Network Controller driver problem

Question

Hello,

I've searched around and tried the solutions that I've seen others post about this problem, but I'm not having any luck.

This morning, when I turned my computer on, my wireless wouldn't connect to my router. When I looked in the Device Manager it had "Network Controller" in "Other Devices" and it said that there wasn't a driver installed for it.

If I tell Windows to update the driver, it can't find the driver anywhere.

I tried downloading the driver for the network adapter from the Dell service page, but the latest driver (R246753) says that I need to use the "Intel(R) PROSET/wireless installer" to install it. I downloaded a previous drives for it (1T47J, I believe), and it installed, but as soon as the installation was completed, Windows did a search for the driver and came up with the same problem... the driver wasn't installed. So, back to square one. I located the "Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software and Drivers for Windows 7" on the intel site, downloaded and ran it, and it tried to install the driver, but when it was done, it put me back to square one again too.

I tried updating the driver using the Dell Support Center, but whereas it knows that there is something wrong with the driver situation for the Network Controller, it doesn't give any way to fix that. It just gives me the option to have Windows update it, and it ends up with the same result as above.

I've tried downloading the drivers and manually installing from Intel, but that didn't work.

I used System Restore to go back to the last restore point, but that didn't help.

The computer is a Dell Studio 1555. It is running Windows 7, 64bit. I didn't do anything weird with my computer lately. I just turned it off last night and turned it on this morning.

Anyone have any ideas for me?

Thanks.

LumiImp · Answer

Oh, and I should add that the message that started all this, and the message I keep getting whenever it "puts me back to square one" is...

"Device driver software was not successfully installed"

That's what it showed me immediately upon starting up my computer this morning (even though I didn't install anything this morning), and it shows me the same thing whenever it SEEMS like it has installed a new driver.

PudgyOne · Answer

LumiImp,

Did you recently install/reinstall the operating system?

Can you run Finding System Information REMOVE YOUR PRODUCT ID and REGISTERED OWNER, if using XP, run an ipconfig /all log and post it back here.

Rick

LumiImp · Answer

Hi.

Nope, I haven't installed or reinstalled the operating system.

Here's the System Information you asked for (with the appropriate information removed)

Host Name: FIREFLY

OS Name: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

OS Version: 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601

OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation

OS Configuration: Standalone Workstation

OS Build Type: Multiprocessor Free

Original Install Date: 12/16/2009, 6:57:34 PM

System Boot Time: 2/12/2013, 3:30:32 PM

System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.

System Model: Studio 1555

System Type: x64-based PC

Processor(s): 1 Processor(s) Installed.

[01]: Intel64 Family 6 Model 23 Stepping 10 GenuineIntel ~2401 Mhz

BIOS Version: Dell Inc. A13, 4/2/2011

Windows Directory: C:\Windows

System Directory: C:\Windows\system32

Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume3

System Locale: en-us;English (United States)

Input Locale: en-us;English (United States)

Time Zone: (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Total Physical Memory: 4,061 MB

Available Physical Memory: 2,114 MB

Virtual Memory: Max Size: 8,120 MB

Virtual Memory: Available: 5,834 MB

Virtual Memory: In Use: 2,286 MB

Page File Location(s): C:\pagefile.sys

Domain: WORKGROUP

Logon Server: \\FIREFLY

Hotfix(s): 178 Hotfix(s) Installed.

[01]: 982861

[02]: KB971033

[03]: KB2305420

[04]: KB2393802

[05]: KB2425227

[06]: KB2446710

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Network Card(s): 3 NIC(s) Installed.

[01]: Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet

Connection Name: Local Area Connection

DHCP Enabled: Yes

DHCP Server: 192.168.1.1

IP address(es)

[01]: 192.168.1.109

[02]: fe80::4492:89ea:6237:215b

[02]: Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)

Connection Name: Bluetooth Network Connection

Status: Media disconnected

[03]: TAP-Win32 Adapter V9

Connection Name: Local Area Connection 2

Status: Media disconnected

LumiImp · Answer

Okay ... I left the computer alone in frustration for a few hours, and it went to sleep (not power down - just sleep). When I came back and 'woke it up', a window popped up at the bottom right of the screen to notify me the device driver for my network controller had been installed.

I tried rebooting several times when the problem first occurred, not to mention several reboots when I tried the system restore, and it resolved nothing. So, basically, it fixed itself while no one was looking at it.

Seems destined to remain a mystery ... unless it happens again tomorrow.

PudgyOne · Answer

LumiImp,

I did not have a wireless adapter listed in the log. Not sure what happened. Some virus programs and firewalls cause connection problems. It also may be possible your adapter may be loose.

You can try these tweaks...

Start, control panel, 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.

Go to the power options, and changed the Wireless Adapter Setting, from Maximum Power Setting to Maximum Performance.

Rick

LumiImp · Answer

Hi again.

Unfortunately, I don't have a wireless adapter listed under "Network Adapters".

What I have listed there is:

Bluetooth device personal area network

Bluetooth device rfcomm protocol

Broadcom NetLink Gigabit Ethernet

TAP-Win32 adapter V9

There is also "Other Devices" listed just below "Network Adapters", which is where it says "Network Controller"

LumiImp · Answer

Also, I opened up the laptop, popped the wifi card out and then put it back in. It was in pretty securely to start, but putting it back in and closing up the computer doesn't appear to have helped.

PudgyOne · Answer

LumiImp,

Go to Drivers & Downloads enter your service tag, select your operating system. Under network, download the drivers for your adapter.

Make a system restore point.

Start, control panel, device manager, network adapter, right click on your adapter, uninstall. Tell it to remove the drivers and software. Right click on other items that have yellow excalimination marks.

Restart your computer. When the computer logs in, the new hardware wizard will try to install the adapter, but fail. Install the drivers saved to your desktop.

Places to look to see if your Connection is enabled

Rick

LumiImp · Answer

Hi Rick,

Thanks for your help so far.

No luck on that last attempt, though.

It goes fine, just as you described... input Service Tag, download driver, make restore point, uninstall "Network Controller" (the only thing that has an exclamation point, btw), restart, computer tries to install and fails.

I install the driver I downloaded, but it gets to the end of that and says that it did not install correctly.

Would the OS report that if the hardware wasn't working? That is... if the wireless adapter is just fried, would it report that the driver wasn't installed properly, or would it actually give a true report of the hardware not working?

erkin83 · Answer

Hi all,

I am using windows 7 ultimate, and Inspiron 15R SE 7520. Installed all drivers from DELL support web page.

All drivers already installed successfully except Network Controller. I have an issue with Network Controller since driver did not install correctly. Also i tried to install any other network drivers but all does not work.

Any idea about this situation?

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Network Controller driver problem

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