Intel Pro/Set 3945abg FIX

Updated Sep. 9 '07: I am now using Dell's recommended drivers for my system.

Hello, everyone.

I searched for news about this fix before posting here, and found nothing through Google or this web site. I'm posting this, therefore, so that it might help people and provide a place for feedback. If things change for me I'll be sure and post what happens.

The fix is below.
1) It's probably a Dell only fix, but I know that other manufacturers have release what might be similar patches.
2) It might be a Windows XP only fix. (I've copied a possible Vista fix to the bottom of my post.)
3) The actual fix file from Dell is called SetWiFiBT.exe I'm curious to hear from other people with and without bluetooth to see if this might be a bluetooth specific conflict.

Please post feedback that includes your results, operating system, driver version/source, and device settings. If you have links to similar patches from other system manufacturers, please post them too.

My System/Symptoms/Prior Efforts
I have a Dell e1505 with the Intel Proset/Wireless 3945abg and internal bluetooth. I can elaborate further if necessary.

With the 3945 I typically experienced a near-constant stream of drops and reconnects that basically crippled wireless browsing. My hardware switch also occasionally turned off and then refused to respond to the fn+f2 command.

I have (over the course of months) tried adjusting the device settings, including: channel, power, roaming aggressiveness, and other settings. I have installed and uninstalled drivers and software from Dell, Intel, and even other system manufacturers.

THE FIX
This page was added to Dell's support section in July, 2007.

Instructions: Download the fix and run it. It will create a new file in the location you specify; that file should run automatically. That's all (well, maybe a restart).

Hardware Note
I don't have either of the systems mentioned by Dell (I have an e1505), and I haven't been keeping up so I don't know if the 1520 is the successor to my model. That's the only help I can give. You must use your own judgment to decide whether you should run this file on an unspecified system.

Driver Note
If you're not using Dell's recommended drivers for your wireless card and continue to experience problems I recommend that you uninstall your current software and driver package then install Dell's recommended package. You might want to take the extra step of manually checking to see that the new drivers have been deleted before reinstalling the older package.

Other Notes/Explanations

Intel Drivers

After I ran the patch, I installed the absolute latest drivers+software from Intel's support page. They worked very well for a while, but then I unplugged my laptop and started having trouble. This persisted through a few restarts on battery power, and a few restarts on AC if I switched to battery power. As I said above, I uninstalled the Proset software, made sure the new drivers were completely deleted, then reinstalled the Dell drivers. That seems to have fixed it--at least I still have a solid connection on battery power now. Now I'm using the recommended Dell drivers (for my system its driver version 10.5.1.72).

I mention that I reinstalled software+drivers (twice) because doing so resets all the device settings including power management, which is the first thing people who have problems with this card turn off. In other words, things could (still) get even better (or *shudder* worse) if I fiddle with the device settings.

Possible Explanation

If anyone knows, it's not me. Both the EEPROM and the firmware of this device have been described as terrible by people who understand a lot more about networking hardware than I do.

I can say that I also have a Kubuntu Linux partition on this computer. After installing this patch in Windows, I have improved connectivity (but not improved performance) in my Kubuntu partition. I would think that that supports the idea of some sort of hardware-based fix.

[edit] Here is one thread discussing problems with this card in Ubuntu Linux on a Thinkpad, which ends with a link to this patch. [/edit]

THE VISTA FIX

Just to try and help as many people as possible, I've read elsewhere on this forum that if you roll back to the Microsoft driver and never reinstall an Intel driver that your problems should be fixed. If that bit helps you please click the link and give DoubleBlack a rep point. He seems to value them.

 

I know this post is somewhat dated, but I'd like to add my 2 cents.

I am having the same issue with my wife's Inspiron with the Intel 3945abg WNIC. Now, I haven't noticed the connection led going on or off but the connectivity issues are the same. One thing that I noticed when I first got this laptop was that the connection would need to be reset ('repaired' under XP) and I would get an error saying that the DNS cache could not be flushed or refreshed. I would then have to do it manually.

So that issue has now passed, but it seems that the connectivity issue remains. Usually, it will start downgrading the connection speed from 54 to 48 then down to 24 to 12 until I reset (repair) the connection. The signal is very good to excellent 95% of the time. I was going to replace the WNIC with an older one with better drivers, but I found out the hard way that the cards are minipci and not the older, longer cards.

I changed all the power saving settings, roaming settings and default speeds to No power saving, no roaming and default speed was set to 54mbs. hose didn't help at all.

Today, I checked intels site for new drivers. It seems that an updated driver was released yesterday (4/11/08). I have since installed them and it seems to be working better - for now. I also downloaded the fix you linked to on Dell's site - just in case.

 

I was doing some file searches on my new 1720 today and came across a .txt file named SetWiFiBT. It was a standalone file on the C drive.

I've just now read this and didn't know anything before 2 minutes ago about SetWiFiBT.exe

So it looks like Dell is isntalling this on the new laptops. I have the Intel (R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN card in mine.