Wireless Network Issues

Question

I have just taken delivery of a Vostro 1400 (2gb Vista Business)and I am not too happy with the wireless or internet which seems very hit and miss. It's not connecting very well, for example BBC news it fails to link to 5 out of 10 times. I use firefox and Explorer with same results. Yet I have a Mac powerbook and a XP PC sitting alongside and these WILL find the pages that my Dell does not seem to be able to (server not found). When I check the network on the vostro I get Local and Internet most of the time but sometimes not internet -- yet my Mac & PC stiil have it and it's on the same wireless network. It's really strange now I have Explorer finding BBC news and Firefox saying it cannot find the server. Is there some setting I am missing? Any advice appreciated. This is driving me mad!

dhayner · Answer

Be sure to get the latest driver. This ( http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_general&thread.id=254832) helped my 1420 out of the problem you mention.

Martin4x4 · Answer

Thanks good point. I downloaded the file, but could not get it to un-zip as it asked for another disc. You pointed me in the right direction (I Hope!) and checked Dell and found there is a later version from 11/19/07 so I am trying to download this now (Estimate 45 minutes!) and that just timed out on the Vostro. Trying on my PC. You would think that Dell would ship with the latest drivers already installed!

Martin4x4 · Answer

I installed the latest driver from Dell. This is 11.5.0.32 dated 26/09/2007 This shows intermitent improvement -- I'm typing this on my Mac as the Vostro says 'Server not found' when I try. Yet my Mac connected immediately.

Martin4x4 · Answer

My original Vostro has been replaced after spending hours with the help desk trying to resolve this problem. The new one does not appear to be any better. In addition with both of these when I close the lid to put the laptop to sleep and then wake it up again the screen resolution is changed and I have to go to the control panel and reset this. I don't think this is a wireless issue as when Firefox or IE say they cannot find the server (sites like BBC, Yahoo, Google etc) I have good wireless and internet connection. I can pick up my wife's Apple iBook and go straight to the sites my Vostro tells me the server cannot be found. Is this a Vostro issue? Or is this a Vista one? I'm tempted to install XP as I have a licensed unused copy!  Just another example I just tried posting this and guess what SERVER NOT FOUND!   10 minutes later I can connect again -- during this time I could not get to other sites!

Locked Topics – Laptops General

Wireless Network Issues

Was this post helpful?