Inspiron 14z 5423 wifi problem

morganrothwell,

Go to Drivers & Downloads enter your service tag number, then select your operating system. Under Network, download and install the latest drivers.

Try these tweaks....

Start, control panel, device manager. Click on Network and then right click on your network adapter, left click properties, power management. Uncheck the box, allow computer to turn off this device to save power.

Go to the power options, and changed the Wireless Adapter Setting, from Maximum Power Setting to Maximum Performance.

Rick

Hi there, thanks for your reply! I tried both these things, the settings were already as you had suggested, and I updated 3 drivers but they weren't related to wireless. The problem is still occurring. Anything else?

morganrothwell,

Can you run Network Interface and post the information back here.

Rick

There is 1 interface on the system:

Name : Wireless Network Connection
Description : Dell Wireless 1703 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz)
GUID : b96f82d6-6f17-459e-95b8-592268332e57
Physical address : 08:ed:b9:4f:e6:e5
State : connected
SSID : Little Sister
BSSID : 78:a0:51:14:29:c3
Network type : Infrastructure
Radio type : 802.11n
Authentication : WPA2-Personal
Cipher : CCMP
Connection mode : Auto Connect
Channel : 6
Receive rate (Mbps) : 72.2
Transmit rate (Mbps) : 72.2
Signal : 86%
Profile : Little Sister

Hosted network status : Not started

morganrothwell,

Plug the ethernet cable in to a numbered port of the wireless router, then run ipconfig /all

Alternate method= Hit the Windows key and the R keys at the same time. Type

cmd

hit enter. Type

ipconfig /all          (space between the g and / )

hit enter

Look for the default gateway. It should look something like 192.168.1.1 or similar.

Open Internet Explorer. In the address bar, put the numbers of the default gateway in the address bar and hit enter.

You should be asked for a username and password. Try...

Username = admin

Password =  (blank) Do not put anything here and click enter or password.

but these can vary on the manufacturer. Please consult your wireless routers installation instructions for the correct information.

This is the basic username and password unless stated differently in the user manual. Please consult the user manual for the correct username and password. If you changed the username and password, then you'll need to use the correct one.

You should then see a setup screen.

Click on wireless, basic settings

Here I use Mixed mode, my network name is Virus_Farm and I use channel 11. Use the same settings except change the Network name to a new name, like Your_Network. (You cannot have any spaces)

Save settings.

Now click on Wireless security. you see...

Use WPA Personal

Enter your 13 character password when I have your13characterpassword, then click on save settings.

This will be the password needed to login to the Your_Network network.

Click on wireless mac filter and make sure it's disabled.

Save Settings and close Internet Explorer.

Power down the cable modem/router and the Linksys. Wait 60 seconds, the turn on the cable modem. Wait 15 seconds and turn on the Linksys.

Rick

How do I change it? sorry

morganrothwell,

Try channel 11.

Rick

Hmm, I can't change the modems or routers, because they're not mine and there are multiple networks in different locations I use. I can only change settings within my own computer and that's where the problem is originating.

Also, I'm wondering if there's any advice about my bluetooth. The system says its working properly, but it doesn't find my phone or tablet (both of which find each other, so I know the problem is with the computer) . I can't seem to update drivers or do anything really to change it. It just insists there's no problem even though its completely non functional

morganrothwell,

If you can connect next to the router, then move across the room. Try the next room, if you lose connection, then the antenna wire(s) may have come loose. If under warranty, Contact Dell Technical Support

Bluetooth, places to look to see if your Connection is enabled

Try reading...

Bluetooth connection and pairing

Your system may not have all these settings.

Rick

Maybe I'm not explaining the problem correctly.

I can connect to every router I try. After some time, the computer loses internet access while remaining connected to the router (no other devices attached to the router lose internet access, the network is not the problem) 

A temporary fix I have enacted is to disable and re-enable the network card, but always after some time, it stops working again.

The network device is the Dell Wireless 1703, Bluetooth doesn't work at all but windows diagnostic finds no problem with it and says it is working properly. THere doesn't seem to be any new driver available, and I don't know how to replace those other than clicking on the update driver button in the properties.

I'm beginning to think the network card is faulty in some way, but it just seems strange that it works for long periods of time (up to an hour) and then randomly stops working.

It's actually not under warranty anymore (even though I've had the problem since I bought it, and always intended to take it back, there was never a convenient time to be without for 3 weeks until now, and I was able to use an ethernet cable for wifi access) so I'm reluctant to take it back until i've investigated all options

Also I'm afraid the tech people will not understand the problem, because it always takes time to manifest itself. THey could restart the computer and find no problem with the wifi, give it back to me and and then an hour later i'm back to square one

morganrothwell,

Try resetting the winsock catalog.

Start, all programs, accessories, right click on command prompt, left click run as administrator. Type

netsh winsock reset catalog

This will reset the winsock catalog

The system taking time to connect, if this is a FREE WiFi location, it is possible they ran out of IP ADDRESSES and it takes a little time to get the connection. That would be an issue with the place that has the WiFi.

Rick

You can try changing the properties of the network card in Device manager. Below are the steps:

• Click on 'Start' and right click on 'Computer'.
• Click on 'Manage' and click on 'Device Manager'.
• Go to 'Network adapter' and right click on the wireless card driver and click on 'Properties'.
• Click on 'Advanced' and select “802.1n Bandwidth” and change it to '20MHz/40MHz Auto' on the right side.
• Then click OK
• My WIFI limited connectivity problem was solved by this method.
   Best wishes