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mikeneligan

6 Posts

523681

August 23rd, 2012 07:00

problems with n5050 wireless driver

bought new inspiron 15 laptop 2 days ago and unless im sitting on the router i get absolutley no wireless signal...it wont allow me to roll back the existing driver and i cant seem to find where the windows one is located....its all very frustrating and if i cant get it sorted they'll be getting the laptop back! Tried ringing support lines but after waiting for 20 mins and then being hung up on 3 tiimes ive had my fill of them too

DELL-Saurabh A

710 Posts

August 23rd, 2012 08:00

Hi mikeneligan,

I can imagine the inconvenience that you have gone through; I apologize for the experience. I would be glad to assist you.

I would appreciate if you could provide answers to these queries. It will be useful for understanding the issue.

1) Have you performed any troubleshooting steps already?

2) Do you have any other wireless device that works efficiently with the wireless router?

3) Do you ever find the wireless signal to be strong at times, from a distance?

4) Check if any other network is available that is stronger.

A weak wireless signal on the laptop reflects either a corrupt wireless card driver, or a card that is not working optimally.

1) Let us re-install the wireless card driver to see if that fixes that issue. Inspiron N5050 is shipped with a Dell Wireless Adapter. Please follow these steps to re-install the card drivers:

- Click Pearl button at the bottom left corner of the screen

- Type “devmgmt.msc” in the search box (without quotation)

- Click “Yes” to “User Access Control” prompt

- Press Enter key

- Device Manager opens up

- Expand option “Network Adapters”

- Right click “Dell Wireless / Intel Wireless”

- Press uninstall

- Follow-through with the uninstall process and restart the computer.

- Please install the Driver Update from this link:  www.dell.com/.../inspiron-15-intel-n5050

- Check for the wireless signal now

2) Configure the Wireless Adapter Settings for Optimal Performance

- Click ‘Pearl’ Icon

- Right click Computer and then click Properties

- Click Device Manager in the upper left corner

(If you are prompted to continue by the User Account Control, click Continue)

- In the Device Manager window, click the next to Network Adapters

- Double-click the Dell Wireless WLAN Card

- Click the Advanced tab

- In the Property: box, click to highlight ‘AP Compatibility Mode’, select ‘Broader Compatibility’ under Value: from the drop-down menu

- In the Property: box, click to highlight ‘Minimum Power Consumption’, select Disabled under Value: from the drop-down menu

- Disable ‘Bluetooth Collaboration’

- Click OK

3) Activate & Update the Antivirus Software

- For Mcafee Security Center

- Right click the icon in the System Tray

- Click update

- Restart the system

If the issue persists after performing the above mentioned steps, we may have to replace the wireless card on the laptop. You may want to check the following page on Dell’s support website to find more details on wireless troubleshooting:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&docid=420860&doclang=en&l=en&s=gen&cs=

Please perform these troubleshooting steps and do write back with the findings. I would be glad to assist.

mikeneligan

6 Posts

August 23rd, 2012 12:00

Hi I've tried all the above points but it hasn't fixed the problem....signal is still very poor

PudgyOne

9 Legend

 • 

30.3K Posts

August 23rd, 2012 12:00

mikeneligan,

 

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

 

Also tell us what virus program and firewall are you using.

 

 

Rick

mikeneligan

6 Posts

August 24th, 2012 11:00

Host Name:                 X-WING

OS Name:                   Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

OS Version:                6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601

OS Manufacturer:           Microsoft Corporation

OS Configuration:          Standalone Workstation

OS Build Type:             Multiprocessor Free

Registered Owner:          mike

Registered Organization:  

Product ID:          

Original Install Date:     21/08/2012, 17:56:52

System Boot Time:          24/08/2012, 18:01:32

System Manufacturer:       Dell Inc.

System Model:              Inspiron N5050

System Type:               x64-based PC

Processor(s):              1 Processor(s) Installed.

