inspiron 1501 wont recognize wireless network/Help

Question

Just purchased new laptop insp1501 w/dell wireless 1390 wlan mini-card, have been trying to get laptop w/win vista home basic to recognize our wireless adapter at home, the adapter is the wireless dsl gateway . We have been on the phone constantly w/Verizon DSL trying to get the laptop to connect to the wireless network, when the laptop is connected w/Ethernet cable we can access the internet, the wireless router is working because im on it w/another insp600m wking w/card=win xp, im able to access the wireless network,the 600m also finds other wireless networks. The new laptop will not recognize any wireless networks. verizon has told me that it s something with the laptop they are not able to help me.

volcano11 · Answer

There is a known conflict between the Dell 1390 wireless adapter and some routers supplied by Verizon (Verizon should know about this).  See the following:   http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?docid=125CFDEB0AFE10E1E0401E0A55174E79&c=us&l=en&s=dhs   Since you have Vista, the following may be applicable as well:   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928233   Let us know if any of this helps.   Steve

mbaity · Answer

Thanks for your quick response, actually Verizon did say that the wireless router we originally had was not compatible w/Vista....they sent us another one they said was a newer wireless router compatible w/Vista...this is not a Westell VersaLink on the link u provided it's a Verizon GT704WG-model #.

mbaity · Answer

The wireless button is on, i double checked with the toggle(fn f2), the card is connected to the antennas and securely in the slot... Right..there are no wireless networks available to connect too...they are available because they show up on my other laptop, using the same wireless adapter.  I appreciate your time.

volcano11 · Answer

Well that seems to eliminate those two possibilities.  I have no experience with Vista, so I may only be of limited help.  Is the WiFi light (next to the power button) lit up?  If not, the Fn F2 key combination should toggle the wireless on and off.    You might want to also check to see that the wireless card is securely seated in the MiniCard slot and the antenna wires are connected - see the following:   http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1501/en/sm_en/cards.htm#wp1015787    You say you cannot connect to any wireless networks.   Can you even see any wireless networks if you go to 'View Avaiable wireless networks'?   Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Open the Dell Wireless Utility and run the diagnostics on the wireless adapter.  Report back what you find.   Steve

mbaity · Answer

I opened the Dell Wireless Utility and ran the diagnostics on the wireless adapter, results: control registers - passed SPROM Format Validation - passed Memory - passed Interrupt - passed DMA and Loopback - passed LED - passed   Information- The selected test(s) have passed, your WLAN IEEE 802.11 wireless networking hardware is functioning properly.   Driver updates can be found at www.support.dell.com   I also tried uninstalling the card driver, it automatically reinstalled the driver and no change

volcano11 · Answer

Is your router broadcasting its SSID?  Have you tried to manually add the the network while trying to connect?   Steve

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

inspiron 1501 wont recognize wireless network/Help

Was this post helpful?