uninstalling anti-virus (and any security software) is one of the first steps in troubleshooting a network issue. Third party security applications have been known to interfere and disrupt network connections, usually due to improper configuration or improper implementation. If you uninstall Avast and the problem disappears, then you know what caused it.

Personally, I use Microsoft Security Essentials. It's much better than Avast IMHO.

 

[sarrrrraaaaa]

Run it past dad thismorning and he is fine with it, as long as I install another program straight away.
So I will install Microsoft security essentials after uninstalling avast and rebooting.

edit: after uninstalling avast, rebooting and installing microsoft SE, so far so good but could mods please leave this topic open just incase the problem arises after a few hours/days.

will keep you updated

 

[sarrrrraaaaa]

just when i thought it was fixed, it happened again

"Unable to connect
Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at www.google.com.au."

 

[sarrrrraaaaa]

When this problem happens; I looked at my iphone and it disconnected from it also. It has to be a problem with the wirless then doesnt it? Or router or modem or whatever? sorry lol, no good with this stuff..

My sister's laptop which is exactly the same as mine is also doing the same thing, just not as often. But she does not use her laptop as often as I do.

This is the most frustrating thing in the world. Should I reset the router or modem orrrrr?

I have a netgear WNDR3700 router.

I think it is useless me trying to fix it myself.. even though all of you are great. Who should I get to come out to my house and look at my connection and laptop?

update: my dad cold booted the MODEM and so far so good! but once again please leave this topic open incase the problem continues but hopefully this has fixed it! he said when he cold booted it it said that one of us had the wrong ip address.. im thinking this was me from when i tried to connect the ps3 once. argh. hopefully all good now, fingers crossed. but please keep contributing.

 

[alphanumeric]

One very simple procedure I do when my network acts up is as follows. Power down everything. Then power up your cable or DSL modem and let it run for a couple of minutes. Then power up your router and let it run for a couple of minutes. Now power up each PC one at a time and see if things improve. Check your network cables while doing this to make sure they are firmly connected. If you have a spare you might swap the one that goes from your modem to your router. Do you know how to log into your routers status page? In your case typing http://192.168.1.1/ should get you there. You might have to log in to see whats happening.

Other things you can try are connecting your PC directly to your Cable or DSL modem with a network cable. If you are problem free for a while you can probably assume the modem is OK. If you are still having connection issues call your ISP.

Now plug your modem back into your router and try a cable connection from your PC to the router. If the problem re-appears it's likely a problem with the router or cable. reseting the router might fix it, but you would have to set it all back up again after doing that. If it works fine move on to a wireless connection and see how that goes.

There are a lot of things that can interfere with your wireless connection. Cordless phones, microwaves, other wireless routers, etc. I had to go to DICT 6 phones here at home. Every time the phone rang my wireless would quit and I'd have to reboot the router to get it back. Are you getting a good signal on your wireless connection? If you want to see whats going on, on the wireless side you could try this little app. inSSIDer | MetaGeek

 

[ski]

Routers can also go bad after a while, and the only solution is to replace it.
If you take this path, and your family does not transfer large files wirelessly between computers, then suggest going with a router that has an 801.g spec, and not the newest 801.n. Also, suggest getting one with an external antenna for a stable signal over long distances.

 

[kegobeer]

If you take this path, and your family does not transfer large files wirelessly between computers, then suggest going with a router that has an 801.g spec, and not the newest 801.n.

I know you mean 802.11, but why do you suggest going with G over N? There's no reason to do that.

 

[sarrrrraaaaa]

One very simple procedure I do when my network acts up is as follows. Power down everything. Then power up your cable or DSL modem and let it run for a couple of minutes. Then power up your router and let it run for a couple of minutes. Now power up each PC one at a time and see if things improve. Check your network cables while doing this to make sure they are firmly connected. If you have a spare you might swap the one that goes from your modem to your router. Do you know how to log into your routers status page? In your case typing http://192.168.1.1/ should get you there. You might have to log in to see whats happening.

Other things you can try are connecting your PC directly to your Cable or DSL modem with a network cable. If you are problem free for a while you can probably assume the modem is OK. If you are still having connection issues call your ISP.

Now plug your modem back into your router and try a cable connection from your PC to the router. If the problem re-appears it's likely a problem with the router or cable. reseting the router might fix it, but you would have to set it all back up again after doing that. If it works fine move on to a wireless connection and see how that goes.

There are a lot of things that can interfere with your wireless connection. Cordless phones, microwaves, other wireless routers, etc. I had to go to DICT 6 phones here at home. Every time the phone rang my wireless would quit and I'd have to reboot the router to get it back. Are you getting a good signal on your wireless connection? If you want to see whats going on, on the wireless side you could try this little app. inSSIDer | MetaGeek

Thankyou very much for your reply, i need as much help as i can get! The cold boot of the modem seems to have done the trick at this stage, but as i said the problem may return, who knows.

Thanks for your suggestion, If it happens again after the cold boot I will show my father your post. I do no how to log into but I feel like an idiot saying this, what would my login or password be i dont remember setting any password related to that..

