Wireless Problems please help

Question

I just got wireless and am having problems.  At first when it connects but says limited connectivity or access: local only.   I did the whole turn off modem/ router and it still didn't work.  The guy at the internet company was no help.  After messing around with it (I have no idea what I did), and restarting it, I got it to work.  After I logged off I wanted to see if it connected it again but it didn't.  I've used the wi-fi at the library just fine and never had this problem.  My neice's laptop, Playstation 3, Wii, and Ipod touch all connected with no problem.  My laptop is a Inspirion 1505 and is running Vista.  I've had it since 2006.  Could the age be causing the problem.  Also  my harddrive is failing. I know this but have been debating over whether to get a new laptop or just get another hard drive (this would be the third one including the original).  Could the failing hard drive be causing the problem?  I'm running webroot secure anywhere antivirus.   At the time of writing this, I was trying to connect again to post this.  I'm still have dial-up so I used that to connect.  After disconnecting and reconnecting as well as diagnosing and repairing it a few times, the wireless  finally fully connected. I was still running dial-up.   I also noticed that when it says limited connectivity, it'll say unidentified network  but once it's fully on, it says the name of my network.

PudgyOne · Answer

BartonT,

Did you setup the wireless router?

What is the make and model of your wireless router and the type os security you're using? What channel?

What virus program and firewall are you using?

Can you run Finding System Information REMOVE YOUR PRODUCT ID and REGISTERED OWNER, if using XP, run an ipconfig /all log and post it back here.

Rick

BartonT · Answer

No, the man fron Frontier set up the router. It's Netgear model b90-755044-15. I have no idea what type os security I'm using or what channel. I'm using Webroot Secure anywhere virus scan. The firewall is the one that came with the Webroot.

Available Physical Memory: 248 MB

Page File: Max Size: 2,290 MB

Page File: Available: 346 MB

Page File: In Use: 1,944 MB

Page File Location(s): C:\pagefile.sys

Domain: WORKGROUP

Logon Server: \\KERSON-PC

Hotfix(s): 332 Hotfix(s) Installed.

[01]: {AC76BA86-7AD7-0000-2550-7A8C400A1013} -

[02]: {7B802DE5-84E5-4503-965B-2ABFFC78506A}

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[245]:

Network Card(s): 2 NIC(s) Installed.

[01]: Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller

Connection Name: Local Area Connection

Status: Media disconnected

[02]: Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-Card

Connection Name: Wireless Network Connection

DHCP Enabled: Yes

DHCP Server: 255.255.255.255

IP address(es)

[01]: 169.254.241.18

PudgyOne · Answer

BartonT,

Since the top part was not posted, I'll see if I can proceed without it. As long as the operating system was not recently installed/reinstalled. After you do my suggestions, can you post an ipconfig /all log.

Let's first try...

Go to Drivers & Downloads enter your service tag number, then select your operating system. Under Network, download and install the latest drivers.

Try these tweaks....

Start, control panel, device manager. Click on Network and then right click on your wireless adapter, left click properties, power management. Uncheck the box, allow computer to turn off this device to save power.

Click on advanced. Look for Antenna Diversity. Change the Antenna Diversity from Auto to Aux

Go to the power options, and changed the Wireless Adapter Setting, from Maximum Power Setting to Maximum Performance.

Rick

BartonT · Answer

I tried your suggestions. Because I was already connected to it, I had to disconnect. When I reconnected it, it did the same thing. I shut down and restarted it. It worked. Like I asked, can my failing hard drive be causing this or the age of my laptop?

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Kerson-PC

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : netgear.com

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : netgear.com

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-Card

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-19-7D-B0-06-FC

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::289a:3f6d:9974:f112%12(Preferred)

IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.39(Preferred)

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, February 26, 2013 7:46:53 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, February 27, 2013 7:46:52 PM

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.254

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.254

DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 201333117

DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-15-53-58-6A-00-19-B9-5A-43-19

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.254

NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-19-B9-5A-43-19

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{68257E1C-F199-4257-9B86-60BAF7556D31}

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 7:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:9d38:953c:2011:2834:3f57:1d8(Preferred)

Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::2011:2834:3f57:1d8%10(Preferred)

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::

NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 13:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{CEB59BE9-FB7C-4842-A686-EF900235F52C}

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 14:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{CEB59BE9-FB7C-4842-A686-EF900235F52C}

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 15:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{CEB59BE9-FB7C-4842-A686-EF900235F52C}

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 16:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : netgear.com

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #7

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

PudgyOne · Answer

BartonT,

The Antenna Diversity is a known issue with the Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-Card.

