We received the Dell E7240 laptop with Windows 7 Professional pre-installed. As part of the configuration I noted that it had the following Wi-Fi and Network Drivers:

•             Intel Dual band Wireless AC 7260 Driver 16.1.3.1 Release Date 8/1/13

•             Intel Ethernet Connection 1218 LM Driver Version 12.6.51.9427 Intel Network Connection 18.1.59.00

I “Kill Disk” wiped the laptop and install Windows Professional 64 Enterprise

I download and installed from the Dell Driver Site the following:

•             Intel Dual band Wireless AC 7260 Driver Version 16.1.3.1 release Date 8/1/3

•             Intel Ethernet Connection 1218-LM Driver Version 12.10.30.0 A05 OEM 18.7.0.0.

However after installing the Wi-Fi driver I note that upon waking from sleep the network icon in the taskbar has yellow warning triangle with a black exclamation mark indicating no network connectivity. with the error “Unidentified network - no internet access" When I launch IE I get an error "You're not connected to a network" -" when I then click on "Fix Connection Problems" as presented in the IE browser window the windows network diagnostics resolves the issue reporting the error "Local Area Connection" does not have a valid IP address".

I can also clear the error by going to Local Area Connection - Link Speed-Diagnostic Hardware Run Test -

I have duplicated the issue on another E7240 installing only Windows 7 64 bit Enterprise with the downloaded Dell network and Wi-Fi driver. Again the issue of limited or no network connectivity appears to occur after installing the Wi-Fi driver.

I went to the Intel Site and downloaded and uninstall the last “Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 7260 Version 16.6.0.8 however the issue still persists.

I have also flashed the BIOS, checked the BIOS for Nic related options, and reset the Sleep and hibernation modes, checked the NIC and Wi-Fi properties for a specific power option to disable.

 

On the pre-installed Windows Professional I have uninstalled the existing NIC driver and then downloaded and installed the network driver from the Dell site.

• Intel Ethernet Connection 1218-LM Driver Version 12.10.30.0 A05 OEM 18.7.0.0.

Upon reboot I get the same error "the network icon in the taskbar has yellow warning triangle with a black exclamation mark indicating no network connectivity" However strangely I do have network connectivity and a valid IP address and am able to browse directories. id I runt eh Intel WiDi software update utility from the Intel site and update the Intel proset wireless 16.6.0 clears this issue.