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Question

dell inspiron 1545 wifi problem

by Mar 29, 2015 6:14AM PDT

Hi all.
I have a Dell Inspiron 1545 and for the past few weeks (or maybe even months) my wifi keeps dropping.(Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card). Usually it disconnects when i download something but this is not a rule, it also happened when i was just browsing the web. I use a router to connect to internet and my laptop is the only one who has this problem in the house.
The only way to reconnect is to restart my laptop, it doesn't work if i restart the router or if i disable/enable my wireless network connection.
Untill now i have reinstalled windows a few times, checked if i have the latest drivers installed on my laptop and on my router (which by the way is an Iptime Router (IP04103)). I am out of ideas now.
I'm going crazy here. If anyone has any ideas please, pretty please feel free to share.
thanks

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
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Clarification Request
Remember this issue is widely discussed.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Mar 29, 2015 6:20AM PDT

Fixes include card replacement, restoring the drivers to what dell issues, reloading the OS to stock, to a few other ideas.

HOW DID YOU CHECK FOR THE LATEST DRIVERS?

Why I ask is if you used the Driver Update button in windows you could inadvertently get a Microsoft driver and trouble follows.

Also, the usual test is to drove the distance to the router in half. Remember I may not duplicate all the prior answers.
Bob

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updated manually
by IRzuppa Apr 6, 2015 8:51PM PDT

I didn't used the Driver Update button in windows, i downloaded the drivers manually from the support page of dell.com. The distance between my laptop and the router isn't a big one because i live in a 2 bedroom apartment and the router is placed right in the middle so i have, at the most, only one wall between at any time.

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Re: WiFi drops
by Kees_B Forum moderator Apr 6, 2015 9:07PM PDT

My guess, since you say your reinstalled Windows ( a few times even) and have the right drivers, is that it's a hardware issue.

The strange thing in your story, however, is that you install a driver. The usual way with a laptop (or even a desktop) is to go back to factory conditions (when the software and hardware was new and working without a flaw) and then it already comes with a working driver also. If such a 'recovery' fails, it's sure to be a hardware issue.

Kees

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One more thing before you replace the WiFi.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 7, 2015 1:31AM PDT

Go get the service manual for the laptop. You'll want to look at the WiFi card area and give the little antenna connections a small rotation of about 10 degrees and back to scrub that contact. I rarely have to remove that card to do this and it makes sure the connection is in place and the rotation scrubs the contact area.

After that, retest and if it fails you look at getting some other WiFi dongle to stand in.
Bob

PS. Just a few part numbers from what we have laying about the office.
AWUS036H
RT3072
Smaller but not as much range as the prior 2, TL-WN725N

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