lets update the driver - can you post the dell service tag number - should be on the pc on a label
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?docid=267748
It will connect then disconnect then reconnects again.
does that mean with internet access -
also can you do the following
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ipconfig /all
If you cannot access the internet with this PC, then you will need to paste the results into something like notepad and then copy onto a machine that can access the internet and post the results in a reply here.
Save the file to a USB flash drive or other removable media. Plug it into the working computer with internet access and copy the file and paste here.
We would like to see the results from an
ipconfig /all - post back the results in a reply here.
Hold the
Windows key and press
R, then type
CMD then press
Enter to open a command prompt box
(A new dialogue box - black with white font, will appear on screen ):
In the command prompt window that opens, type the following command:
Note that there is a space before the /ALL, but there is NOT a space after the / in the following command.
ipconfig /all > network.txt & network.txt
It will export the results into notepad and then automatically open the notepad and display on your screen.
Now all you need to do is copy and paste those results into a reply here
to do that:
From the notepad menu - choose
Edit -
Select all
all the text will now be highlighted
Next
From the notepad menu - choose
Edit -
Copy
Now go back to the forum - goto the reply and then right click in the reply box and
paste the results.
The results from the notepad should now appear in the forum reply.
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Ping Tests
If you cannot access the internet with this PC, then you will need to paste the results into something like notepad and then copy onto a machine that can access the internet and post the results in a reply here.
Save the file to a USB flash drive or other removable media. Plug it into the working computer with internet access and copy the file and paste here.
Start> Run {search bar in Vista/W7}> type
CMD to open a command prompt box
(A new dialogue box - black with white font, will appear on screen ):
Type the following command
Ping {then a space and then add the number that is shown against the item labelled "default gateway" shown in the results from the ipconfig /all}
Post back the results in a reply here
right click in the command prompt box
select all
enter
control key + C key - to copy
then reply here and
control key + V to paste
Type the following command
Ping google.com
Post back the results in a reply here
right click in the command prompt box
select all
enter
control key + C key - to copy
then reply here and
control key + V to paste
Type the following command
Ping 209.183.226.152
Post back the results in a reply here
right click in the command prompt box
select all
enter
control key + C key - to copy
then reply here and
control key + V to paste
For your information only
these tests will check various stages of the connection, the first ping test, ping default gateway checks to see if you still have a connection to the router.
The next two Ping google.com & Ping 209.183.226.152 tests the connection to internet. google is to test by name and the ping test using a number is checking that a connection exists without DNS.
these tests then confirm if there is a dns issue on the connection.
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Run Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector
Download and install
If you cannot access the internet with this PC, then you will need to copy the program across to the faulty PC
Save the file to a USB flash drive or other removable media. Plug it into the working computer with internet access and copy the file and install the program.
You will now need to take a screen shot and copy that back to the working PC and attach the screen shot in a reply on the forum here.
http://www.xirrus.com/Products/Wi-Fi-Inspector.aspx
Direct link to the program is here
http://info.xirrus.com/Wi-FiInspectorConfirmation.html
{If the above link does not work heres another link http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_download/fid,77196-order,4/download.html}
Then run and install the program - on a wireless enabled PC/Laptop
if you get an error - You need will need to have
NET Framework installed for the WiFi Inspector to function.
Run the program
A user guide is available here
http://www.xirrus.com/cdn/pdf/Xirrus-Wi-Fi-inspectorguide-1-2-1-RevB-6.aspx
post a screen shot of the program running.
if there are a lot of networks showing can you click on
"networks" top lefthand area - so we can see all the network information.
post which
SSID name is yours, its located in the list, under
network "Adapter Name" (1st column)
To post a screen shot of the active window.
1) hold the Alt key and press the PrtScn key. Open the Windows PAINT application (Start> All Programs> Accessories> Paint) and Paste the screen shot. You can then use PAINT to trim to suit, and save it as a JPG format file.
OR
2) if you are using Vista/Windows 7 you can use the "snipping tool" which is found in Start> All programs> Accessories> Snipping Tool
To upload the screen shot to the forum, open the full reply window ("Go Advanced" button) and use the Manage Attachments button to upload it here.
Full details are available here
http://library.techguy.org/wiki/TSG_Posting_a_Screenshot
Note:
For a reliable (or robust as the Xirrus user guide says) wireless connection you need a signal of about -70 dBm or better. "A desirable signal level for a robust Wi-Fi connection will be green".
note: the signal level is a negative number, so for example -88 is worst and -40 is better
If you are using the Mac OS then use
http://www.istumbler.net/ or
if you want to optimise base station position and signal strength / dead spots use
http://www.chimoosoft.com/products/apgrapher/ which has a graph function to monitor signal
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