Dell would not include hardware that doesn't work with teh shipped operating system. Both network adapters work just fine in Vista.
What error message are you getting? Are you trying to connect wirelessly or through an ethernet cable? Is your computer being assigned an IP address? Where is it getting that IP address from (your ISP or wireless router)? Do you have more than one computer? If so, does the other computer get to the internet?
Thanks, Larry. I agree. I don't think Dell would include hardware that doesn't work with Win Vista. But when I used the troubleshooter, I was asked which wireless adapter I had. There were four choices, two of which were Dell Wireless 1397 and Broadcom ethernet (I have net gear but that was not one of the choices). When I selected them, the troubleshooter told me that they were not compatible with win vista and that I should download win XP. I have a main desktop computer with Win XP, a Mac laptop, and a wireless desktop computer with Win XP. I am able to get online with all of them. I am only having trouble with Win Vista. When I received the laptop on Saturday, February 28, it operated fine until Monday morning. There was a power outage with Time-Warner Cable. They arrived on Wednesday and "fixed" the problem with the router. That lasted one day. On Thursday another technician came and switched out the routers--going from a WEP to a WPA router. Since then, the Win Vista has not been able to get online even though it is connected and has a strong signal. I have contacted both Time-Warner (who said it was Dell's problem) and Dell (who said it was my problem).
I am by no stretch of the imagination a computer expert. I do not know what else to do and don't seem to be able to find help from anyone. I purchased the laptop for my 17-year-old daughter as a birthday gift. She was very excited to get it but is now understandable distraught over something that was supposed to give her joy! This entire issue has taken up hours of my time and I still don't feel any closer to a solution. What is the most disturbing is that it is probably something quite simple to fix--I just don't know what that something is!
Dell wants to charge me a "nominal" fee to get software help even though I have had the computer for only a few days. I guess I will have to pay them to get them to help me! Thanks for your response.
So you can connect to your network, but are unable to get any pages to display from the internet? Is this correct?
If this is correct then try this article from Microsoft. It explains the possiblility of corruption of the winsock files and how to reset them. The winsock files can become corrupted and sometimes reseting them will make the internet function properly. It explains how you are able to connect to networks, possibly ping sites and computers but can get nothing to display with any browser.
It sounds to me as if the computer is just confused. You might try System Restore to go back to a point before the power outage. If the problem is more than just a corrupted configuration, however, that may not work.
If you haven't already tried it, get the latest drivers from the Dell support site and try installing those. If that doesn't work you might try uninstalling the network adapters from Device Manager (Control Panel > System > Hardware tab > Device Manager) and then rebooting the system. When it starts back up it should auto-detect the adapters and load the drivers for them.
Another option, though it would wipe out any data you (or your daughter) have added to the system, would be to run the Image Restore to put the Dell factory image back in place. You can run that by pressing F8 just after the Dell splash screen and then selecting it from the Windows Vista start up menu (the same screen where you would select to start in Safe Mode).
Thanks, eskymi and Larry. I tried everything you've suggested but with no luck. This is a brand new computer. The only thing that has happened to it was a loss of service from Time-Warner Cable due to a storm. The tech came and replaced the netgear WEP router with a WPA router. I don't know if that is the problem, but the computers has not gotten online since--even though it is connected and the signal is strong. Totally frustrated, I reinstalled the OS and the other disks provided by Dell. Now I have no wireless network adapter! Why is it not on the installation disks? There is now no option to "manage wireless network." Do I now need to download a device driver? I am far from a computer guru, so this is driving me crazy! I have literally spent countless hours trying to correct the difficulties. I know of a technician who will help me for $95.00 an hour. I'm not saying that is too much--it's just that I do not think I should have to pay out money to have someone other than Dell correct these problems. They are telling me that it is a software problem and that I have to give them $69.00 (a "nominal fee!") to help me! I have already invested over $1,000 purchasing the laptop! Any further advice concerning wireless adapter downloads? Thanks.
Larry R
2 Intern
•
1.7K Posts
0
March 6th, 2009 10:00
Dell would not include hardware that doesn't work with teh shipped operating system. Both network adapters work just fine in Vista.
