Network Controller Missing after Vista Installed

Question

Hi everyone.  I have a problem with my wifi.  I recently reinstalled Vista on my Latitude 6400. Everything is fine except I can not get the wifi to work on the laptop. When I turn on the switch on the side the bluetooth symbol lights up ok but no wifi. Using the device manager the adaptor is an intel 82567 card. I have loaded the up to date software for this but no response.  Checking in the properties box it says the device is working properly. In the folder marked other devices there is a network folder. This is empty, there is no information in there at all. Just various messages about the items being missing, not loaded or unavailable. It is possible the card is kaput but it would be a remarkable coincidence for it to give up the ghost at the exact same time I reinstalled vista.At the moment I am using an external wireless adaptor which works fine but I would prefer to use the built in resource. I have searched the Dell and Intel websites without any luck. Any help greatly appreciated.

Green Halo · Accepted Answer

Hi I think I have solved the problem. I opened up the laptop and had a look at the wifi card installed. I made a note of the model and searched the net for drivers. I found the drivers "Intel Proset/Windows and Drivers" and downloaded the software. I restarted the laptop and connected to my router no problem.

Everything seems to be running OK now.

Dell-Zohaib R · Answer

Hi Green Halo,

After a clean installation of the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, you must install the following drivers / software packages in the order mentioned:

Dell Notebook System Software
Intel Mobile Chipset Driver
IDT STAC 9205 Audio Driver
Mobile Intel GMA X4500 Video Controller
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 160M
Ricoh R5C8xx Cardbus Controller
Dell Control Point Security Manager
Intel 82567LM GigaLAN Network Controller
Wireless driver (if applicable)
MDC driver
Dell Touch Pad Driver
Bluetooth driver and stack
SOL/LMS Driver (Optional: Needed for Intel AMT functionality only)
HECI Driver (Optional: Needed for Intel AMT functionality only)

‘Intel 82567LM GigaLAN’ is the Ethernet adapter not the wireless card. You must have one of the following devices under Network Adapters:

Dell Wireless 1397 b/g Half-Height Mini-Card
Dell Wireless 1510 a/g/n Half-Height Mini-Card
Intel WiFi Link 5100 a/b/g/n Half-Height Mini-Card
Intel WiFi Link 5300 a/b/g/n Half-Height Mini-Card

If one of these is not shown it indicates the wireless card is not detected. Click “View” on the menu bar in “Device Manager” and select “Show hidden devices”. Expand the hidden devices listed and then right click and select “Properties”. Click the “Details” tab. Select Device Instance Path or Device Instance Id (whichever is available for your version of Windows) from the drop down box. Make a note of the Device Instance Path or Device Instance ID and add this in your reply. Also, check under “Unknown Device”.

Please do write back to us.

Green Halo · Answer

Hi thanks for the very prompt reply. Not sure if the items were installed in the order you show but everthing else seems to be working ok. I did as nyou suggested but there is no card shown under network controllers and no unknown devices folder.

I have tried to attach a screen dump without success.

Thanks for your help with this

Green Halo · Answer

Hi. I think I have solved the problem. I opened up the laptop and made a note of the wifi card make and model, 512AN_HMW. I searched the net for software and drivers for the model. I found the drivers in the Intel Proset/Wireless Software and Drivers section. I downloaded the appropriate drivers and hey presto! the wifi started working.

Hope this info helps someone else.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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