Inspiron 8600 won't detect wireless network

Question

Ok, this is a wierd one.  I have an 8600 and with dell trumobile 1300 wireless card.  i have  a wireless network set up.  this morning i connected the the wireless network just fine, everything worked normally.  i went to class and got back, tried to connect to the network and the computer shows that no wireless networks are available, even though they are, because not only does the router indicate this but my roommate who has the exact same computer connects fine.  What is the problem?  Is my internal wireless card bad, the device manager says it's working fine when enabled.  The IP address is set to obtain automatically, so that's not an issue.  I feel like i've covered all the bases, tried restarting, etc.  i hope someone can solve my problem.  thanks guys.

benpal · Answer

Have you check your router settings and the configuration of your wireless access? SSID, WEP key, and MAC address if applicable. ben

chip_nhs · Answer

all of those things are fine to my knowledge.  it's wierd, my computer isn't even finding networks to connect to.  when i go to view available wireless networks, it says there are no available ones, which there clearly is, by roommates connects just fine, and our neighbors have a network it should find when i'm in the right place, and it should find our ad hoc network, but it finds none.

benpal · Answer

Well I just went through the experience. My Wireless card didn't work any more and had to be replaced. Since it comes with a new MAC address, I had the same symptoms you describe. I had to change the MAC address stored in my router in order to see the wireless signal reappear again.

You might also try the following from Start > Run:
netsh interface ip reset resetlog.txt (reset ip context)
sfc /scannow (scan for replace/damaged system files)

Glangsto · Answer

The exact same thing has just happened to me.
My 8600 will detect no networks, my desktop will though so I know the network is up.
I have checked the mac address filter and its ok, the wep password is all ok, its as if the wireless card has just stopped.
Chip when did you get your 8600, I got mine in December 2003.
Just wondering if its an age thing, the cynic in me thinks its a little fishy that its stopped just as my warranty runs out.
I have even got new drivers from the dell site, the hardware manager says that everything is working fine when patently it isn't.

Glangsto · Answer

An update: I used the blue Fn key and F2, this turns the antenna on and off.
then tried to find networks, it found the network and i'm connected again.
Before i did this i removed the little plastic cover and wiggled the wires that connect to the truemobile card just to ensure a good contact.
I don't know if it was one or the other of the above or a combination of both, but I'm working again so I'm happy.
I hope it works for you.

Gary

chip_nhs · Answer

I THINK THAT'S MY PROBLEM!  Now that you said that, I remember messing with the Fn button options and I think I turned my antenna off.  Wow, I'm really anxious to see if I can attach to my wireless network I have at my apartment when I go back tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure the problem will be solved now!

chip_nhs · Answer

Thanks for all the help guys, my problem is solved.  I had my antenna turned off.  I guess that'll teach me not to mess with the Fn commands that I don't know.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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