intel wifi link 5100 unable to connect in Dell vostro 1720

I have a new Vostro 1720 laptop with XP Pro and an Intel WiFi Link 5100 (802.11 a/g/n 1X2) 1/2 MiniCard. I cannot connect to any wireless network, and Dell's been no help. Their wireless support desk in the Philippines gave me a link for the latest driver, told me to disable the intel card/software, and use MS's Zero config function. That did not work.

So I reopened services, disabled zero, and reactivated the Intel card, software etc again, but it's still not live. I keep getting the 'no connectivity' msg. HELP!

 

could be the wireless antenna leads have come loose

 

Is it able to "see" any networks at all, even if it cannot connect to them?

 

I had connectivity issues too (vista) I just reinstalled the driver and its working fine now.

 

I can see all the networks in range-and initially the system tells me I'm connected, but I can see I'm not, and then it comes back and gives me the 'little or no connectivity' msg. I'm shipping it back today. Their help desk hasn't helped at all, and right now I have a $1500 door stop. Yesterday MS Office closed the 'trial' version because I could not activate it. Enough already!

 

Ah well, I guess that makes the issue moot (at least for now). How come you didn't try to activate Office using a wired connection?

 

Maybe because the wo\ireless card *is not working*?

 

And I think I found the answer--the Dell factory configuration--they sent me a Vista-specific wireless card for an XP Pro-configured system--and did not have clue that it would not work. Now I have to figure out a way to reorder a new laptop that is wireless-configured for XP Pro. I *did* update the driver, but it still could not communicate. It wasn't the Intel network card that was the problem--it ws the blue tooth wireless card. You would think someone in Dell Wireless support would have seen this conflict before...

CW725 Card, Wireless, Internal Blue tooth, 355, Windows Vista Os

K160T KIT..., SOFTWARE..., OVERPACK..., WXPPSP3, COMPACT DISKETTE W/DOCUMENTATION..., ENGLAND/ENGLISH...

 

How do you figure it's the blue tooth wireless card that is the problem?

 

See below V
CW725 Card, Wireless, Internal Blue tooth, 355, Windows Vista Os

The wireless blue tooth in my vostro is configured for vista--I'm guessing that the vista config is creating a conflict with XP.

I specifically wanted Intel, and the blue tooth function. On their website they list the bluetooth xp version for other series-but they put the wrong version in my XP-Vostro. I don't want to wait for Windows 7 for a new laptop.

I'm in the process of reordering a different configuration.I asked them to give me a guarantee that the new will work--they replied that all laptops are tested before they're shipped, but this one has never worked. So I know that either they never tested it, or Jerryf19 is correct and they dropped it and knocked the leads loose! Either way it's going back.

 

I don't get the xp version vs vista version. Most hardware can work for both. The only thing different is the driver for the particular hardware. Different OSes require different drivers. For example, if you have WIFI Intel 5100, if you are using Vista, then you need to instal Vista driver. You can also wipe off Vista from your HDD and install XP, then you can just install XP driver for the WIFI Intel 5100 card...

 

That's just how they have their part listed and is not the problem. Hardware isn't "configured" for Vista or for XP. If you have compatible drivers in your system, the hardware works. That simple. Just wanted to make this clear before it gets carried along too far.

As for fixing your wireless:
What type of encryption do you use on your wireless network? What other devices do you have on your wireless network? I have found that an Intel 4965AGN will not connect to an N network at G speeds using WEP encryption. I know it's kind of obscure, but I've been able to replicate it on several computers.
It sounds to me like you're just not authenticating to the network properly. Have you tried connecting to any other networks?
Do you use mac filtering, and you perhaps did not add a rule for this laptop to the router?
In fact... what router do you use?
Can you connect if you disable all forms of wireless security (of course temporarily).
How far away are you from the access point? Do you have better luck with connection sitting right beside it?


Some other things to try
- Run winsockfix.
- As other have mentioned, might just be a disconnected antenna, you could open the bottom panel (won't void warranty) and ensure that all antennae are properly attached to the wireless card.

 

F4ding,

Thanks for your input. I appreciate your interest!

Updating the driver did not work, reinstalling the driver didn't work, changing entry points 3 x--didn't work, and I've had 3 other computers working at the site on the same router. Whatever is wrong is specific to this Dell. My best guess is that there is an incompatibility with their configuration. I am just grabbing at straws now. This is too much troubleshooting for a unit right out of the box.

 

What router do you have, what type(s) of security do you use on your wireless, and what wireless cards are in those other laptops?

 

Don't know if this is the problem, but had a problem similar to this recently. Router was on the same channel (6) as about 5 other networks and they were all conflicting (or maybe the card in the laptop wasn't picking up the channel easily- not sure). Anyway what I did was downloaded a program called NetStumbler and then changed the channel to 11.

The issue was, I set up a router and had two notebooks (wireless) and a desktop (wired). One notebook and the desktop worked. One notebook didn't work. The notebooks card was fine (drove around town and tested it on other networks) and I had updated the driver a to the latest (a few times). When I changed the channel everything clicked.

Just throwing it out there.