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kkawajar

5 Posts

391541

May 10th, 2007 19:00

wireless adapter disables itself in Vista, can't re-enable

I have an e1705 running Vista Ultimate, and have the Intel 3945ABG wireless adapter. I have installed the most recent drivers available from Dell. My problem is that when I am connected to a wireless network (served by a Linksys wrt54g), the adapter will just disable itself with no message being displayed (light on panel goes off, adapter shows disabled Network Connection page). In the Network and Sharing Center page, it actually says the network is still connected. When I try and enable the adapter from the Network Connection page, I get the UAC warning, then it thinks for a while, then .... nothing. no error, adapter still disabled, no network connection. Anyone have any ideas?

chris_r11

14 Posts

May 10th, 2007 20:00

Hi, I have the same issue. I tried a couple different versions of the program (Intel drivers from both Dell and Intel). This can happen while using the wireless and the only way that I can get it going again is to restart the computer. This is very annoying. Chris

chris_r11

14 Posts

May 10th, 2007 21:00

I don't know if it is the router. We use unsecured Cisco routers at work. At home, I have a Linksys and it has been known to do it there as well. I was thinking Quickset was doing something, but I turned it off and I was still unable to turn it on. Let me know if UAC helps. The problem in my case is that it can happen while I am using it and it is random. Chris

kkawajar

5 Posts

May 10th, 2007 21:00

glad to know I'm not going crazy. At work it seems to work fine - wireless adapter does not shut down (cisco wireless at work), so it may have something to do with the connection to the linksys router. One suggestion I read elsewhere was to disable UAC - I'm going to try that tonight.

GeminiCub

9 Posts

May 10th, 2007 23:00

I am having the same issue and I also have a E1705 with Vista.  UAC is disabled.  The problem only started happening since I recently updated to the recent drivers so I believe it is a driver issue.  Hopefully Dell or Intel will correct this soon because it sure is annoying and I always have to end up restarting my computer!

kkawajar

5 Posts

May 11th, 2007 00:00

it's definitely Vista - I just don't know what the trigger is. I was on XP for a year with no issues, but after my upgrade, I only get about 15 minutes of use before it shuts down. Only happens at home though - stays on all day here at work. Once it dies, all I can do is restart. If turning off UAC didn't help, maybe I'll just try and remove the Dell driver and see what Vista gives me by default. Anyone NOT using the Dell provided driver package?

tubakp

26 Posts

May 11th, 2007 00:00

kkarajar:
 
When you are at home, are you using any Bluetooth network like for a wireless keyboard/mouse and you are not using it at work? 
If so we might be on to something.
 

tubakp

26 Posts

May 11th, 2007 00:00

There is another thread on the forum talking about the same problem with D820. What is common is the LAN card and being on Vista.  We seem to all be using different routers so I do not think that is the issue.  I have the D820 and am having the problem. I have used a Motorola ABG router and a new NETGEAR RangePro MIMO router.  Others say they use a LINKSYS.  I therefore am suspect of the Intel card/driver working with Vista. I hope someone from Dell is monitoring this forum because they need to discover what the problem is.

kkawajar

5 Posts

May 11th, 2007 00:00

I use bluetooth to sync my treo at both places, but there does not seem to be a link between the two. I sync at work with no problem. At home, the adapter will disable itself without ever performing a sync. the phone is usually in range all the time.

bluetooth settings on my laptop are:
not discoverable
allow devices to connect
alert me when devices want to connect
show bluetooth icon

my phone is also set to be not discoverable

Message Edited by kkawajar on 05-10-2007 08:48 PM

tubakp

26 Posts

May 11th, 2007 00:00

You mentioned that it functions OK at work.  That reminded me that I did see something on the Intel support site about some routers and access points not playing nice with Vista and the ProWireless card.  Since you say it is OK at work maybe there is something to that.  Except I would be surprised in that is seems there are quite a few different routers experiencing this problem. I have NETGEAR RangeMax MIMO router and an older Motorola router.  Not sure I am having the loss of WiFi with the Motorola as I do with the NETGEAR, but I do get similar connection strengths. My son has an Inspirion M600 with an older Intel LAN card (not a ProWireless) and is on XP. He does not loose connectivity. 

Rich97

41 Posts

May 11th, 2007 06:00

I have the exact same issue on an E1505  purchased with vista home premium installed.  There is another thread on this if you do a search.  My problem started when I downloaded the most recent driver for the intel card.  Once I rolled back the driver, my connection was once again rock solid.  I believe it is a driver issue.  When I use the latest Dell or Intel driver, the wifi randomly shuts off.  Only way to get it back is to reboot the machine. 

kkawajar

5 Posts

May 11th, 2007 08:00

uninstalled the Dell driver (dated 2/07 or something) and checked the box to delete the driver from the system. Microsoft driver was automatically loaded to replace it. Seems to be working fine now. Guess I'll stick with this until Dell or Intel release something else.

Gina Q

2 Intern

 • 

1.7K Posts

May 11th, 2007 14:00

Hi All,
 
I just wanted to let you all know that I am watching this thread and the difficulties you are having with Vista and wireless. One thing to note is that there are some routers that will not work with Vista (at all) and others that need firmware updates. I'd like to gather some information so I can pass this along.
 
  1. Can you all tell me which routers you are using and what is the firmware on the router currently?
  2. If it is not the current version can you please update and see if the problem remains? Then post back if it worked or not. 
  3. Can you please post what adapter you have and what driver version you are using?

Thanks for all your help.

chris_r11

14 Posts

May 11th, 2007 14:00

Hello, I am going to say that it is not our Cisco routers at work that are having problems. It is the Intel drivers. If it were issues with Cisco, we would be getting tons of calls from Faculty, Students and Staff at Stanford. It happens at work and at home on a linksys WRT54Gv2 router. I have been having this difficulty for a bit with the Drivers from Dell. I currently am running the Dell/Intel A03 drivers for the 3945ABG. I have tried the 11.x drivers from intel directly before the A03 came out. I was also experiencing this with the previous version from Dell. I don't really remember if it was A02 or 01. Chris

Gina Q

2 Intern

 • 

1.7K Posts

May 11th, 2007 15:00

Chris_r11,
 
Yes, I have to agree with you that looks like it might be a driver issue, but in order to help figure out any possible pattern and a possible solution I wanted to get that information to pass on. Also, the Cisco router and the people using it are they all on Vista or are they on XP? If on XP then I would not expect them to have a problem since nothing has changed. I understand that there are some older routers that will not work with Vista, this may not be the case with yours, but the more information we gather about what's working and not working the more likely it is that we'll find a fix, even if it turns out to be a driver update from Dell.
 
Again, thanks for the information. I've added it to the information I'm passing on.

chris_r11

14 Posts

May 11th, 2007 15:00

Hi Gina, Across campus, we use all Cisco routers and they are accessed by all sorts of computers. We mostly have 2000 and XP, a growing number of Vista and MacOSX machines. We really don't get many complaints on them. I have used it with more than one AP as well. As an example at home, on the Linksys WRT54G, the Vista D620 wireless will die off and my XP D600 will continue and have no problems. The Vista machine does as described, it says that it has limited or no connectivity, the adapter will display as disabled (but it will still show a local, non internet connection, and when I try to enable it, it will prompt with a UAC, but not actually enable the adapter. The WLAN light is also off. I am relatively sure that it is an issue with the Intel driver as I was experiencing it with their generic driver as well as the last 2 versions of the Dell issued ones. I don't remember having this issue with the first issue of the Intel drivers, which I actually found on my computer and may end up reinstalling. Chris

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