Wireless help needed

shabbyalonso

Hi guys,
Firstly, if this has already been covered, apologies - could not locate it on the search so hopefully someone can help.
Got a Dell laptop top a few months ago (inspiron 1501), with wireless hardware. To cut a long story short, it doesn't work, Dell are useless when it comes to helping and they have said now to wipe everything and re-install/re-boot and restore factory settings - that should make it work then (they've tried everything else and re-install the wireless hardware 5 times now to no avail). I'm not the best with I.T. issues therefore wondering if someone could advise how I can do this WITHOUT losing my other installed programs? I'll back them up just in case however would prefer if they weren't wiped in the first place.

Someone told me that this could be done.

Something like, re-start laptop and then hold down "Fn" key (or ctrl) and F11 or something like that. Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks a million

RoyalMarine

what exactly is happening?

what windows are you using? did you change windows version at all?

when did it last work?
and what happens when you try connect etc?

shabbyalonso

Sorry, my message is not very clear on reflection. This may help.

Using Windows XP - never changed the windows program or changed settings or anything like that.

The wireless never worked.

When I try to connect, it's gives me an error message firstly, to say "windows cannot configure this wireless connection. If you have enabled another program......see article 871122 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base on microsoft.com".

I did just that, followed the instructions and could change one of the settings on the wireless software. When that was done, the "error" message above, did not appear again. However, nothing was showing in the box, so to speak. I hit refresh and nothing. It is supposed to show the broadband address, which is picked up from the modem nearby. Nothing happening here though. As far as I know, the "wifi" light on the laptop should light up also but nothing there.

Some guy from Dell called out to me last week, replaced the modem card (or something along those lines) and also the back of the screen (something to do with wiring I was told). However, this made no difference. He said that the laptop is working fine i.e. wires etc all in place.

AT this point, it was like ringing your I.T. department in work when you have a problem.....if all else fails, re-boot!!! Just kiddin' - for anyone who works in I.T.

Anyway, I have been told to ring Dell now so that my laptop has it's "memory" (not sure of exact phrase) wiped and everything restored to factory settings. The guy seemed to think that while the hardware is fine, one part of the machine isn't talking to the other and this is why the wireless isn't working.

Therefore, this is where I am now and am wondering how this can be done, without losing the other various programs (e.g. recording, i-tunes, camera photo's etc) that I have installed.

Thanks a mill in advance RoyalMarineComm

RoyalMarine

what laptop is it? how old is it?
and i assume the wireless is built into the laptop.

when you turn your laptop on, go into the bois.
its usually accessed by pressing the "del" key.

there might be an option in there to enable the wireless. make sure its enabled.

did you ever install any program to use wireless connections?
i assume your laptop can connect to the internet when you plug in an ethernet cable to the router/modem.
does that work ok?
f it does, go to the router home page and make sure wireless broadcast is enabled.
also, what type of router/modem is it? ive used a lot of different types so i might be able to remember the config settings when i know the name.

and last, is there any yellow ? or ! in device manager?

shabbyalonso

It's a Dell Inspiron 1501. Bought from Dell, as new about 8 months ago.

Wireless is indeed built into laptop.
Never installed any programs to use wireless connections.
Laptop is working fine through ethernet cable; internet working fine.
I got the modem from BT when I signed up with them; the name of it is BT Voyager 2110.
Checked on BT Broadband website/router homepage and wireless is enabled.
There is no yellow ! or ? as far as I can see.
Thanks again

Soundman

Is the wireless actually turned on on the laptop? Can you see the little yellow/green icon glowing that signifies wireless? If not press "Fn + F2" which should turn it on.

Sorry for being so obvious if you have already done that but better to check all options than to miss the most obvious.

Tom Dunne

Go to Start->Settings->Network Connections and report back what is there. Is there a wireless connection?

If so, using the wired connection, turn off all wireless security on your wireless router, disconnect the wired connection and try scanning for wireless networks. If all is well, the laptop will pick up the unsecured network and you should be able to connect.

Moved from laptops to wireless.

shabbyalonso

Hi Tom Dunne and Soundman.

Soundman - I've tried that already. When I hit Fn + F10 to turn on and off the wireless, it responds okay on the screen however the light isn't turning on, on the laptop itself.

Tom - I and also Dell, have tried everything with the wireless i.e. enabling/disabling, re-installing but no joy. It isn't picking up any random broadband signals, that would normally happen, as per your post.

Basically, everything (it appears!) has been tried and tested however the wireless is just not responding therefore Dell have advised (ring them they say, once I've backed everything up!) that the best thing to do, is to "wipe" everything (I'm sure there's an I.T. phrase for that!) and then restore everything to factory settings. They believe that the voices inside the laptop are not speaking to each other, hence the lack of response from the wireless. They think that this will solve it.

If so, I'm willing to try this however would prefer if it can be done without having to back up everything and just leaving the other programs I've installed on there.

vir7ual

Where are you based?

Do you know anyone around with computer equipment. If you do, get them to install an external wifi card and see if that works, if it doesnt its down to the mainboard or something similar. If it does work, then the wifi card on the board is gone.

If you're based around the munster region, give me a shout and i'll be able to help you.

Tom Dunne

shabbyalonso wrote:

Tom - I and also Dell, have tried everything with the wireless i.e. enabling/disabling, re-installing but no joy. It isn't picking up any random broadband signals, that would normally happen, as per your post.

Basically, everything (it appears!) has been tried and tested however the wireless is just not responding therefore Dell have advised (ring them they say, once I've backed everything up!) that the best thing to do, is to "wipe" everything (I'm sure there's an I.T. phrase for that!) and then restore everything to factory settings. They believe that the voices inside the laptop are not speaking to each other, hence the lack of response from the wireless. They think that this will solve it.

You haven't answered any of my questions.

Does the wireless network card show up in Device Manager?