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Question

MacBook Pro 10.6.8 Keeps Losing Airport Connection

Aug 17, 2015 3:11PM PDT

and I have to restart the computer to get connected again.
This started about several months ago.
Right now I am traveling, so I have to use all public WiFi; Starbucks, B&N, the public library’s, or my hotel’s WiFi.

It very rarely if ever stays connected when I wake it from sleeping overnight, and then it is for another fifteen or so minutes, and I always have to restart it again.
When it cuts out, the reception bars don’t disappear or move, so it looks like I am connected.
Sometimes, I turn it off before it cuts out, and later it is able to reconnect (for twenty minutes) without having to restart it.

Three possible reasons immediately come to mind;

(1) Several months ago, I had my permissions(?) changed at the Mac store G. Bar (I was getting asked to enter my password when deleting or renaming some M4V files, and/or moving them to a different folder on the same Mac, or to a ext. HD), and I still have that problem!

(2) I tried disabling Adobe’s Acrobat and Flash Player programs, and did it improperly

(3) Less likely, I was hacked!

I first noticed “a” (not “the&rdquoWink Airport/WiFi issue several months ago, not too long after #1 was performed. Sometimes, when attempting to turn off Airport, it would not immediately turn off, I would see the reception bars move like it was trying to find reception when turning it on, and still does that occasionally, then eventually turns off.

I tried network>assist me>diagnostics which a few times (usually not though) said I have a connection, yet I can’t connect to a page as it doesn’t show any options to connect to.

Most other times though, I do the same assist me and it says status off, and I click the turn airport on button and it doesn’t show any signs of movement or showing I’m connected.

I tried the advanced page, picked the correct network >OK and still nothing.

When I don’t see any reception bars, it doesn’t show any other networks to join in the drop down list at the top of the screen and says that Airport is off.
Then, when I restart, Airport and the reception bars appear by themselves, and I am connected.


Sometimes I get the “no airport card installed” or “airport not configured” message @ the top pane when clicking the Airport icon.
Other scenarios are, I don’t see any Airport icon at all in the left pane of the network dialog box, only Ethernet and FireWire icons.

I trashed Firefox and re-installed it, and my Google is up to date.

Is there a WiFi folder and can I replace it with a new one? I just don’t want to restart the computer eight or nine times a day.

Does my Airport card need replacing?

Will this problem will definitely subside if I upgrade operation systems?

I’m sure I would have internet via Ethernet, however, no public places offer that option for the public.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, though it may be a while before I can reply!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
The permissions thing is a Mac thing.
Aug 17, 2015 3:55PM PDT
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Reply to R. Proffitt
Aug 18, 2015 12:15PM PDT

That didn’t help at all.

I tried the disk utility verify/repair three times and got the same two and a half pages of verifications. The same repair messages showed up for all the three repairs.

I shut down the computer after the first verification/ repair and then started it up again to make sure the changes would take effect.

If it repaired items the first time, why would they keep showing up on the second and third times after closing disc utility each time?

Also, the internet connection I got after restarting my Mac to post my first post, only lasted about 25 minutes total. Ten minutes after I turned Airport back after performing the disc utility procedure.

Now I’m back to square one.
_____________________________________________________________
I did see this toward the bottom of the items to be repaired via “disc verification” which concerns me:

Warning: SUID file "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAgent" has been modified and will not be repaired.

Prior to this thread, I was told I have to reset both the NVRAM and also the SMC.
I hesitated because none of the symptoms that those fix, mentioned anything about fixing an Airport card/WiFi cutting out, which is my only concern regarding my posting of this thread.
______________________________________________________________
Also, when Airport is turned off or cuts out and says Airport is turned off, before I restart, it automatically turns on when the computer boots up!

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I know it's hard.
Aug 18, 2015 12:41PM PDT
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203172 tells you to ignore such messages.

As to fixing this if a reload doesn't cure it maybe the WiFi card is gone. There are other areas you can explore such as trying the WiFi pulled back to 802.11g WPA2.
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What's a reload?
Aug 18, 2015 7:14PM PDT

and how about trying the WiFi pulled back to 802.11g WPA2...how is that done?

Should I not try what a local mac store (not an actual Apple store, but pretty close) recommended regarding resetting both the NVRAM and also the SMC?

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It's where we wipe the drive and start over.
Aug 18, 2015 7:43PM PDT

I don't do that really. My routine is to slip in a new blank HDD or such, do the quick reload of the OS and see if the problem is still there. I've lost count of how many times it did. That points us to network card (WiFi) issues or possibly back to the router.

Since this is pretty expensive work, the tech swaps the router before the reload as well as try old 802.11g with WPA2 Personal Security or AES.

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Thanks to both of you for replying
Aug 18, 2015 7:28PM PDT

I'm new to this site and the limitations in not being able to post w/o having to reply to a specific reply, and having to make a tittle, and no going back to edit, and trying to do all this before I lose my connection!
I'll probably go to the library tomorrow to use their computers, when I loose tonight's connection.

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Answer
Long shot here, given that you have tried a number of things
Aug 18, 2015 3:01PM PDT

Create a new Admin account on that MBP and log into it.
Connect the Airport as usual.
Did it stay connected past the time that it would normally disconnect?

Also, Bob mentioned that you should tell the MBP to forget ALL the wireless networks that it has been connected to. I didn't see where you said you had done that.

P

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I think I did
Aug 18, 2015 7:20PM PDT

If you're referring to  the "remember networks this computer has joined" in network preferences, I tried that several weeks ago, and reverted back to remember them.

I will try the new Admin. in a few days

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Answer
Widget title!
Aug 18, 2015 7:22PM PDT

If you're referring to  the "remember networks this computer has joined" in network preferences, I tried that several weeks ago, and reverted back to remember them.

I will try the new Admin. in a few days