Dell Inspiron N5050 drivers problem

Hi Bogkitty,

Thank you for the detailed information. You may share the ‘Hardware IDs’ for ‘Other Devices’. Please follow the steps below:

• In ‘Device Manager’, right click ‘Network Controller/PCI Simple Communications Controller’.
• Click ‘Properties’.
• Click ‘Details’.
• Search for ‘Hardware ID’.
• Provide the numbers after VEN and DEV.

Keep me posted with the information. I will be glad to assist you.

Hello,

I am curious about a coupe of things...

1.) Did you installall of the drivers and then test functionality at the end, or did you install driver, makie sure item works, and then move on? I ask because ti appears you have three different woreless drivers in your list (1702, 1703, 1701) and I was wondering if the wireless worked after installing one but then died after installing a second driver for it.

My guess would eb the 1702 driver you mentioned would most likely be the correct one.

2.) I am also curious as to what shows up iunder the Network Adapters section.

You only  have one wireless card in there, so it can't needa ll three drivers. The 1702 was the most common in the N5050's.... So....

At this point I would try to reinstall the 1702 driver.

Let me know if it works....

I pretty much just installed everything and restarted the PC. I don't know what all the drivers were for so I can't know for sure if they worked or not. (The only one I can say it worked is the video one).

Well I just did what you said, and now I can use wireless internet, but now I would like to know if the drivers work fine.

Thanks for your help.

Hello, thanks for your answer.

Now the "network controller" thing disappeared, so I'll proceed to give you the PCI Simple Communications Controller one.

Numbers after VEN and DEV are 8086 and 1

Hello... Good job.. Seems you are getting closer....

I looked over your list again and noticed you did not appear to install an audio driver.  Have you tried:  IDT 92HD87B1

Does your sound work okay?

Uhm it works fine to me, would it make a difference having the driver? (Going to install it anyway, just wondering)

If the sound works fine, that is good. Windows sometimes can install the correct, possibly generic  driver. The actual driver could offer additional controls and perhaps better sound.

I was just wondering if that was the unknown PCI device.

Typically, if you have no warnings (the yellow symbol) in your device manger, things are working okay....

Keep us posted and good luck.

Hi... Sorry to double post, but I have been looking, and I also see no touchpad driver in the list of things you described.

The touch pad drivers are in the drivers section of the N5050  where you got the other drivers- it will be under Mouse, Keyboard, and input devices.

Since you are using Windows 7, use the Alps touch pad driver found there....

It is quite possible that is the problem causing the caution symbol in the device manager....

So I have been experiencing difficulty like everyone else with wireless connectivity.  I actually cannot connect unless I'm wired at this point and attempted to follow the steps above and realized I don't have "Other Devices" listed in my Device Manager window.  ???  

This issue with wireless is beyond frustrating.  To sit right next to the router and not be able to connect is ridiculous - I literally wasted 45 minutes trying to connect yesterday in order to log in to class; I bought this for Grad school but have had to go back to using my old (Dell) desktop which connects just fine to the wireless network.  Even more upsetting is it's not even paid for yet and it doesn't work!

Maylmer...

Will it not connect to ANY network? Based on what you wrote, that is what I am assuming, and the answer I give is based on that.

There are three different ways this adapter could have become disabled, so it is possible that has some how happened.

Assuming the drivers are installed, you should see your network adapter under the Network Adapters tab in the Device Manager. Click on the plus sign next to it, and it should  create the drop down with Dell Wireless 1702.802.11b/g/n.If you do see the adapter (possible you have a different model adapter, maybe 1703, but from what I can tell, most n5050s shipped with the 1702), right click on it and make sure it is enabled. If not, you will see an option to enable it - do so.

Also, make sure it is enabled though the function keys (Fn - F2). Some computers are configured to toggle the wireless on/off with F2 only, so try that as well.

Finally, in the start menu search box, type in Windows Mobility Center and open it. Make sure the top right box for wireless is still turned on. If it is on it will show the option to turn it off... If it shows the option to turn it on, choose it.

Assuming everything is enabled and you are online (wired since wireless is apparently not working) choose the update driver software option and follow the prompts to see if a new driver is available and helps.

Beyond that, it may be a hardware problem with the card. Is the machine still under warranty?

If not.... The cheapest and most expedient option may be to try a small  USB wireless adapter (have seen many small, highly rated ones for under $20).

Good luck with this.

Thank you hrova. And yes, you are correct in that it will not connect to ANY network (wirelessly). Drivers are indeed installed, and updated ---
and I will try your recommendations.

My feeling is that since it is NOT under warranty any more that it is a hardware problem. I had similar problems, more minor with only the occassional inability to connect, when it was under warranty but attributed it to my internet service.

Sadly (I say this because I *was* a Dell fan) - two out of three USB ports are now defective/broken so I'll have to get a splitter to use for the remaining one and try the wireless adapter as you also suggested.

Thanks again - I'll let you know how all works out.

I just did a quick eBay search and assuming it is just the wireless card, a replacement 1702 card can be had for about $10.

Knowing the other issues you mentioned makes me wonder of more is going on.

Good luck.

Hi Bogkitty,

Thank you for the information. You may install the latest chipset drivers from the link: http://dell.to/163iq2e.

Hope this helps. Please feel free to reply for any further assistance.

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