Linksys blames Dell, Dell blames Linksys

What Linksys router do you have??   If there is a turbo mode or super G mode, turn it off.

Test your system on another wireless network (hotspot, friends router, etc)....call Dell while at that location so they can troubleshoot the issue.  If you connect at second location then you have narrowed down the problem to the card or your configuration.

I also have this problem!  It started yesterday, and I have spent many hours on the phone with tech support.  The Linksys router is working fine, our other computer (a Dell desktop circa 2001) is talking to it via a cable.   This newer Inspiron 1150 was working great with the wireless connection for 6 weeks, and then this problem just started.  The Ethernet connection is working great on this Inspiron 1150 as well.

I just finished the second complete reinstall of Windows XP and drivers today, and we also upgraded the firmware on the Linksys router.  Also tried IPCONFIG and pinging with the wireless card and Ethernet connections, and they seem to be okay too.  The wireless connection shows some traffic, but it is unusually slow at 2 feet from the router.

Any new ideas would be appreciated.  I am waiting over an hour for the Dell tech support person to call me back.  I think they are busy with a lot of these problems.  I wonder if it's some spyware that mucked up the wireless connection somehow.

I broke down and bought the same router you did tonight. I really hope I get the same response as you.

Thanks. 

I used the new security featiures, and set up the secure name and password for the linksys connection, too.

You opined that" "My Inspiron 1150 with Dell wireless 1350 will not connect to the internet."

You need to say which router model you are using.

However, I cleared up a similar issue with my 1150 by changing the channel of the router and the computer. I don't have the exact data at hand, but there are reportedly only 3 channels in the channel range that are best suited to making the wireless connection. It has something to do with the other channels allowing more frequency sharing, or something like that.

Before you give up:

1. Be sure you have the latest router and 1150 BIOS installed. Do not update the router BIOS via the wireless connection; doing a router BIOS update via the wireless connection can destroy the router, notes Linksys.

2. Using a program such as Network Stumbler, sniff out any wireless LANs operating nearby and set your router and the 1150 to a frequency not in use nearby. Preferably use one of the 3 most reliable frequencies. Network Stumbler will also verify that the 1150 isn't just locking onto a nearby LAN other that your own, which could be the cause of your issue.

3. Remove all of the security from the router (firewall, WEP, whatever) and get the connection working sans all security. The add back secuirity in stages. Use WPA security, not WEP for real security. Re-enable the router firewall if all is working.

A final caution: There are several versions of some Linksys routers. You must ensure that any BIOS update is the right one. And in some cases one BIOS update may require an earlier BIOS update to be installed first. I recollect seeing Linksys cautions that using the wrong BIOS update, or attempting to install to a previous version, can ruin the router as well. Check the router itself to see if it is, say WRT54G v2, for example. Verify if there is a version number and use only the BIOS update for the router version. I

Rodan3,

   Did the new Linksys router work out for you?