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June 9th, 2007 05:00
E1505 Intel 3945ABG disconnect when switching users (XP SP2)
Hardware: Dell Insprion E1505 from May 2006 with Intel Wireless 3945ABG
I decided I would post this out of anger for the perceived bad quality control on computers these days (hardware and software/drivers). I finally met the tipping point with the latest Dell wireless driver and am making this my first writeup of this kind. This advice is unsolicited and without warranty from me or Dell (see Dell forums TOS for any other restrictions). I hope you find it handy should you be as frustrated as I am. Don't expect support from the manufacturer if you follow these directions. Perhaps you have this problem also or are just curious. Read on!
The SET UP:
I make use of Windows XP user switching - having multiple people logged in. It's great, and it's on by default in XP.
I prefer the built in Windows XP Wireless Zero Config to handle wireless connections. This post applies when using the XP Wireless Zero Config as I don't care at all for the Intel (or any other manufacturer's when applicable) proprietary wireless configuration software. Right click on the Intel wireless icon in the system tray and tell it you want to use Windows Wireless Zero config instead of the proprietary Intel program.
A rabbit trail to recite my reasons: The Intel tool is redundant and adds another complicated layer between you and your network; not all computers have an Intel chipset, and so would not have this software; the XP wireless tool is closer to the OS and should by nature be more stable and tight with Windows' own facilities; it's present on all XP machines with a wireless adapter, and you should be familiar with it.
The SYMPTOMS:
I recently let the Dell Support tool update my wireless driver to the latest:
Intel Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection, v.10.5.1.0 (TIC125444), A08
Like all OEMs I'm sure, Dell likely looks for stability, maturity, and a signoff from the manufacturer before officially enabling the masses to upgrade to the newest driver and before providing support for their hardware under a new driver. This often means drivers from Dell et al are behind in features and version numbers to provide a favorable, stable environment.
After the update from a PREVIOUS DRIVER release which worked WELL, I could no longer switch users without the wireless disconnecting. Every time this happened, all downloads would abort, all remote shells would close, all instant messengers would disconnect, all videos would stop - how absurd. It goes beyond annoyance as I am compelled to write this article.
The SOLUTION:
Like nearly every situation in the history of my computing experience, the fix to my problem was to UNINSTALL all the cruft in the latest release INCLUDING THE DRIVER ITSELF and replace it with the official Intel driver from the Intel website. DON'T EXPECT HELP FROM DELL AFTER THIS as you've taken the problem into your own hands. If you want to get some support, use official drivers only!
I had to uninstall the Intel software via Add/Remove Programs, and then open Device Manager, and UNINSTALL the driver for the wireless adapter (make sure you already have the driver from the Intel website downloaded and unzipped before starting). You'll get disconnected and stranded if you don't have the means to reinstall after removing. Just run the install executable from the official Intel driver, and go to Action > Scan for Hardware Changes to force XP to look for the wireless adapter again. It should pick up the latest version from the program you just installed (11.something at the time of this post).
To rehash the rabbit trail, the Intel tool for controlling the wireless adapter is unnecessary when Windows XP Wireless Zero Config (the built-in one) works better. Windows provides the facility to control the wireless adapter -- why include an extra tool which only serves to confuse and conflict with what Windows wants by default. The driver download was 90 megs! What ever happened to the KISS principle?
Thank Intel for having a smallish download at only 7 megs only containing only the driver itself. The extraneous Intel wireless configuration software is not even installed.
I've tested fast user switching after using the latest driver from Intel (11.1.1.0 at time of writing) and the disconnect problems ceased. I hibernated and resumed, and the wireless reconnected as expected. I switched users multiple times and the connection stayed up. I'm calling this one solved.
I'll follow up on this post if I continue having issues or realize I'm incorrect about anything stated. Please reply on this if you've found this helpful or have suggestions. Dell, if you've read this, please follow up on thread and let us know if this is a known issue. Thanks for reading!
