it sees the connectin but does not allow a connection - it will not recognize the IP address....currently I spent another 3 hours on the phone with tech support tonight. This is unreal, now they want to send me an external card - they admit I will not get the card before the return window has expired. This will be the 4th card through dell. Nobody there knows anything about customer service. They want me to pay for shipping and restocking fees when the product arrived dysfunctional. No wonder they get a bad rap. I am calling a journalist and an attorney.
I am forced to agree, have you ever set up wireless before?
If it is a Linksys product their is probably a CD with it, have you done that installation? Are you trying to use any security? (its best to get connected before you try to put any security on) How have you got it hooked up? Are you using the Windows utility or the Dell Utility to manage? Have you named your wireless network something recognizable (like your first name for example) so that you can be sure you are trying to connect onto your network. Linksys tech support is normally really good (although I got a bad one the other day) If you give us more info we might be able to help.
I have to disagree that it is a user error, if it is then it would be a definite Dell user error on the part of their upper level techs. I have spent hours connected to the wireless tech who has literally gone through every setting available on the system, I have directly connected to the tech and she gains control of my pc. The wireless tech agrees that this is an unusual problem that does not appear to be hardware or software.
I do agree that the chance of three cards being bad is slim, I believe the pc slot inside the laptop could be faulty, but we will never know that if Dell will not take a look at this product that is under warranty. The router works fine, the signal is there...the computer system disallows internet connection. Also have a working wireless router in my office and it will not work there either. I am sure Dell has a percentage of boards that go out with issues, I just happened to be lucky enough to get one.
My biggest gripe was that the main reason I purchased the laptop was to use the wireless function and I am unable to do that. I shouldn't have to dedicate that much time to tech help, they should put a cap on how many support hours one has to go through before they apologize and exchange for a working system.
I spent 10 hours yesterday on the phone with 4 different tech support people, went through the process of enabling and disabling using Dell wireless utility and WZC utility. I reinstalled the driver at least 3 times. I managed to connect twice but each time when I rebooted there was no connection. As with the previous correspondent, the utilities each show strong signal strength but "no wireless networks in range" or the network is identified but it is xed out. One technician told me that I needed to reinstall my operating system. Finally at the end of the day (with the paid dell service, the original calls were the support services covered under warranty)it was recommended that I go back to wireless support......or call hardware and they might be able to walk me through manipulating the card. It sounds like that is what Beulah did with 4 or 5 new cards.
I have an Inspiron 9400/E1705 bought in Feb 2005. The wireless connection worked fine in 3 different states and 6 different locations until two days ago. The only thing different in peripherals or anything was that 4 days ago I used a GPS on my laptop. However, the connection worked reliably in two places after the GPS was installed.
I will try hardware and let you know. The technician at the end of the day yesterday said he thought there was a batch of defective cards because he had run into the identical problem. Maybe he is talking about Buelah and read this forum!
I hope we get our problem solved.
Of course I can still use it with a cable but want it hooked up across the room when I get home.
Also, I have an old PCMCIA Belkin card but can I use it? No, the new laptops don't have pcmcia card slots!!!!! Bummer!!!!
I was told the same thing, that the 1390 cards had some problems. However, the 1490 also does not work, and I have 14 hours of tech support under my belt. I am sorry for not responding to the other posters, but have been through all of the phases of support for each peice of equipment, so these steps would all be redundant.
I guess what I was hoping for was that someone had experienced a similiar problem and was able to reach a resolution through customer care if not tech support.
you said "Also, I have an old PCMCIA Belkin card but can I use it? No, the new laptops don't have pcmcia card slots!!!!! Bummer!!!!"
I will let you know if I have any luck with the new external card that fits in the newer express slot...Dell was supposed to ship that out Friday but I still can't find where anyone inititated the order, might be a while.
Thanks for the info...no, the Dell folks will not say it could be the board. I suspected the board but they want to keep trying other options. The last Dell desktop I had went in the trash at which point the board went bad and it would not accept a d drive at all. That would be my luck to have another bad board.
They are going to send me a new 1309 card. Before that, they wanted me to restore my system to day 1. I do have backups (I've had the computer since the end of Feb) but I didn't want to have to reinstall all the programs etc. And I also remembered that on Day 1 the computer was in terrible shape, slow, shut down.....I had to change a lot of things in system configuration, with their instructions. I don't know who configured it originally. I suggested we do diagnostics, they didn't, saw memory failure which convinced them I needed a new card.
I mentioned that I had read posts on the forum and you had replaced your card 3 times with no success, what guarantee did I have that the same thing wouldn't happen. He said that your problem was probably different, not with the card but with a board!!!!! Did anyone tell you that?
I bought an extended warranty so I can fool around with them for a while....at least until I lose patience. My last laptop was a Dell, I had it for 5 years, had a 3 yr warranty and was extremely pleased with the service I had on that (needed a new keyboard, power cord and several other things, turnaround each time was 1 to 2 days!!!!) I haven't been as pleased in the last two years...ordered new hard drive and got the wrong one twice....a couple of things like that.
I hope you have good luck with your card for the express slot. The one I had for my pcmcia card slot worked just fine on my old laptop.
I am so glad that you posted your problem...it at least made me aware of what the issues might be and I probably avoided another day spent re-enabling, reconfiguring restoring!
In your second post you stated "it will not recognize the IP address"
In my experience, a hard-coded IP address is likely to cause, not solve, problems.
My opinion is that you need to set 'Use DHCP to acquire TCP/IP address automatically"
The same (automatic) should be set for DNS
In other posts, someone has had a problem for doing something as simple as using the same TCP/IP address as that on another device and having the two connected at the same time.
IPCONFIG /ALL >My.txt
and report results.
