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    Cannot detect any wireless networks

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by d_jedi, Jun 18, 2008.

  1. d_jedi

    d_jedi Notebook Geek

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    Need some tech support here.. I'm starting to pull my hair out in frustration (feel free to move this if this isn't the right forum).

    I have an Inspiron 1520 with the wireless N card, running Vista Home Premium. For some reason, I am unable to connect, or even detect *any* wireless networks (even completely open ones, with the router right in front of me).

    I've tried everything I can think of:
    - enable/disable the wireless card
    - reboot the machine
    - restart the router
    - reinstall the network card drivers
    - other machines (which can successfully see, and connect to the network)
    ..

    And nothing works!

    One thing I ought to mention (don't believe this would have an effect, though..) is the switch on the side of the machine to control wireless fell off a couple of months ago (yeah, build quality!).. but this has not caused a problem up to this point (just a bit more work to disable/enable the card..)

    Any ideas?
     
    d_jedi, Jun 18, 2008
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  2. jfdube

    jfdube Notebook Evangelist

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    Is your Wifi card the Intel one? If so, have you tried running the Intel Diagnostics utility?
     
    jfdube, Jun 18, 2008
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  3. carldaru

    carldaru Notebook Consultant

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    Make sure the switch is not in the off position. I know you said it fell off and was working before this, but maybe perhaps something bumped the inside and it turned itself off??

    Or try reinstalling drivers?
     
    carldaru, Jun 18, 2008
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  4. d_jedi

    d_jedi Notebook Geek

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    I have the Dell one ("Dell Wireless 1505 Wireless-N Mini-card")
     
    d_jedi, Jun 18, 2008
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  5. d_jedi

    d_jedi Notebook Geek

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    Nope, it's turned on.. the wifi light is on.. and if I do switch it, I get "wireless capability on this computer is turned off" when I "diagnose this connection" under network connections (otherwise, it says "Windows cannot find any wireless networks in range of this computer")

    I tried that, by uninstalling the driver in device manager and then rebooting (letting Windows find the appropriate driver).
     
    d_jedi, Jun 18, 2008
    #5