Dell D830 Wireless Issue

Question

Hi - I hope someone can help me with my issue... I've had my Dell D830 for a couple of years now & 6 months ago I updated the OS from XP Pro to Windows 7 Pro. All has been well apart from BlueTooth disappearing periodically. Last week after some Windows Updates for some reason my Wireless Adaptor no longer works. When I click on the 'Internet Access' logo in the Notification Area there is no Wireless networks listed, near my house it used to detect quite a few & automatically logging into my own personal wireless router. I've checked the Device Manager, it lists an Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection and says the Drivers are up-to-date. To be sure I've checked the Dell Support web-site & using my Service Tag I downloaded the relevant Drivers & Software & re-installed everything with still no luck. I then installed the Intel Driver Update Utility & again no luck. Intel has this cool Manual Diagnostic Tool that runs a heap of tests. Although it passed the 1st two tests OK (Hardware Test & Driver Test) it failes the Radio Test - stating that the 'Hardware Radio is OFF'...  The provided troubleshoot simply says go to the Windows Device Manager & 'verify that the adapter is enabled' - well it is. I've tried things like completely uninstalling the driver's etc & reinstalling them but the same issue occurs at the end of the day. I've even used System Restore with no joy which is surprising as it's never let me down before After spending all day trying to figure it out I'm now hoping some fine folk in this forum may have some answers... Regards - Rodney

Squiz999 · Accepted Answer

Hi Rick & anyone else following this,

Unbeknown to me as this Dell D830 is the 4th Dell Latitude Note Book I've owned over the years but these models have a small chrome switch on the left hand side that turns off all wireless & bluetooth activity.... A guy here where I'm staying identified the issue in less than 5 seconds. All those hours of downloading & re-downloading drivers etc from Dell & Intel was a waste of time. I guess this is a classic tale of 'Read the User Manual before operating this product'.... Doh!

Thanks again - Rodney

PudgyOne · Answer

Rodney,

Did you try these tweaks?

Go to device manager(right click my computer, left click properties, left click hardware, left click device manager)

Go to the USB Controller section and click the + sign.

Go to each USB Root Hub and right click on it, left click properties, left click power management. Uncheck the box, allow computer to turn off this device to save power.

Restart your computer.

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Go to device manager(right click my computer, left click properties, left click hardware, left click device manager). Click on Network and then right click on your wireless adapter, left click properties, power management. Uncheck the box, allow computer to turn off this device to save power.

Rick

Squiz999 · Answer

Thanks Rick,

I tried all the suggestions removing ticks from the Power Management allowing the computer to turn off the device on each of the USB Root Hubs + the Wireless Adaptor but still no joy I'm afraid...

Cheers - Rodney

PudgyOne · Answer

Rodney,

In device manager, at the top, you should have Bluetooth Radios. Do the power management box, there, also.

You can download the Finding System Information Tool double click on it, REMOVE YOUR PRODUCT ID and post the rest of the information back here.

Rick

PudgyOne · Answer

Rodney,   Glad you got it working! :emotion-21: Thanks for posting back. It happens to all of us.   Take care,     Rick

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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