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I have an Inspiron 1012 mini. A week ago, it worked fine and I was able to connect to the internet. Now I can't get it to enable a wireless connection. Using device manager, I can see that Radio is enabled. However, when I use the WLAN utility, the check box for enable/disable is unchecked and grayed out so that I cannot change it. Per suggestions from other forums, I have tried fn/F2, but nothing happens. Is this a hardware problem with my wireless card, or is there something I am missing?
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Posted August 19th, 2011 21:00
Gambler1,
In device manager, if you right click on the adapter, left click, enable.
While there, if you click on properties advanced, look for antenna diversity. If it's there, change it from Auot to Aux.
Also try putting your wireless router on channel 1, 6 or 11. I use channel 11.
Rick
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Posted August 19th, 2011 21:00
In device manager, when I right-click on adapter I can only select disable, since the it is already enabled. I was able to set antenna diversity to Aux. Still no success. As far as the wireless router channel, I have no idea how to change it from its current setting.
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Posted August 19th, 2011 23:00
Gambler1,
Try reading...
How to login to your wireless router
I usually recommend using these Recommended Wireless Router Settings, I use channel 11. If you decide to change anything except the channel, I would make a new SSID to make connecting easier.
Rick
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Posted August 20th, 2011 06:00
I was able to get into the settings for my router, but all of the settings were already consistent with your recommendations. By the way, I started having problems this week when I was out of town on a business trip. I tried logging into the hotel's network but was not able to get connected (same problem I am now having at home, too). The problem is not on the router end. It is definitely a problem on the connection end. I used to be able to see all of the wireless connections around me. Now I see nothing. I can't get my Inspiron 1012 mini to connect. When I try to connect, it gives me the warning to "make sure the wireless connection is on." However, I cannot get the wireless connection to turn on using the Fn/F2 key combination.
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Posted August 20th, 2011 11:00
Gambler1,
Look in start, control panel, windows mobility center. Make sure the wireless is turned on. Also click on the little box in launch radio controls. You should then see...
Rick
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Posted August 20th, 2011 15:00
I can't "just type it in the start box." There is nothing to type it into. Could you explain a little better what you are referring to?
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Posted August 20th, 2011 15:00
I have looked in Control Panel, both Classic view and Category view, but I don't see anything for Windows Mobility Center. I am using a netbook as opposed to a laptop. I don't know if that makes a difference.
There is an icon for "Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility." This has a grayed out checkbox to enable radio, but I am unable to check it.
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Posted August 20th, 2011 15:00
Windows Mobility Center --Just type it in the Start Box to access it.
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Posted August 20th, 2011 19:00
Gambler1,
Go to device manager(right click my computer, left click properties, left click hardware, left click device manager)
Any yellow exclaimination marks or red x's?
Rick
PudgyOne
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Posted August 21st, 2011 18:00
Gambler1,
Sorry we weren't able to find the exact cause of your problem. Please be cautious when downloading the Windows Updates. Maybe one of them has caused some of the problem.
Take care,
Rick