Vostro 3700 Wifi not working after format!! Please help.

 Gatti,

When you installed Windows 7, did you install the desktop/notebook utility and the chipset drivers first? If not, the rest of the drivers will fail to install. If you cannot find Windows 7 drivers, then try using the Vista (or XP) drivers and install then drivers in the Compatibility mode

Rick

I have the exact problem, word for word, of the guy above me. I can't find Dell Notebook / Desktop System Software anywhere in the CD or the driver page on the website, though. I'm trying to follow the directions, but just don't see it anywhere.

Thres,

I located an XP version of the Dell System Software. This will have to be installed in the XP Compatibility mode

How to Download and Install Drivers in the Correct Order

Rick

This is Windows 7 Home Premium, which came with the Vostro 3700. Home Premium does not support XP mode, and the Troubleshoot Compatibility option doesn't work either.

As far as I can tell, the Notebook System Software is completely missing from the CD and dell.com Drivers & Downloads page for Windows 7, yet is mentioned in  the installation guide on the CD: "Depending on the system model, the Notebook / Desktop System Software installation files may be found on either the Utilities or Drivers page of the Resource CD." Then here as "This is located under the System and Configuration Utilities Category on the Drivers and Downloads page." Its not there for 7 or Vista for the Vostro 3700.

Thres,

The Notebook System Utility has the drivers needed for connected devices, like webcams, USB devices, wireless cards, etc. So installing the XP in the compatibility mode, unless you have a 64-bit system, which you did not mention.

Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings

How To Restore or Reinstall Microsoft® Windows® on a Dell™ Computer

Rick

I tried compatibility mode, and it would not install it. This is a 32-bit system.

I could restore to factory default, but that will also install all the bloatware. I just want a fresh install, which I'm supposed to be able to do. Why is the NSS missing?

Not all models use it. If it's not on your download page under Utilities, it is not necessary for your model. You made an error by reinstalling windows on a new computer. That might have been OK with an old XP computer, but now that image files are used to install everything on new computers, it is completely unnecessary and even damaging. If you made a Recovery disk, try using that to go back to Factory Settings. Or if you still have the Recovery partition unchanged, use that. Contact Support for help.

If it were an error to reinstall windows on it, then why would it come with a Dell OS reinstall DVD and Drivers DVD? Someone had screwed up this system somehow prior to me looking at it, and I decided to use the DVD with it rather than the recovery partition for a fresh install. I don't see why that would be a problem, and if it is, I don't see why that DVD would be included. The recovery partition is still there, and I can still use it if it comes down to that, as far as I know.

If the NSS isn't required for this model, then what else could be the problem with the Wifi? That's the original question of this topic. Is there anything else I could try other than resorting to the recovery partition?

Thres,

Can you please run Finding System Information and remove your product ID and post it back here?

Rick

Sure.

Host Name:                 ZEKE
OS Name:                   Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
OS Version:                6.1.7600 N/A Build 7600
OS Manufacturer:           Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration:          Standalone Workstation
OS Build Type:             Multiprocessor Free
Registered Owner:         
Registered Organization:  
Product ID:               
Original Install Date:     12/22/2010, 10:54:20 AM
System Boot Time:          12/25/2010, 8:33:24 PM
System Manufacturer:       Dell Inc.
System Model:              Vostro 3700
System Type:               X86-based PC
Processor(s):              1 Processor(s) Installed.
                           [01]: x64 Family 6 Model 37 Stepping 5 GenuineIntel ~2394 Mhz
BIOS Version:              Dell Inc. A01  , 2/10/2010
Windows Directory:         C:\Windows
System Directory:          C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device:               \Device\HarddiskVolume2
System Locale:             en-us;English (United States)
Input Locale:              en-us;English (United States)
Time Zone:                 (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Total Physical Memory:     2,935 MB
Available Physical Memory: 1,835 MB
Virtual Memory: Max Size:  5,868 MB
Virtual Memory: Available: 4,572 MB
Virtual Memory: In Use:    1,296 MB
Page File Location(s):     C:\pagefile.sys
Domain:                    WORKGROUP
Logon Server:              \\ZEKE
Hotfix(s):                 66 Hotfix(s) Installed.
                           [01]: KB971033
                           [02]: KB2079403
                           [03]: KB2207566
                           [04]: KB2249857
                           [05]: KB2281679
                           [06]: KB2284742
                           [07]: KB2286198
                           [08]: KB2296011
                           [09]: KB2296199
                           [10]: KB2305420
                           [11]: KB2345886
                           [12]: KB2347290
                           [13]: KB2378111
                           [14]: KB2385678
                           [15]: KB2387149
                           [16]: KB2388210
                           [17]: KB2416400
                           [18]: KB2416471
                           [19]: KB2423089
                           [20]: KB2436673
                           [21]: KB2442962
                           [22]: KB2443685
                           [23]: KB2447568
                           [24]: KB2467659
                           [25]: KB958488
                           [26]: KB972270
                           [27]: KB973751
                           [28]: KB974332
                           [29]: KB974431
                           [30]: KB974476
                           [31]: KB974571
                           [32]: KB975467
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                           [37]: KB976662
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                           [48]: KB979482
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                           [50]: KB979687
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                           [52]: KB979900
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                           [54]: KB980195
                           [55]: KB980232
                           [56]: KB980408
                           [57]: KB980846
                           [58]: KB981332
                           [59]: KB981852
                           [60]: KB981889
                           [61]: KB982110
                           [62]: KB982132
                           [63]: KB982214
                           [64]: KB982665
                           [65]: KB982799
                           [66]: KB983590
Network Card(s):           1 NIC(s) Installed.
                           [01]: Realtek RTL8168D/8111D Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)
                                 Connection Name: Local Area Connection
                                 DHCP Enabled:    Yes
                                 DHCP Server:     192.168.5.1
                                 IP address(es)
                                 [01]: 192.168.5.105
                                 [02]: fe80::47e:e58e:2d3:7cc0