I, the author, retain copyright on this original content, Posted June 9, 2007.
I decided I would post this out of anger for the perceived bad quality control on computers these days (hardware and software/drivers). I finally met the tipping point with the latest Dell wireless driver and am making this my first writeup of this kind. This advice is unsolicited and without warranty from me or Dell (see Dell forums TOS for any other restrictions). I hope you find it handy should you be as frustrated as I am. Don't expect support from the manufacturer if you follow these directions. Perhaps you have this problem also or are just curious. Read on!
The SET UP:
I make use of Windows XP user switching - having multiple people logged in. It's great, and it's on by default in XP.
I prefer the built in Windows XP Wireless Zero Config to handle wireless connections. This post applies when using the XP Wireless Zero Config as I don't care at all for the Intel (or any other manufacturer's when applicable) proprietary wireless configuration software. Right click on the Intel wireless icon in the system tray and tell it you want to use Windows Wireless Zero config instead of the proprietary Intel program.
A rabbit trail to recite my reasons: The Intel tool is redundant and adds another complicated layer between you and your network; not all computers have an Intel chipset, and so would not have this software; the XP wireless tool is closer to the OS and should by nature be more stable and tight with Windows' own facilities; it's present on all XP machines with a wireless adapter, and you should be familiar with it.
The SYMPTOMS:
I recently let the Dell Support tool update my wireless driver to the latest:
Intel Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection, v.10.5.1.0 (TIC125444), A08
Like all OEMs I'm sure, Dell likely looks for stability, maturity, and a signoff from the manufacturer before officially enabling the masses to upgrade to the newest driver and before providing support for their hardware under a new driver. This often means drivers from Dell et al are behind in features and version numbers to provide a favorable, stable environment.
After the update from a PREVIOUS DRIVER release which worked WELL, I could no longer switch users without the wireless disconnecting. Every time this happened, all downloads would abort, all remote shells would close, all instant messengers would disconnect, all videos would stop - how absurd. It goes beyond annoyance as I am compelled to write this article.
The SOLUTION:
Like nearly every situation in the history of my computing experience, the fix to my problem was to UNINSTALL all the cruft in the latest release INCLUDING THE DRIVER ITSELF and replace it with the official Intel driver from the Intel website. DON'T EXPECT HELP FROM DELL AFTER THIS as you've taken the problem into your own hands. If you want to get some support, use official drivers only!
I had to uninstall the Intel software via Add/Remove Programs, and then open Device Manager, and UNINSTALL the driver for the wireless adapter (make sure you already have the driver from the Intel website downloaded and unzipped before starting). You'll get disconnected and stranded if you don't have the means to reinstall after removing. Just run the install executable from the official Intel driver, and go to Action > Scan for Hardware Changes to force XP to look for the wireless adapter again. It should pick up the latest version from the program you just installed (11.something at the time of this post).
To rehash the rabbit trail, the Intel tool for controlling the wireless adapter is unnecessary when Windows XP Wireless Zero Config (the built-in one) works better. Windows provides the facility to control the wireless adapter -- why include an extra tool which only serves to confuse and conflict with what Windows wants by default. The driver download was 90 megs! What ever happened to the KISS principle?
Thank Intel for having a smallish download at only 7 megs only containing only the driver itself. The extraneous Intel wireless configuration software is not even installed.
I've tested fast user switching after using the latest driver from Intel (11.1.1.0 at time of writing) and the disconnect problems ceased. I hibernated and resumed, and the wireless reconnected as expected. I switched users multiple times and the connection stayed up. I'm calling this one solved.
I'll follow up on this post if I continue having issues or realize I'm incorrect about anything stated. Please reply on this if you've found this helpful or have suggestions. Dell, if you've read this, please follow up on thread and let us know if this is a known issue. Thanks for reading!
I, the author, retain copyright on this original content, Posted June 9, 2007.
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