Okay folks, I have a real noggin-scratcher (at least, it makes no sense to me!). I hope you geniuses have a clue!
I have a Sony SZ 7xxx series. It's been out of use for a while, and I recently decided to get it back into service. When I booted it up, then internet at the house went down. The network was still available, but no internet. I rebooted the router/modem (AT&T service, all one unit unfortunately) a few times, with no luck. I turned off the laptop, and soon after, my internet returned. Anyway, after a long diagnostic process, here's the deal:
-The Sony will connect to the internet with no problems IF IT IS ON BATTERY. But 2-3 seconds after plugging in the power, the red lights on the modem start going crazy and the internet goes down. If I unplug the laptop, service returns within a few minutes.
-This happens at my parents house, and at my house (both AT&T).
-I don't understand why it would work fine on battery, but plugging in the laptop kills the modem.
-I re-imaged the computer (was going to anyway), with no luck.
-I don't believe it to be a software issue, because it works fine on battery, and I don't even have to be in the OS, just booting to BIOS kills the modem.
-Wired/wireless has same effect
Any ideas?
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If it happens in BIOS too there must be a hardware issue of some kind.
I wonder if it's something that would happen anywhere or is just your modem/router vulnerable in some way.
If you have another mini-PCI Express card you can use it in Sony to test what happens. If it's just a card it's an easy and cheap fix- so hopefully it's just it. -
I have a USB wifi adapter, but that doesn't help me. -
That's a good mystery- I'll give you that.
Still what if you remove the card?
This switch is not a real switch- if you mask two pint on the card it doesn't work anymore so it's possible that the card is powered regardless of the switch if there was a short-circuit somewhere. -
I'll try late tomorrow or the day after when I get back home.
Thanks for the help downloads! -
-Disassembled laptop
-Removed wireless card
-Plugged in and hit power button
-Modem dies before Bios screen even flashes.
Oh well. -
That is a mystery worthy of Scooby Doo. It's not supposed to be possible.
Only other radio device you might have- that coincidentally is working on the same band Wi-Fi does- is Bluetooth module. Do you have one in your laptop? -
Go get a different power adapter at a B&M store (so you can return it if it doesn't work).
Is your network based on power line? -
No, not powerline.
I've pretty much isolated it to the power adapter, as sailerboy suggests. After talking to a good electrical engineering buddy, that is the likely culprit. He explained to me how it could be possible, but my mind doesn't quite comprehend that lingo. -
That's very interesting- if you replace the PSU and confirm it was the problem please make a post about it.
-
downloads,
got a new power brick in the mail today (cheap $10 ebay actually...), and it works just fine. PSU was the problem.
It blows my mind. Thanks for the help! -
Plugging laptop in kills internet connection
Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by tbweems, Jun 11, 2012.