intermittent WiFi Network problem m1210 Vista

Hi,

 

  If you have the latest BIOS A07 then, try the following page ( http://dozleng.com/internetsecurity/?p=171), since it appears to be a driver related problem between the BIOS and the Intel Wifi Driver. Just to let you know, I'm using the same model with the latest BIOS and the Intel PRO/SET Wireless 3945ABG driver 11.1.1.11 (30/4/07) from their site and I haven't had any problems with it. I hope this could be of some help.

 

 

Dell XPS M1210

OS: Windows Vista Home Premium

Memory: 2 GB RAM

Graphics Card: 256 MB nVIDIA GeForce Go 7400

Hard Drive: 100 GB Hitachi 7200 RPM

Integrated Camera

Intel® Core 2 DuoTM  T7600 (2.33GHz, 4M L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)

DVD -+RW/R

Hi MikesI87,

 

  I was wondering, do you have some issues with your graphics card too? Since you mentioned that the driver for the 7400 is no useable. Have you experienced a sudden dark screen after login to Vista (just for a few seconds)? Because, so far that's the only annoying problem I have with Vista. (By the way, my Vista experience index is 3.4). I know that there are new nVidia drivers for the GeForce 7400 on the official site, but Dell's outdated driver is from 1/19/2007 and for some reason nVidia drivers don't work with the XPS M1210. So, it will be nice to see some improvement here ---then again, what happened to the XPS VIP support??? Keep me post of any development.

 

 

MikesI87,

 

 Somewhere in this forum or in other, I read that some people where having problems after resuming from standby. I can't recall if there was any about wireless access. Personally, I don't use very much the standby mode, so I can't tell you exactly what is happening. However, how was your experience without resuming from standby? As I told you before I have been using the same driver without any problems even for hours. Nonetheless, the next time I get a wireless connection I will try to remake your experience. Therefore, can you describe any symptoms displayed by the notebook, the time online, the type of network (A,B,G) and anything else that could help to recreate such problem? Who knows, may be is some type of security measure to prevent any unauthorized entry while been on standby? Or may be is just some kind of power management issue? (Just throwing some ideas...)

  The only thing so far that seems similar to your problem (in my case) is the bluetooth connection, but that could be the driver for my Samsung A900 phone which I use as EVDO (the warning sign does appear on Device Manager as Bluetooth Peripheral Device); sometimes is detected without problems...others, I need to restart the phone or the computer's network card. Other times it works perfectly after leaving the bluetooth off for some period of time. If connected via USB, then there's no problem with the phone's modem.

  Also, have you try to connect to the same network with other computer? I don't know, but could it be that there's a cable disconnected or something wrong with the hardware? Anyway I will look more closely to this problem.

  Anyway, about the graphics card... There was a time that nVidia had newer drivers for our model, but it seems that it’s not developing them any longer. Or may be (as other users has suggested) the 7300 is compatible with the 7400 card. I can tell you that I once downloaded a driver version that was for the 7400 but when installing it the program told me that there was no product or something like that. Then I learn that other users couldn't install the driver seems it was not provided by DELL (another OEM stuff???) Anyway, here are some links if you wish to follow it more closely: *Take notice that in some sites the links toward the download seems deactivated.*

 

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=vista&message.id=25977&query.id=131923#M25977

http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_downloads_rel70betadriver.html

http://files.aoaforums.com/D138-Nvidia%20Drivers.html

http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/

http://www.radarsync.com/vista/index.php?vendor=NVidia

 

  Also, I'm curious, did you buy the M1210 with Vista already installed or you used the Vista Express Upgrade? I wonder if these problems could be installation-related. On the other hand, did you have any online content on Vista's MediaCenter? Once again, good luck and keep my posted.

 

randyqx,

 

  I wonder have you noticed similar problems with WinXP Pro? About the drivers you mentioned, yes I also use the Intel drivers for the same reason. However (for reference only) those will be on the following address:

 

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=N&ProductID=2259&DwnldID=13001&strOSs=All&OSFullName=All%20Operating%20Systems&lang=eng

 

Differently from Win XP, the Intel drivers for Vista don't have a network connection console but only some tool for network information. Most of the Networking issues are done within the Vista Connection Tool. So far the problem that MikeI87 and others are experiencing seems to be time-related and random. Curiously, I did have similar problems but only on Bluetooth when I was with MCE 2005. Anyway, any help in this matter will be appreciated.

MikeI87,

 

  Interesting... Nice to see the comparison between the two notebooks. So far it seems to be a time-related problem that is affecting the hardware and not entirely an OS feature. As soon I can (when I get to the university again) I will try to remake your situation. But keep adding; let's hope we can find any solution.

