Keeps dropping wifi network

Question

I'm just about ready to take a shotgun to this accursed thing. From day one, this thing has had issues with my wifi network, dropping it for no apparent reason, then refusing to connect to it with the particularly uninformative message, 'Can't connect to this network.'  Real helpful. It cleared up for awhile, but not it's back with a vengeance, 3 or 4 times each day.  It's a 2017 Inspiron 5755.  Trying to reconnect just yields that stupid message.  The only way to get back on is to restart the machine.  No other device in the house has any issues whatever with the network.  None.  Only this thing.  Wife's Dell has no problems either, but she just bought it six months ago. Is anyone else experiencing anything like this, and has a fix been found?  I saw something about Smartbyte, but apparently it isn't on this machine; doesn't show up in the list of programs, anyway, nor in a search. Any ideas greatly appreciated.  I got this thing because of Dell's reputation for solid hardware... I'm rethinking that decision now.  Not looking for new hardware anytime soon, but I'll definitely be doing a much wider search for my next machine.

AdrianG001 · Answer

I would suggest you to update the BIOS and then uninstall and reinstall the Wireless card driver on the system. Please enter your service tag # on the link below, select the OS and then download the BIOS from BIOS section and then wireless card driver from Network section onto the Desktop screen. http://dell.to/18r60nI Please follow the steps mentioned below to uninstall the wireless card. Open the charms bar by moving the mouse to right top corner of the screen and inthe search box, Start typing devmgmt.msc and then press enter. Select the wireless card and Bluetooth device under Network Adapter and right click on it Now select properties. In the properties window, under Driver tab, click on Uninstall button. Check 'Delete the driver software for this device.' You want to delete the driver click OK. After the uninstall finishes restart the system and install the drivers by using the file downloaded on the desktop screen.

kharrisma · Answer

Thanks for your reply.  BIOS and a number or other drivers downloaded and will be installed shortly.  One question more: how does one go about locating and either disabling or removing the Dell SmartByte app?  It's listed in the driver updates as 'This PC,' but I've been unable to locate it by any means in this system.  Thanks!

kharrisma · Answer

Thanks for the suggestions.  Updated all drivers that required updating.  BIOS has been updated to most recent version, just un-installed wireless adapter (removing software) and rebooted.  Connected immediately.  I'll be back if the problem persists after making these changes.

scottk61 · Answer

So fed up with this POS Dell, I want to smash it, and never buy another Dell.
Every 10 minutes I have to reboot. to get my wifi back.
It was a problem for quite a while. then there was an update and it was way better.
Recently another update and its back to being a POS.
I will be slagging the out of Dell, it costs me so much time / money such a pos waste of time: F Dell

Inspiron

Was this post helpful?