Dell XPS 15 L502x 'Wireless Adapter Not Found' & Failed Authentication Test

Question

I've researched the hell out of this and while i'm not the most fluent with computers I have tried everything I can think of. There seems to be countless threads with this identical problem but each vary greatly with the solution.

background on the laptop...Dell XPS 15 L502x, recently reformatted with a fresh copy of Windows 7, I have also updated to BIOS A12.

following the reinstall of windows 7 I used the laptop's 'drivers & utilities' disk to install all my drivers and immediately noticed the intermittent connection with the internet. After that I updated my BIOS to A12 and then updated wireless adapters **I used the intel PROset/wireless tools driver (v16.0.0) from intel's website.

Under the Intel My WIFI adapter Icon displays 'Adapter not found' so I ran the Intel PROset diagnostic tool and failed the Authentication Test. So I researched an installed the Dell Wireless 5540 HSPA Mini Card A12 update, which another thread swears is the solution...no luck

I've tried using wireless plugged in, and on battery power and unchecked the 'save power' options in the driver properties. Some threads claim this is the issue.

my question is has anyone solved this issue on a Dell XPS 15 L502x on BIOS A12? if so can you show me which drivers you have used or how you fixed the problem? thanks!

ieee488 · Answer

http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/04/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?c=&l=en&s=bsd&docid=268873

wzahurak · Answer

thanks for the quick reply,

would you recommend uninstalling all my drivers (i'm assuming order doesn't matter?) and re-installing all in one sitting?

After I install all driivers in a specific order, is there an order when I can update drivers?

thanks!

wzahurak · Answer

After re-intstalling all the drivers in that order, the issue still persists. unfortunately I am not covered under Dell's Software warranty anymore, I would rather buy a new wireless card than pay Dell for their 'premium support'

ieee488 · Answer

You'll want to install the NSS and the chipset in Safe Mode. Try that.

wzahurak · Answer

sorry to say the issue still persists. Can you please tell me the procedure of uninstallin/reinstalling drivers in order?

do I uninstall ALL drivers listed in a single sitting? now some in safe mode?

nick london · Answer

Dell XPS L502X

Windows 7 home premium

I suddenly lost wireless few days ago

Has Intel WiFi Link 1000 BGN - with yellow exclamation mark. Have installed driver from Intel site still no luck. Driver still stays same : 21/12/2010 14.0.1.2

When run Intel manual diagnostic test it says hardware test failed and get "Wireless Hardware is not bound to transport driver"

Also the wired network does not work (Realtek PCIe GBE family controller) although the green light goes ON the router!

Malware is not found.

PLEASE help

kosmat-kvadrat- · Answer

I have the same problem with my Dell. Since a couple of days 'no adapter found' and no solution anywhere. I tried all the so called solutions, and nothing. So it's a Dell issue , cause this model always had this problem with the Wi-Fi adapter, connection, download speed etc. and they have to compensate for that,. like with the Xbox 360 (Red Ring Of Death) at the time, Give a new laptop with a good working adapter and everything to anyone who experiences this issue. This is supposed to be the best quality laptop not only in price but also in performance and useability. Plus they won't lose that much out of it, they' wont end on the street :D

ibradh · Answer

I found the solution that worked because my BIOS was updated today to A12 and my wireless didn't work! Understand I had a problem that I have been researching for over a week with the machine Restart command shutting down the system and Shutdown command was hanging the systems and Sleep was not coming out of sleep. What a pain  it has been. So here it and you may think it's too easy and Dell should know. Unplug, remove the battery, remove top cover, and remove CMOS battery. It shows how to in the User's Guide Dell has. 1. Remove the CMOS battery. 2. Wait a minute 3. Put it back in. 4. Restart your machine (reset your time and date, service tag if asked) 5. Reboot into Windows. Once I was back into Windows, my wireless was now available to be turned on and selected and works well. Also my machine now Shutsdown and Restarts without doing something it's not supposed to do. Hope this works for you. Brad

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Dell XPS 15 L502x 'Wireless Adapter Not Found' & Failed Authentication Test

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