Thanks for the info...no, the Dell folks will not say it could be the board. I suspected the board but they want to keep trying other options. The last Dell desktop I had went in the trash at which point the board went bad and it would not accept a d drive at all. That would be my luck to have another bad board.
At least so far, the few real details given seem to indicate a configuration error of some sort.
The fact that you're getting excellent signal strength but are being refused a connection absolutely screams the following: IMPROPER SECURITY SETUP.
Phase 1: Connect laptop to router via a wired connection. Verify proper operation of router and WAN connection with wired devices
Phase 2: Set up router to provide an unencrypted wireless connection (i.e. no security whatsoever). Try to connect to it with laptop.
Phase 3: Once phase 2 is complete, set up security.
Unfortunately, because so many users leave their routers at the factory default configuration (essentially, Phase 2), many router manufacturers force users to set up encryption immediately unless they go through specific steps to disable it, essentially forcing them to Phase 3 without the debugging of other problems that goes with Phase 2. Something is giving me the impression that Linksys (or was it Netgear) was trying to get you to go directly to Phase 3 also.
NemesisDB
2 Intern
•
7.9K Posts
0
June 9th, 2006 23:00
Beulah
12 Posts
0
June 10th, 2006 05:00
NemesisDB
2 Intern
•
7.9K Posts
0
June 10th, 2006 05:00
Mcoffman
249 Posts
0
June 10th, 2006 11:00
I am forced to agree, have you ever set up wireless before?
If it is a Linksys product their is probably a CD with it, have you done that installation? Are you trying to use any security? (its best to get connected before you try to put any security on) How have you got it hooked up? Are you using the Windows utility or the Dell Utility to manage? Have you named your wireless network something recognizable (like your first name for example) so that you can be sure you are trying to connect onto your network. Linksys tech support is normally really good (although I got a bad one the other day) If you give us more info we might be able to help.
Marie
Beulah
12 Posts
0
June 10th, 2006 12:00
NemesisDB
2 Intern
•
7.9K Posts
0
June 10th, 2006 17:00
Mcoffman
249 Posts
0
June 10th, 2006 18:00
The whole purpose for posting on this board was, presumably, to get help with your issue - but we need more info.
Thanks
Marie
Kath and Neal
4 Posts
0
June 12th, 2006 13:00
Beulah
12 Posts
0
June 12th, 2006 14:00
I was told the same thing, that the 1390 cards had some problems. However, the 1490 also does not work, and I have 14 hours of tech support under my belt. I am sorry for not responding to the other posters, but have been through all of the phases of support for each peice of equipment, so these steps would all be redundant.
I guess what I was hoping for was that someone had experienced a similiar problem and was able to reach a resolution through customer care if not tech support.
Kath and Neal
4 Posts
0
June 12th, 2006 14:00
Thank you. Did you have to pay for the new card that goes in the express slot? Hope it works!
Kathleen
Beulah
12 Posts
0
June 12th, 2006 14:00
Beulah
12 Posts
0
June 12th, 2006 16:00
Kath and Neal
4 Posts
0
June 12th, 2006 16:00
They are going to send me a new 1309 card. Before that, they wanted me to restore my system to day 1. I do have backups (I've had the computer since the end of Feb) but I didn't want to have to reinstall all the programs etc. And I also remembered that on Day 1 the computer was in terrible shape, slow, shut down.....I had to change a lot of things in system configuration, with their instructions. I don't know who configured it originally. I suggested we do diagnostics, they didn't, saw memory failure which convinced them I needed a new card.
I mentioned that I had read posts on the forum and you had replaced your card 3 times with no success, what guarantee did I have that the same thing wouldn't happen. He said that your problem was probably different, not with the card but with a board!!!!! Did anyone tell you that?
I bought an extended warranty so I can fool around with them for a while....at least until I lose patience. My last laptop was a Dell, I had it for 5 years, had a 3 yr warranty and was extremely pleased with the service I had on that (needed a new keyboard, power cord and several other things, turnaround each time was 1 to 2 days!!!!) I haven't been as pleased in the last two years...ordered new hard drive and got the wrong one twice....a couple of things like that.
I hope you have good luck with your card for the express slot. The one I had for my pcmcia card slot worked just fine on my old laptop.
I am so glad that you posted your problem...it at least made me aware of what the issues might be and I probably avoided another day spent re-enabling, reconfiguring restoring!
Kathleen
BBraxton
2 Intern
•
2K Posts
0
June 12th, 2006 18:00
In your second post you stated "it will not recognize the IP address"
In my experience, a hard-coded IP address is likely to cause, not solve, problems.
My opinion is that you need to set 'Use DHCP to acquire TCP/IP address automatically"
The same (automatic) should be set for DNS
In other posts, someone has had a problem for doing something as simple as using the same TCP/IP address as that on another device and having the two connected at the same time.
IPCONFIG /ALL >My.txt
and report results.
Entropy42
529 Posts
0
June 12th, 2006 19:00
At least so far, the few real details given seem to indicate a configuration error of some sort.
The fact that you're getting excellent signal strength but are being refused a connection absolutely screams the following: IMPROPER SECURITY SETUP.
Phase 1: Connect laptop to router via a wired connection. Verify proper operation of router and WAN connection with wired devices
Phase 2: Set up router to provide an unencrypted wireless connection (i.e. no security whatsoever). Try to connect to it with laptop.
Phase 3: Once phase 2 is complete, set up security.
Unfortunately, because so many users leave their routers at the factory default configuration (essentially, Phase 2), many router manufacturers force users to set up encryption immediately unless they go through specific steps to disable it, essentially forcing them to Phase 3 without the debugging of other problems that goes with Phase 2. Something is giving me the impression that Linksys (or was it Netgear) was trying to get you to go directly to Phase 3 also.