                          [01]: Intel64 Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel ~2501 Mhz

BIOS Version:              Dell Inc. A04, 23/03/2012

Windows Directory:         C:\windows

System Directory:          C:\windows\system32

Boot Device:               \Device\HarddiskVolume2

System Locale:             en-ie;English (Ireland)

Input Locale:              en-ie;English (Ireland)

Time Zone:                 (UTC) Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

Total Physical Memory:     6,052 MB

Available Physical Memory: 4,320 MB

Virtual Memory: Max Size:  12,103 MB

Virtual Memory: Available: 10,159 MB

Virtual Memory: In Use:    1,944 MB

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

Domain:                    WORKGROUP

Logon Server:              \\X-WING

Hotfix(s):                 107 Hotfix(s) Installed.

                          [01]: 982861

                          [02]: KB971033

                          [03]: KB2393802

                          [04]: KB2397190

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                          [80]: KB2667402

                          [81]: KB2675157

                          [82]: KB2676562

                          [83]: KB2677070

                          [84]: KB2679255

                          [85]: KB2685939

                          [86]: KB2686831

                          [87]: KB2688338

                          [88]: KB2690533

                          [89]: KB2691442

                          [90]: KB2695962

                          [91]: KB2698365

                          [92]: KB2699779

                          [93]: KB2705219

                          [94]: KB2709630

                          [95]: KB2709715

                          [96]: KB2712808

                          [97]: KB2718704

                          [98]: KB2719985

                          [99]: KB2722913

                          [100]: KB2729094

                          [101]: KB2731847

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                          [103]: KB2732500

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                          [106]: KB976902

                          [107]: KB982018

Network Card(s):           4 NIC(s) Installed.

                          [01]: Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller

                                Connection Name: Local Area Connection

                                Status:          Media disconnected

                          [02]: Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)

                                Connection Name: Bluetooth Network Connection

                                Status:          Media disconnected

                          [03]: Dell Wireless 1702 802.11b/g/n

                                Connection Name: Wireless Network Connection

                                DHCP Enabled:    Yes

                                DHCP Server:     192.168.1.254

                                IP address(es)

                                [01]: 192.168.1.29

                                [02]: fe80::bdf8:4284:187:3d4f

                          [04]: Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter

                                Connection Name: Wireless Network Connection 2

                                Status:          Media disconnected

mikeneligan

6 Posts

August 24th, 2012 11:00

the virus program i am using is mcafee and the firewall is being run from mcafee also

PudgyOne

9 Legend

 • 

30.3K Posts

August 25th, 2012 12:00

mikeneligan,

 

Sorry for the delay, work.

 

The Dell Wireless 1702 802.11b/g/n adapter works on the 2.4GHz band ONLY.

 

Was this a new system or did you recently install/reinstall the operating system?

 

If you reinstalled the operating system, did you install the Desktop/Notebook system software and the chipset drivers first? If not, the rest of the drivers will fail to install. How to Download and Install Drivers in the Correct Order

Start with the Desktop/Notebook system software and the chipset drivers and follow the list.

 

 

Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Power Options\Create a Power Plan

Select High performance.

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.

 


 We recently had a connection issue and this article may help. Software Updates Causes Wireless Connectivity Issue Or Unable to Connect to Internet

 

 

Rick

mikeneligan

6 Posts

August 25th, 2012 20:00

No didn't reinstall anything it's brand new only got it on tuesday....it works but only when I'm sitting right beside the router...if I move any further than 4 or 5 feet the signal drops completely

kimreid106

1 Message

August 25th, 2012 21:00

Just pulled mine from the box yesterday.  I have spent all day trying to get the internet to work.  I have never had so much trouble with a wireless system.  I keep getting DNS erver not responding or not found.  I can not even register the product online because I cannot get online.  My other computer works, just not this one.

PudgyOne

9 Legend

 • 

30.3K Posts

August 25th, 2012 21:00

mikeneligan,

 

I suspect the antenna wires may have come loose. Since your system is under warranty, contact Dell Tech Support to get it corrected.

 

 

kimreid106,

 

Try reading...

Software Updates Causes Wireless Connectivity Issue Or Unable to Connect to Internet

 

 

Rick

 

mikeneligan

6 Posts

August 26th, 2012 13:00

Can you give me customer services number for ireland? I can't seem to find it on the website anywhere. I'm gonna see if they can send me a replacement. Thanks

PudgyOne

9 Legend

 • 

30.3K Posts

August 26th, 2012 14:00

mikeneligan,

 

Try the numbers listed at Contact Dell by Phone <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

 

 

Rick

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