What error message are you getting? Are you trying to connect wirelessly or through an ethernet cable? Is your computer being assigned an IP address? Where is it getting that IP address from (your ISP or wireless router)? Do you have more than one computer? If so, does the other computer get to the internet?
Frustrated3
3 Posts
0
March 6th, 2009 19:00
Thanks, Larry. I agree. I don't think Dell would include hardware that doesn't work with Win Vista. But when I used the troubleshooter, I was asked which wireless adapter I had. There were four choices, two of which were Dell Wireless 1397 and Broadcom ethernet (I have net gear but that was not one of the choices). When I selected them, the troubleshooter told me that they were not compatible with win vista and that I should download win XP. I have a main desktop computer with Win XP, a Mac laptop, and a wireless desktop computer with Win XP. I am able to get online with all of them. I am only having trouble with Win Vista. When I received the laptop on Saturday, February 28, it operated fine until Monday morning. There was a power outage with Time-Warner Cable. They arrived on Wednesday and "fixed" the problem with the router. That lasted one day. On Thursday another technician came and switched out the routers--going from a WEP to a WPA router. Since then, the Win Vista has not been able to get online even though it is connected and has a strong signal. I have contacted both Time-Warner (who said it was Dell's problem) and Dell (who said it was my problem).
I am by no stretch of the imagination a computer expert. I do not know what else to do and don't seem to be able to find help from anyone. I purchased the laptop for my 17-year-old daughter as a birthday gift. She was very excited to get it but is now understandable distraught over something that was supposed to give her joy! This entire issue has taken up hours of my time and I still don't feel any closer to a solution. What is the most disturbing is that it is probably something quite simple to fix--I just don't know what that something is!
Dell wants to charge me a "nominal" fee to get software help even though I have had the computer for only a few days. I guess I will have to pay them to get them to help me! Thanks for your response.
eskymi
1.1K Posts
0
March 9th, 2009 10:00
So you can connect to your network, but are unable to get any pages to display from the internet? Is this correct?
If this is correct then try this article from Microsoft. It explains the possiblility of corruption of the winsock files and how to reset them. The winsock files can become corrupted and sometimes reseting them will make the internet function properly. It explains how you are able to connect to networks, possibly ping sites and computers but can get nothing to display with any browser.
Larry R
2 Intern
•
1.7K Posts
0
March 9th, 2009 10:00
It sounds to me as if the computer is just confused. You might try System Restore to go back to a point before the power outage. If the problem is more than just a corrupted configuration, however, that may not work.
If you haven't already tried it, get the latest drivers from the Dell support site and try installing those. If that doesn't work you might try uninstalling the network adapters from Device Manager (Control Panel > System > Hardware tab > Device Manager) and then rebooting the system. When it starts back up it should auto-detect the adapters and load the drivers for them.
Another option, though it would wipe out any data you (or your daughter) have added to the system, would be to run the Image Restore to put the Dell factory image back in place. You can run that by pressing F8 just after the Dell splash screen and then selecting it from the Windows Vista start up menu (the same screen where you would select to start in Safe Mode).
Frustrated3
3 Posts
0
March 9th, 2009 12:00
Thanks, eskymi and Larry. I tried everything you've suggested but with no luck. This is a brand new computer. The only thing that has happened to it was a loss of service from Time-Warner Cable due to a storm. The tech came and replaced the netgear WEP router with a WPA router. I don't know if that is the problem, but the computers has not gotten online since--even though it is connected and the signal is strong. Totally frustrated, I reinstalled the OS and the other disks provided by Dell. Now I have no wireless network adapter! Why is it not on the installation disks? There is now no option to "manage wireless network." Do I now need to download a device driver? I am far from a computer guru, so this is driving me crazy! I have literally spent countless hours trying to correct the difficulties. I know of a technician who will help me for $95.00 an hour. I'm not saying that is too much--it's just that I do not think I should have to pay out money to have someone other than Dell correct these problems. They are telling me that it is a software problem and that I have to give them $69.00 (a "nominal fee!") to help me! I have already invested over $1,000 purchasing the laptop! Any further advice concerning wireless adapter downloads? Thanks.