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September 8th, 2011 09:00

Vostro 3450 - Wirelss Connection Problem - Is it System Issue?

Please tell me what my next step should be.  Daughter is at college with brand new Vostro 3450.  Was working on school network during summer but now the system drops the connection multiple times during the day.  She gets message "limited connection".  She runs the Troubleshooting which then allows her to connect and 30 minutes later the connection is dropped again.  The laptop works fine when connected to the internet via the ethernet cable.  Here is what has been done by the IT support at the school.

1 -  Deleted the Intel wireless utility as they thought it was "fighting" with the Windows software for control over the wireless. 

2 - Increased the power for the wireless card to "high performance".

3 - Reinstalled Windows 7 to eliminate that there is a software issue.

4 - Replaced the Intel Wireless Card with new part sent by Dell.

Now the IT supports recommendation is to "get a new system" and that perhaps the Vostro's wireless card is "not compatible with their network".  For Dell computers they sell the Latitude to the students.

My daugther likes the Vostro.  She doesn't want to give it up.  Wants the system to work.  She had the laptop during the summer session and had problems with connection.  The Windows software was reinstalled thinking there was a virus (although no evidence of one) and then she had no connection problems for the whole summer.  She came home for 2 weeks and returned  back to school and then the system would not work again.

I don't know what to do.  Can I buy a USB wireless adapter for her to temporarily use until I can figure out how to fix this problem.  Personally, I think there is a design flaw with the vostro.  The school is thinking maybe the laptops wireless card is not compatible with their network and do not reocmmend getting another Vostro.  Is there anything else I can have done with this system?

thanks Gidget

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September 8th, 2011 10:00

3 - Reinstalled Windows 7 to eliminate that there is a software issue.

 

Reinstalled or factory restore?

 

Personally, I think there is a design flaw with the vostro. 

Oh, really?  On, what basis? Your limited computer know-how?????

 

 

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April 25th, 2012 12:00

I am an experienced systems admin, and have used dell products for years, both server, networking and laptops... I can honestly say that these Vostro 3450 centrino 1030 wireless cards are junk.  So trying to insult an end user with your sarcasm is really not helpful, search the forum and see how many 3450 vostro wireless issues appear, then try to be helpful.

In any case, we've bought 5 of these laptops, and on certain access points and wireless hardware vendor's routers, they have issues connecting.  You can try updating the firmware of the endpoint but this does not always work.  It's not always viable to ask someone to change their wireless router settings.

It's a waste of time to troubleshoot a brand new laptop, so this is going back to Dell.

check this thread if you want some workarounds:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/network-internet-wireless/f/3324/t/19379737.aspx?PageIndex=4

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