The IP Address of 169.254 told me there was a communications problem. It's usually with the wireless router and the modem router and power cycling them usually corrects the problem.

To test your hard drive, run the full diagnostics and report back any error messages. How to Run the Dell™ Diagnostics Utility

On the Netgear Router, someone posted...

Uncheck a box in the Advanced Setup for wireless.

(uncheck) Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence

Netgear explains:

Disabling this option allows your 2.4GHz wireless to stay in supporting the max speed. Enabling this option [coexistence] may reduce the max speed of your 2.4GHz wireless to the half when there is another wireless network detected in your environment; this is to avoid inteference between wireless networks and to get along with other wireless networks in the environment.

Rick

BartonT · Answer

I ran the diagnostic and this is what I got:

Hard drive- dst short test

Error code 0146
Msg: Error code 2000-0146
Msg: unit 0: DST log contains previous errors

error code 0f00:137B
Msg: DVDRW_1- drive media is missing or blank

error code 0f00:0244
msg: Disk_0- block 38006906: uncorrectable data error or media is write protected

error code 0f00:0244
msg: Disk_0- block 38006907: uncorrectable data error or media is write protected

error code 0f00: 1A44
msg: Disk_0- block 38006906: uncorrectable data error or media is write protected

error code 0f00: 1A44
msg: Disk_0- block 38006907: uncorrectable data error or media is write protected

I find that if I shut down and restart my computer it works. As for "(uncheck) Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence" where would I find this?

PudgyOne · Answer

BartonT,   Under wireless advance in the Netgear router.     Rick

PudgyOne · Answer

BartonT,

Your hard drive is failing or about to fail. Backup all the files and folders that you cannot affor to lose.

If you're under warranty, contact Dell Tech Support for a replacement hard drive. If not under warranty, you need to get a new hard drive.

Rick

BartonT · Answer

Thanks.  I knew it was failing.  As for router, do I have to hook my computer up to it.  I have no idea what the settings in the router are or how to change them or really how to work it.  I've been using dial-up for the last thirteen years.  The Frontier tech set up everything with his computer.

PudgyOne · Answer

BartonT,

Here's information for you...

How to login to your wireless router and I use these Recommended Wireless Router Settings I use channel 11. I would make a new SSID to make connecting easier.

Here is basically the same thing with pictures...

Setting up/Troubleshooting a Wireless Network You would only have to go down to the line.

Rick

BartonT · Answer

thanks. unfortunately, it wouldn't let me in with the Username = admin

Password = blank or password. I'm going to replace the hard drive and then see what the Frontier tech will do.

If I just get a new laptop will it connect better?

PudgyOne · Answer

BartonT,

I use these Recommended Wireless Router Settings and use channel 11 and I have no problems with any laptops, and other wireless devices connecting.

If you get a new hard drive, cheapest option to do, the procedure is, How To Restore or Reinstall Microsoft® Windows® on a Dell™ Computer

If you need the operating system disks, if in the United States, Request Backup Disks USA if in another Country, contact Dell Tech Support in your Country.

Rick

BartonT · Answer

It's not the settings I'm having a problem with.  It's getting on to just enter them.  I followed the instructions but when it comes to entering the password, it won't let me.  I tried both suggestions, blank or password, but it doesn't accept it.  It says to refer to the manual but I wasn't given any manual.  The equipment belongs to Frontier

PudgyOne · Answer

BartonT,

Frontier will have to give you the password or come out and help setup the router so you can connect.

I have a cable ISP Provider, but I put my own wireless router after their modem/router. That way I can add my wireless devices, like printer, smartphones, laptops.

Rick

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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