Hmm I never thought about the cordless phone or microwave. Thats the strange thing, I have an EXCELLENT signal strength! This is really sh**ing me up the wall.

 

[sarrrrraaaaa]

Routers can also go bad after a while, and the only solution is to replace it.
If you take this path, and your family does not transfer large files wirelessly between computers, then suggest going with a router that has an 801.g spec, and not the newest 801.n. Also, suggest getting one with an external antenna for a stable signal over long distances.

Do you mean the netgear wireless router? We literally only got it a few months ago so it should be fine. We do not transfer files wireleslsy between the PC and the laptops.
Thanks for your suggestion.

Do you think it is worth getting calling someone out to take a look at the issue such as Computer Repairs | Geeks2U Same Day Onsite PC Repair Australia-wide

Thankyou again everyone

 

[alphanumeric]

Thankyou very much for your reply, i need as much help as i can get! The cold boot of the modem seems to have done the trick at this stage, but as i said the problem may return, who knows.

Thanks for your suggestion, If it happens again after the cold boot I will show my father your post. I do no how to log into but I feel like an idiot saying this, what would my login or password be i dont remember setting any password related to that..

Hmm I never thought about the cordless phone or microwave. Thats the strange thing, I have an EXCELLENT signal strength! This is really sh**ing me up the wall.

The default password is likely no password. If you haven't changed it or set one you should. You should also set a good password for your wireless if you haven't already. If you don't someone may be able to connect to your wireless and then access your router settings. WPA2 encryption would be my recommendation.

 

[ski]

I know you mean 802.11, but why do you suggest going with G over N? There's no reason to do that.

Cost, range, stability, and reliability.

G routers are not only far less expensive than N models, but they are also generally more reliable according to user feedback ratings at various suppliers' websites.
Plus, G models from one manufacturer also have excellent range and stability.

On the other hand, N routers that are rated reliable and stable, and have excellent range, are on the expensive side($150+). The inexpensive ones(less than $100) are far more problematic.

 

[ski]

Do you mean the netgear wireless router? We literally only got it a few months ago so it should be fine. We do not transfer files wireleslsy between the PC and the laptops.
Thanks for your suggestion.

Do you think it is worth getting calling someone out to take a look at the issue such as Computer Repairs | Geeks2U Same Day Onsite PC Repair Australia-wide

Thankyou again everyone

You're welcome.

User feedback ratings at different suppliers' websites indicate routers going bad in only a few days or weeks.

 

[kegobeer]

I know you mean 802.11, but why do you suggest going with G over N? There's no reason to do that.

Cost, range, stability, and reliability.

G routers are not only far less expensive than N models, but they are also generally more reliable according to user feedback ratings at various suppliers' websites.
Plus, G models from one manufacturer also have excellent range and stability.

On the other hand, N routers that are rated reliable and stable, and have excellent range, are on the expensive side($150+). The inexpensive ones(less than $100) are far more problematic.

Cost, maybe, but the other three reasons aren't really valid. I've never had any problem with range, stability, or reliability on either of my "N" routers (DIR-655 or E3000). Range is a factor with the frequency of the signal and placement of the router. My WRT-54G, DIR-655, and E3000 all cover my house with no dead spots, so range isn't really something that is a problem. Stability and reliability is due to poor manufacturing, not being an 802.11n router. There are certain router manufacturers that produce crappy products, and that's why I don't buy from them. Usually any stability issues that crop up can be solved by a firmware release.

Although some may consider cost a factor, I don't I got my E3000 for under $100, because it was on sale. As with all new technologies, price will come down as more units are purchased and research and development costs are recouped. Personally I wouldn't spend $50 on a G router and then later buy a more expensive N router; that's akin to throwing away money. Save up and buy a decent N router.

 

[ski]

Cost, maybe, but the other three reasons aren't really valid. I've never had any problem with range, stability, or reliability on either of my "N" routers (DIR-655 or E3000). Range is a factor with the frequency of the signal and placement of the router. My WRT-54G, DIR-655, and E3000 all cover my house with no dead spots, so range isn't really something that is a problem. Stability and reliability is due to poor manufacturing, not being an 802.11n router. There are certain router manufacturers that produce crappy products, and that's why I don't buy from them. Usually any stability issues that crop up can be solved by a firmware release.

Although some may consider cost a factor, I don't I got my E3000 for under $100, because it was on sale. As with all new technologies, price will come down as more units are purchased and research and development costs are recouped. Personally I wouldn't spend $50 on a G router and then later buy a more expensive N router; that's akin to throwing away money. Save up and buy a decent N router.

I'm glad your N routers are serving you well.
However, thorough research of user feedback on multitudes of N routers at numerous supplier websites definitely indicates the majority of currently available inexpensive N routers are inconsistent with regards to reliability, stability, and range.
There's no need for me to save up for an expensive N router, because a G router satisfies all of my needs.

 

[sarrrrraaaaa]

Thankyou so much everyone, no problems whatsoever since the cold boot of the modem!!!
I am so happy I was so frustrated before but it is such a relief. You can mark this as solved if you wish!