MikesI87

 

Just to give you an update. I connected to my university's wireless network for more than two hours and I didn't experience any problem. However, I did found something unusual (sorry I forgot to tell you before) that didn't occurred under MCE 2005; that is the network card detected other wireless signals from the same provider. Vista detected them and asked me to put them in a category (public, home, work); in this case the first one. Then it was saved with the same name plus a number to it (so far 4 have been found). I'm not an expert in wireless network, but it seems that when a wireless network temporary fails (or there is a sudden burst in the signal) Vista sees it as an alternative origin (another port or hot spot?). I tried standby and I noticed that the connection was lost, but seconds after it was reconnected. I'm curious; the wireless connection you use is secured? My university uses Bluesocket, may be that's something to look out.?

  Back on MCE 2005, I remember that sometimes I was disconnected, but rather thinking it was a card/driver problem I thought it was a network issue (buildings, climate, interference, etc). So far, I haven't experience those conditions under Vista. Of course, there's the possibility that the wireless infrastructure was refitted and improved.

  Also on the last months before upgrading to Vista, I was able to use the wifi on a cruiser and it didn't reported any issues.

  Then, could it be something in your university's network? Have you tried in other places? I assume your girlfriend has the problem on the same network, or have she tried in other place? Did she experience any issues with the previous drivers? If not, try to revert back and try it out. Or then again is software related; what firewall are you using? Any other security programs besides antivirus that could be preventing a proper function?

  Well, just giving ideas. Keep me post of any change.

Hi MikesI87

 

   Don't worry about your English (you see, my native language is Spanish, so I'm not a perfect English speaker or writer), and besides, I have understood you so far, isn't? Anyway, I haven't contact Dell, yet, since I'm unable to recreate the problem. May be Dell from Germany can help you, there is one, isn't? :smileyindifferent: It seems you have Ubuntu in dual boot (no live cd, right?) so, apparently its or a hardware issue or a network error. I wonder, did you experience the problem before having Ubuntu? Has your girlfriend use it too? What error details do Ubuntu shows, how its hardware information is similar to Vista's reports? If not is dual boot, are you using any virtual environment or the live cd? What version of Ubuntu? 6.06 LTS or 7.04? The reason I ask you this is because in the past, in my old Inspiron 8200, I tried the Ubuntu 6.06 LTS live cd, which for some people caused errors in their hardware after using it --and if I'm not mistaken, one of such errors was the wifi card. I can't say for myself, since I didn't experience any problems --but of course I don't use Linux too often. However, I want to see the differences between our machines, in order to isolate the cause.

    The same reason was about your security, right now I'm using McAfee Internet Security Suite 2007 (ViruScan v.11.2, Personal Firewall v. 8.2, SiteAdvisor v.2.4, Spamkiller 8.2 and Privacy Service 9.2), plus Lavasfot's Adware SE. I know by experience in previous notebooks, that sometimes the firewall can interfere with network protocols, as well any other security software. However, since your problem seems to affect Windows Vista, Xp and Ubuntu, it shows to be some type of hardware issue or something with the network. Again, have you tried in other hotspots or wifi locations? Why not using another wireless card from a friend and install it (an external one will be safer if you don't want to make pc-surgery :smileywink: ). Did the BSOD of your girlfriend's laptop related to the problem? Do you recall the issue exactly? Is she using the new drivers or she let Windows download those from Windows Update or the card's cd? By the way, have you restored the notebook to previous restore points? I have heard that having dual boot systems with Vista and Xp affects the restore points, can this happen between Ubuntu and Vista? Finally, have you tried to reach any technician in your university that works in the wireless service for any assistance? As I recall, I couln't even connect to a wireless network with my Inspiron 8200 when I got it brand new; it was then that after asking the technicians from my university I was told that they have similar problems with other machines...guess what? All Inspiron 8200 models. At that time I used an external card (a D-Link DWL-650). I did experience erratic connectivity issues, but then I moved to an internal one, the same happened but as time passed, but it decreased over time. My believe: An increase in the wifi signal.

   Anyway, just to give a background and to cover anything that can help you for future reference (that's how I have troubleshooted many problems before). Keep me post for any changes and findings.

 

---

 

Dell XPS M1210
BIOS: A07
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics Card: 256 MB nVIDIA GeForce Go 7400
Hard Drive: 100 GB Hitachi 7200 RPM
Integrated Camera
Intel® Core 2 DuoTM T7600 (2.33GHz, 4M L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)
DVD -+RW/R

 

 

Dell Inspiron 8200
BIOS: A11
OS: WIndows Xp Home Editiion
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Graphics Card: 64 MB ATI Radeon Mobile 9000
Hard Drive: Primary: 30 GB Secondary: 60 GB
Optic Drive: DVD/CD-RW/R
Secondary Module: Floppy Disk 3.5
Intel Pentium 4 Mobile @1.78 GHz