Wireless Adapter Inconsistent at finding networks

[polar555]

Hi

I've been having a problem for a while now with my wireless adapter. I know it's not the router because all of my roommates are able to use it fine and I usually can't see the connections at school or any public place.

The problem is that most of the time there will be no networks to connect to according to my computer (connection symbol has an x on it), even though there is. I have upgraded from Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit) to Windows 7 Professional (64-Bit). When I first (clean) installed windows 7 it worked fine for 2-3 weeks but now it rarely can find networks and when it does it may only be for 2 minutes.

I've tried reinstalling windows 7 and it works for a few hours and then goes back to not working properly. I've tried reinstalling the drivers not no success and I've tried upgrading to Intel's specific windows 7 64-bit drivers to no improvements. I've called Dell and their limited technical support couldn't help me.

My Wireless adapter is an:
Intel PRO'Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection on a
Dell Inspiron 1520 with a
Broadcom 440x 10/100 integrated controller newtwork adapter

 

[chev65]

Maybe installing the latest driver will help.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18212&lang=eng

You might also need to adjust the security settings per these instructions.
http://social.technet.microsoft.com...e/thread/c02c9627-9a78-42bc-95aa-4f2b6b44bb62

Don't forget to tip the scale if I tried to help.

 

[polar555]

yeah I tried both, neither worked. I'm going to try installing windows 7 32-Bit instead and see if that makes a difference.

 

[polar555]

So, I tried installing Windows 7 32-Bit, instead of 64-bit. It significantly improved fro a few days but now it's back in the same old funk. I've tried Dell's Drivers, Intel's Drivers and Windows Updating drivers. I'ver tried installing the drivers in vista compatibility, I've tried installing the drivers in Safe Mode. I've tried changing a couple of the services to automatic. I don't understand what is changing between installing Windows 7 and now. I don't think it's Windows Firewall, it seems like there is something on my computer blocking my wireless adapter from finding the networks.

 

[polar555]

Alright just to update this if anyone has read it. I changed (PCI?) slots for my internal wireless card (Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection) and for now it seems to be working.

 

[chev65]

Alright just to update this if anyone has read it. I changed (PCI?) slots for my internal wireless card (Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection) and for now it seems to be working.

I heard of that working for someone else the other day but I can't remember the specifics about why it worked. I didn't even realize you were using a PCI wireless adaptor.

I think it was a Windows 7 internal pci assignment problem of some sort. Glad you got it figured out and thanks for reporting back.

 

[pebbly]

hi polar555 can i ask how you changed the pci slots for your card, i have an I9400 with wireless N ,when i use wifi i only get 54-86mbs even when the lappy is next to the router, so maybe changing slots may help?

 

[polar555]

Pebbly I doubt that is your problem. It's kind of a drastic measure if you don't know what you're doing. However, I have a Dell Inspiron 1520 and I just looked up information on how to change my wireless card on Dell's website. The website shows how to take it out step by step and for mine there were two other slots next to the one that the wireless card was originally installed in. So I installed it in one of those the reverse of the way I took it out.

 

[pebbly]

hi polar555, had a look under the wifi cover and there is only 1 slot on my lappy many thanx anyway

 

[polar555]

I'm now having a slightly different problem. My computer was working fine all day then tonight it starts to randomly freeze for a couple of seconds. After it freezes my bluetooth accessories get disconnected (I have a built in adapter) and then I loose my wireless connection and like before it says there are no networks to connect to. Is this some kind of PCI interference thing? Also when trying to uninstall the router after this in device manager the window goes and grey and isn't responding.

 

[boardgame]

I'm now having a slightly different problem. My computer was working fine all day then tonight it starts to randomly freeze for a couple of seconds. After it freezes my bluetooth accessories get disconnected (I have a built in adapter) and then I loose my wireless connection and like before it says there are no networks to connect to. Is this some kind of PCI interference thing? Also when trying to uninstall the router after this in device manager the window goes and grey and isn't responding.

I know your problem for i had the same one.. That is all the way a driver issue. my wireless card had the ralink t2680 chipset.. it worked great but then windows update updated the driver and all of sudden was getting random freezes. then tried a older driver and then i was getting can not find a network.. had to go back four drivers sets to get my computer working again.. too this day ralink drivers for windows 7 are terrible.

 

[chev65]

yeah I tried both, neither worked. If the driver I posted didn't work than you have some major problems. Looks like you spoke too soon about the fix. Any more effort from me on this problem would be a waste of time I'm afraid.

 

[polar555]

Yeah, agreed. I'll have to take it in or maybe I'll try a different card.

 

[slither916]

I'm now having a slightly different problem. My computer was working fine all day then tonight it starts to randomly freeze for a couple of seconds. After it freezes my bluetooth accessories get disconnected (I have a built in adapter) and then I loose my wireless connection and like before it says there are no networks to connect to. Is this some kind of PCI interference thing? Also when trying to uninstall the router after this in device manager the window goes and grey and isn't responding.

I know your problem for i had the same one.. That is all the way a driver issue. my wireless card had the ralink t2680 chipset.. it worked great but then windows update updated the driver and all of sudden was getting random freezes. then tried a older driver and then i was getting can not find a network.. had to go back four drivers sets to get my computer working again.. too this day ralink drivers for windows 7 are terrible.

Im so glad I found this thread, I have this exact same issue. Its so frustrating I'll be downloading something or transferring data to an external HD and all of a sudden all data will stop transferring and my system will freeze up and get very laggy then my wifi connection drops off, and they only way to recover from this is to reboot my computer. I have an Asrock K10N780SLIX3-WiFi motherboard its has a build in Wifi that uses Realtek RTL8187L USB 802.11g/b Wireless Network Interface card. Anyone have a solution or recommendation to try and resolve this issue? Any input is very grateful. thanks.

 

[Indyan]

Alright just to update this if anyone has read it. I changed (PCI?) slots for my internal wireless card (Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection) and for now it seems to be working.

First of all, really sorry for bumping up an old thread. But, I think this is the most relavent thing I have found on the internet regarding my issue.

It seems that my stupid college n/w admin set the SSID to non-broadcast mode. I have an Inspiron 1520 with Intel 3945 ABG Wireless adapter. It detects everything other than the network in question (with possibly hidden SSID).
polar555 does your card now detect hidden networks?
Can any one provide any suggestion regarding connecting to hidden networks on Win 7? I tried this, but that didn't work. Are there any 3rd party tools to check out hidden networks?

 

[fishnbanjo]

Pebbly,
If your laptop has a PCMCIA interface I can tell you my old Dell XPS Gen1 is using a Belkin N PCMCIA card and it see's the Belkin N+ router 70' away @ 150Mbps, the Alienware M17x with the internal wireless see's it anywhere from 135-270 Mbps and it sits under the N+, the 435T-9k using a USB N+ Belkin wireless adapter see's it from 270-300 Mbps. The PCMCIA card was a whopping $24 on eBay well worth it.

 

[Indyan]

Distance isn't a problem for me. My card is detecting a far off network. But, its stumbling when it comes to detecting a nearby router which is not broadcasting it's SSID.