Malfunctioning Wireless Adapter

Okay, I've gotten to the point where I'm about to punch my notebook through frustration that it won't connect to my access point. I've posted on two other forums with no reply so this is my last resort.

A few theories I've developed through time is that I experience this problem after I use an CPU-intensive program for a long period of time (eg. gaming). It is not notebook specific because this problem occured with my old notebook (Acer Aspire 1692WLMi) and now my current (Asus A7Jc). The problem is permanent (or at least I hope not) and it is that my wireless adapter cannot sustain a connection with the access point after boot up.

The connection is there, pressing refresh a million times but it literally won't connect. I confirmed that the access point was detectable using NetStumbler but the signal is lower than usual and it just won't connect?! Now, after just an hour and half of pressing the "repair" button, it's finally connected. You can probably understand my frustration in that I had to spend all that time just to access the internet.

I've isolated the problem by using another older laptop (Asus A2000S) and it's been browsing internet for a matter of days with no dropouts. I've also pretty much re-installed my drivers (they're Intel Pro Wireless v.11.1.1.0) and even older versions about 12 times now. Reformatting doesn't change anything either since my old laptop experienced the same problem and it seems to be a hardware fault. I've cleaned the fans out of dust which leaves me pulling my hair out screaming at this useless laptop!

And to think I escaped this problem from my old notebook.. it seems I'm doomed. I'd feel kind of stupid if I had to use a seperate wireless dongle for this laptop.. and would really not want to invest in such if the damn notebook couldn't even work wireless properly.

Please help, anybody!

 

Need some more info.

XP or Vista?
You said AP, which one or wireless router?
Does this exist with any notebook to your AP?
What distance are you from the AP?

A few thing too check. AP's normally have a power setting that can be adjusted. make sure its on high.

Have you rebooted your router/AP?
Wireless cards in NB have powersettings in which MS turns the power down or off to save power. Make sure these are set to stay awake and max power.

 

XP.

It has occured for both routers I've used, Linksys WAG54G v2 and now the Billion 7402GL, although I do not believe it is a problem with the router. I have 3 other functioning laptops in the house, one which sits right next to the one I'm trying to fix.

I have also varied distance, but it makes no difference. Signal strength DOES increase, but the ability to sustain the connection remains unstable.

I shall reboot the router. Can't find any settings within the router to adjust power setting also. I don't really have any powersettings for the adapter, just the ones from windows where you go into properties. They don't seem to adjust any difference either.

I do appreciate your help!

 

You can not use both MS Zero Config and Intel at the same time. Intel has alot more overhead. Turn off any firewall that the nb may have running. Temp drop the WPA/WEP sec off for testing.

Wireless adapters do fail, in some case I have seen where the antennas were not connected to the card. You should have a access panel where you can gain access to the card. My first guess was that the card is a Raylink. The one I have has a range of about 10' on a good day, but you have a intel card.

As far as routers, I have yet to find a Belkin router that's reliable, they have the highest failure rate. Go back to your Linkys ag router.

 

WAG54G is an ADSL modem/router/ For some reason ARP protection in software firewall needs to be switched off for ADSL connection.

As for power management- device manager, your wifi card, advanced tab.

 

Ah, that's what I'm more interested in, my wireless adapter. If I do flip open the panel, is there any visual way of verifying that it's suffered damage or anything of the like?

 

Not really, with out another card you have no way of testing your NB. You can look to make sure your antennas are connected.

But if its like mine, they had a union on the coax leads where the LCD connections were. Buried and would only see if you were doing major disassembly.

 

Thanks heaps, I'll have a look once I get some time. Will post again if I'm still stumped!

 

Alright - just an update for those that might suffer the same problem in the near future.

Opening the panel was a success. I found out that the antenna had to slots where it could be connected to, realising that the pin hole looked awfully similar to that of my router's antenna pin. Naturally, for experimental sake, I switched from the Antenna hole 1 to hole 2 and booted up without a problem!

I'm not sure if it was also because I cleaned all the dirt around too, but either way, I've elimated all possibilities and my wireless works a charm!

Thanks for all your help!

 

Just out of cruosity check your adapter advanced properties and see if there is an option to switch antennas, deversity, left right... This is an option on routers, but have not seen it on adapters.