E7240 WiFi Driver.

Question

We received the Dell E7240 laptop with Windows 7 Professional pre-installed. As part of the configuration I noted that it had the following Wi-Fi and Network Drivers:

• Intel Dual band Wireless AC 7260 Driver 16.1.3.1 Release Date 8/1/13

• Intel Ethernet Connection 1218 LM Driver Version 12.6.51.9427 Intel Network Connection 18.1.59.00

I “Kill Disk” wiped the laptop and install Windows Professional 64 Enterprise

I download and installed from the Dell Driver Site the following:

• Intel Dual band Wireless AC 7260 Driver Version 16.1.3.1 release Date 8/1/3

• Intel Ethernet Connection 1218-LM Driver Version 12.10.30.0 A05 OEM 18.7.0.0.

However after installing the Wi-Fi driver I note that upon waking from sleep the network icon in the taskbar has yellow warning triangle with a black exclamation mark indicating no network connectivity. with the error “Unidentified network - no internet access" When I launch IE I get an error "You're not connected to a network" -" when I then click on "Fix Connection Problems" as presented in the IE browser window the windows network diagnostics resolves the issue reporting the error "Local Area Connection" does not have a valid IP address".

I can also clear the error by going to Local Area Connection - Link Speed-Diagnostic Hardware Run Test -

I have duplicated the issue on another E7240 installing only Windows 7 64 bit Enterprise with the downloaded Dell network and Wi-Fi driver. Again the issue of limited or no network connectivity appears to occur after installing the Wi-Fi driver.

I went to the Intel Site and downloaded and uninstall the last “Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 7260 Version 16.6.0.8 however the issue still persists.

I have also flashed the BIOS, checked the BIOS for Nic related options, and reset the Sleep and hibernation modes, checked the NIC and Wi-Fi properties for a specific power option to disable.

On the pre-installed Windows Professional I have uninstalled the existing NIC driver and then downloaded and installed the network driver from the Dell site.

Intel Ethernet Connection 1218-LM Driver Version 12.10.30.0 A05 OEM 18.7.0.0.

Upon reboot I get the same error "the network icon in the taskbar has yellow warning triangle with a black exclamation mark indicating no network connectivity" However strangely I do have network connectivity and a valid IP address and am able to browse directories. id I runt eh Intel WiDi software update utility from the Intel site and update the Intel proset wireless 16.6.0 clears this issue.

adamsin · Answer

Have you found a fix for this as my school has been experiencing the exact same issue with our new E7240 using Win 7 Enterprise 64 bit also?

Dabhid · Answer

Hi I am still troubleshooting with Dell.  The support person is in the Philippines, I think. I am going to try a clean Windows 7 Enterprise install with Dell’s Wi-Fi Driver first then Dell’s NIC driver to see if that makes a difference. I am then going to roll back Windows 7 with a System Restore and try with the latest Dell NIC driver and the latest Wi-Fi Driver but from the Intel site. I will post what I find. Best of Luck!

PudgyOne · Answer

Dabhid,

When you installed the operating system, did you install the Dell System Software(if applicable) and the chipset drivers first? If not, the rest of the drivers will fail to install. How to Download and Install Drivers in the Correct Order

Start with the Dell System Software and the chipset drivers and follow the list.

Rick

Dabhid · Answer

Hi Rick, Thanks for that. I was suspecting it was a device driver install order issue. We had a similar issue with the E6510 model laptop. I guess we ve been lucky with the rest; E6220; E6230; E6420; E6430;E6520;E6530.

I see that the link you had given.

http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/04/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=268873

It mentions that "Dell Latitude E-Series and Precision laptop models have a different install order. For more information, see the Latitude E-Family and Mobile Precision reimage guide." and the link provided is dead.

I did find the following link which is two years old. ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_laptop/esuprt_latitude_laptop/latitude-e6430_Reference%20Guide_en-us.pdf

After a clean install of Windows my natural inclination was to load the network driver followed by the Dell System Detect.

I will start with downloading the drivers in sequence and burning to a DVD.

Thanks again. : )

Dabhid · Answer

I installed the E7240 driver set in the order as suggested:

http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?docid=618625

Installed the following network driver - Intel I2xx/825xx 10/100/1000 Ethernet Network Drivers for Windows Release Date: 9/9/2013 Version: 18.1.0.1,A03:

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/04/DriverDetails/Product/latitude-e7240-ultrabook?driverId=WM2WJ&osCode=W864&fileId=3301308144&languageCode=en&categoryId=NI

I actually downloaded and installed from Intel the full Wi-Fi driver including the Intel Proset Manager: Wireless_16.10.0_s64.exe ver:16.10.0

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/confirm.aspx?httpDown=http://downloadmirror.intel.com/23626/eng/Wireless_16.10.0_s64.exe&lang=eng&Dwnldid=23626&DownloadType=Software+Applications+&OSFullname=Windows+7+(64-bit

This worked sucessfully.

However Windows 7 Updates prompts for the following optional update. Installing either or both will corrupt the Nic and Wifi driver set

Also I found the we need to uncheck power management in the NIC as our Symantec AntiVirus prevents it from waking from sleep by blocking the Intel driver.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

E7240 WiFi Driver.

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