Acer 1830T laptop keeps losing internet connection (details included)

If you can help I would really appreciate this. About 10-11 months ago, I purchased an Acer Aspire Timeline X laptop (I believe that's what you would call it). The model is 1830T-6661 and it runs Windows 7. The device began to regularely lose it's connection about 4 months ago and the only way to retrieve the connection is to shut down the computer entirely and then reboot it (even restarting directly doesn't seem to work). Usually, the connection will last from 10-30 minutes from when the device is turned on although it can range from 1 minute to a few hours at times. It's very unpredictable but it most certainly will eventually lose it's connection.

When I click on the connection bars in the lower right hand corner of the laptop (now covered with a red X indicating no connection) it takes me direct to the network centre. Absolutely no networks are available to choose from at this point. The device will ask me to troubleshoot and as you can probably predict, the troubleshoot is useless and it returns with no results whatsoever. As I said before, the only thing that can be done at this point to restore the connection is to turn the device off and leave it for a while. Later when I try to use it again, this entire process will repeat unfortunetly.

So I have been dealing with this problem for about 4 months now and this suggests to me that something strange has happened if the computer never had trouble previously. My modem is fine and every other device in the house does not lose it's connection, so surely there is somehow something wrong with this specific device instead of the connection. I have been searching for answers but I think that if I post my own question, I will have a better chance of finding a solution with all of my details. If there is something that I have left out that would be key for anyone trying to help me, just post a question of your own in your answer. Any help with this would be so much appreciated as I am losing my mind over this issue. Thank you!

 

Make sure to turn off power-saving for Wi-Fi both in Windows power settings (for each profile) and- if the latter exists- in driver settings (available through device manager, Wi-Fi card properties)

 

What is your wireless adapter, router and how far from the router are you compared to other devices?

If what downloads suggested doesn't fix it, here's something you can try.

First, download the drivers for your wireless adapter from Acer's website, make sure to download the driver for your adapter since sometimes laptops have multiple wireless adapter options. Next is uninstalling the current drivers. To do this, go to the start menu, right click on computer and choose manage. In the left navigation pane, choose device manager and your wireless adapter will be listed under network adapters. Right click on your wireless adapter and choose uninstall. Make sure you do not uninstall your LAN drivers by mistake

Because an image is worth a thousand words sometimes. Note that the name of your wireless adapter will dependend on which one is in your notebook, mine as you guessed it is an Intel Centrino Utlimate-N 6300


Once it's uninstalled, you may or may not get a pop up asking you to restart. In any case, restart the computer. Once the restart is done, install the driver you downloaded.

 

Thank you very much!

Unfortunetly both suggestions don't appear to have worked. Any other ideas would be welcome of course. Thanks.

 

Like i asked in my previous thread, what is your current hardware wireless adapter model and router model. Also, how far are you from the router, i don't think that is the problem given that you can't see any wireless networks, but it's best to know all the variables.

 

Sorry but what specifically is the wireless adapter? The router is a Cisco ValetPlus. The computer is usually located within 20-30 feet of the router. Some computers on my house are further away and work perfectly, I doubt it's the locations.

 

Do you know if the solution was the power options, or the driver update?

Edit: I see you edited your post, so maybe you're still having a problem?

 

@Ag76 Sorry to cause trouble but just as I confirm that it has worked, the internet goes out once again! So a solution has not yet been found, my post has been edited above.

 

John, the wireless adapter is the card installed in your notebook that enables you to have wireless connectivity. Tijo is asking which adapter you have to help troubleshoot the issue. You would have to know which wireless adapter you have if you were able to update the drivers.

 

Yes of course, it's Atheros AR5B97.

 

John, try going into the properties of the Atheros AR5B97 in Device Manager and open the advanced tab. Under properties there should be an item titled "802.11 Bluetooth High Speed". If this is enabled, try changing it to disabled and see if it helps. This seems to have worked for several Acer notebook owners with a problem simiilar to yours.

 

Thank you, will try.

 

Ag76, I took your advice and did what you said. The internet had been working since over 24 hours ago when I followed your instructions. Since it never reaches that length of time with a working connection, I figured that my problem had been solved. However, just now the connection has once again gone out. I checked that the "802.11 Bluetooth High Speed" option was still disabled like you suggested and it was. Surely your advice was working because the internet was fine for a full day but clearly the problem is still here. Any other ideas? I really appreciate this.

 

Another thing to try- log on to your wireless router and find "lease time" or "DHCP lease time" and up the value significantly to 5-7 days (it's gonna be in minutes or hours though)

 

Thanks downloads.

 

Still no luck unfortunetly. The connection is lasting slightly longer but it eventually still seems to go out.

 

Thanks for the private messages as well, one question I have is: Would a factory data restoration perhaps solve this?

 

If your problem is software related, it's possible that restoring a factory image might solve the problem. If some sort of software update caused the problem, or a setting was changed, restoring the notebook back to factory settings might help. But that's a pretty extreme way to solve a networking problem, as you will probably need to backup data, reinstall programs, updates, etc. That's why it's a good idea to use imaging software to make frequent backups of your OS drive.

If it's a problem with the wireless adapter itself or your router, you've wasted a lot of time. That's why I'd try the driver install first. If you do install a factory image, make sure your wireless connection is working properly before reinstalling programs and updates so you'll know if that's what caused your problem. Good luck!

 

I have the exact same laptop with the exact same problem... Intermittently the Wifi Network automatically becomes disabled and the only way to get it going again is to Fn F3 or un-disable on the task bar app (Turn it On again)....This has been happening since I purchased it. Tried turning off power saving on net card and all the above suggestions but still the same problem... John2777 have you managed to find any other solutions? Thanks