Wireless losing internet connection on M1330

Question

Hi,   I recently got a Dell M1330 with Vista Home Premium. I've got a WLAN set up at home from a Linksys WRT54G (v7, w/ most recent firmware upgrade).   From my other XP machines operating on the network I get no issues, the wireless network and internet connection work fine. With my new Dell, two issues arise:   Firstly, most of the time, it doesn't even find my network, it only finds an unnamed network. I've checked router settings and it is transmitting SSID (and my XP computers have no trouble finding it). This is a nusiance, of course (as I have to manualy connect and type my WEP key, even though I have checked the auto-connect and remember boxes, and I've confirmed that the network settings are stored as auto-connect in the Networking Centre). Stranger still, sometimes (maybe one of out four start-ups) the computer finds and connects to the network no problem. I'm pretty sure range and transmission is no problem, as when I do connect I get an excellent signal. Any ideas what's going on here?   Anyways, on the the second and more annoying problem: When I get up and running with the network connection, my internet connection tends to drop after a while (anything from a few minutes to a couple of hours, I'm hypothetizing that it may have something to with traffic, as the connection tends to drop pretty quick if I start transferring a lot of data with Azereus or eMule). Now this is actually a problem I had had before on my router, but the firmware upgrade seems to have fixed it. Also, previously the router's internet connection crashed (necessitating a router reset); now the router's connection is fine (as my XP computers have no troubles), only my M1330 loses internet connection. When I disconnect and try a new search for wireless networks I now find nothing (despite there being some 10 wireless networks in range, all of which show up when I first boot up the PC). Resetting the computer (not the modem) fixes this, but obviously it's a drag to reset the computer a couple of times an hour...

sonottechnical · Answer

I am facing similar problems - I have a Vostro 1500 with a dell wireless min-card and have set up a Linksys WRT54G as well - and have connection problems EVERY time my computer sleeps or powers down - and occassionally during use.  I have contacted Linksys Tech support, changed settings, etc... all to no avail.   I tried utilitzing my 'lovely new wireless laptop' at work with my desktop and connected router (which others use fine) - my laptop will NOT recognize it!   I will keep an eye on your post - hopefully someone knowledgeable will reply.  GOOD LUCK!

Maverick_VII · Answer

Is bumping frowned upon here?   Anyways, I wanted to e-mail this problem to tech support, but they won't let me contact them without a service number. Tried typing in the one on the label on my laptop, but no joy. Anyone know what's going on here? Is there an e-mail address I can contact Dell at directly?

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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