Thres,

Like Mary said, maybe the Notebook System Utility might not be needed for Vista or Windows 7. Most of the Windows 7 drivers offered are the Vista drivers, so the drivers I have available for download and install(below) are Vista drivers and should be installed in the Vista compatibility mode.

These drivers are the Vista 32-bit drivers, so install them in the Vista Compatibility mode.

Let' start with the Intel HM57 Express Chipset Family, Intel Turbo Boost Technology and the Intel Management Engine  . Install these drivers FIRST.

Then install the drivers for your memory card. Either Realtek RTS5138 Card Reader or Ricoh CardReader R5U230

Then install the Realtek RTL8111DL Ethernet Controller  and the drivers for the wireless card you have installed. The wireless card did not show up under Network adapters at the bottom of the list. Does it show in the device manager with a yellow exclaimination mark?

Dell Wireless WLAN 1520 Half MiniCard

Dell Wireless WLAN 1501 Half Mini-Card (4313bgn)

Intel(R) WiFi Link 6200

The top three are the basic cards installed here are the others listed.

Dell Wireless WLAN 1397 Half MiniCard (4312bg) 

Intel(R) WiFi Link 6300 

Intel (R) WiFi Link 6250<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

Install the Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth Module if you have it.

Remember to install the Dell OSD utility

After these are all installed in the Vista Compatibility mode (I would use Vista SP2) then see if the wireless card works. Also try running Finding System Information and look at the bottom. You should see all your network adapters listed there.

Mine are...

Network Card(s):           2 NIC(s) Installed.
                           [01]: Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN
                                 Connection Name: Wireless Network Connection
                                 DHCP Enabled:    Yes
                                 DHCP Server:     192.168.7.1
                                 IP address(es)
                                 [01]: 192.168.7.100
                                 [02]: fe80::c0f9:4cdf:c94c:2bbf
                           [02]: Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet
                                 Connection Name: Local Area Connection
                                 Status:          Media disconnected

If it does NOT shopw up, then it might be possible the network adapter could have come loose or failed. If using the 1397 adapter, if it shows up in the device manager, double click on it, click advanced. Look for antenna diversity. If there, change it from Auto to Aux.

Let me know the results.

Rick

Alright, the wireless is working now. Thank you.

The wireless card did not show up in Device Manager before following the steps in your last post. The driver "Dell Wireless WLAN 1501 Half Mini-Card (4313bgn)" was the one that worked, and I then checked if it was on the drivers CD. It isn't on the CD. Could this be the source of the problem?

Thres,

It could have been added by customizing and the card was so new at the time that the drivers were not on the drivers disk. You would think it should be on the drivers disk but sometimes things like this happens. You may want to burn the drivers file to a disk for future references. I usually use Wndrvrbckup Backup Utilities and put all my drivers on a disk. then if there is an issue, especially in the device manager, then I can insert the disk and tell it to find the drivers there.

Glad you got it working. Is there anything else you can use help with?

Rick

Okay, sorry about my frustration.  RE:  Dell Vostro 3700

I want to use the recovery partition to restore to factory state.  F11 and control F11 don't work.

Please help?

Cannot access the recovery partition even with a working windows xp or 7.  no access.