WiFi function?

[WizeOne]

Took Mrs WO's Dell laptop to the Virgin Islands last week. She normally uses it on a wired network. I turned on the wireless thingy and we used it in the airport. We got to our destination (hotel) and booted up. It showed 5 different protected networks available.

I did not know the name of the hotel network nor had we asked for the password so the next day I booted up and it showed the 5 choices again. I realized the MRS had gotten the password but not the name of the network so I went to the office and found that out. The passord did not work. It turns out they gave us the wrong one.

I tried to get the available networks back, even took it right next to the transmitter. The owner could hook up with his phone but for the rest of the trip I would get the message that there were no networks available. At one point I did get a message something like the ???card was working correctly.

What am I missing here? It showed available networks 3 different times on this trip and then nada, zilch. Did something die? We used to be able to see our neighbors protected network at home here but not now???

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: WiFi function?

First of all, I want to apologize that it gave you guys issues on your vacation. That's a true shame. That being said, it sounds like you have some setting wrong. You didn't say what OS you were using or anything, but I'll give you generic help.

Let's start simple. Ensure your neighbors network is still on. I know I take mine down periodically for different reasons, if I go out of town, if the weather is bad, etc etc. If they didn't put it back on then there is no network to connect to.

Next, you need to first ensure the drivers are installed correctly. I'm 99% sure they are fine. Next you need to find the wireless setting that says "connect to a wireless network." What it's basically doing is automatically selecting the network that you had the hotel, and if it isn't available, it's showing nothing. You need it to search for wifi networks again. Once you find that you should be able to access them as you did before.

If you don't have Win 7, I would get it. It's awesome. I put it on a 7 year old Dell laptop and it works great even on that old machine. You boot it up in an unfamiliar location it prompts you at the bottom "there are wireless connections available" or not available, depending on where you are. You click on it, the list comes up, click on the one you want, enter the password if necessary and viola, you're connected. Its way better than XP as far as wifi is concerned, and WAY WAY better than Vista. They finally got it right with Win 7.

Lastly, check the antenna. Remove the cover that covers the wifi card on the bottom of the computer and see if you see the antenna disconnected. It may require resoldering if she put it down hard one time and it broke the little solder joint.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: WiFi function?

This program will find all secured & unsecured WiFi signals.
Just click on the unsecured ones and BAM you're on the internet.

Its Free !!.
http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

 

[bruceb58]

Re: WiFi function?

Describe how you are trying to connnect. Did you go throught the start menu?

START > Connect to>

Really doubt its a driver or hardware issue since you were just able to see some wireless networks.

I also wouldn't use Windows 7 on an older laptop as there may not be any drivers written for the older hardware in your laptop.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: WiFi function?

First of all this laptop uses XP.

I right click on 'network places on the desktop. Then open 'properties. That opens a 'network connections' box and I click on 'enable. A little box shows 'enabling....then a little computer screen, with a red X, shows up on the startup tray.

I left click on that little computer screen icon and it opens up a box titled 'wireless network connections' which also says 'choose a wireless connection'. Then in the box it says there are "no wireless connections found within range. Make sure the wireless switch on your computer is on. To see an update list, click on refresh neteork list"

Of course I do that and I get the same thing, 'there are no wireless connections found within range'.

I am not sure what they mean about the 'wireless switch' other than 'enabling' the wireless function, which I did. It's all the same thing I did when I got the signals the previous times, nothing more.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: WiFi function?

Do the following:

Start > Connect to>

Do you see a selection for "Wireless Network Connection"?



If you do and when you click on it, what does the window say that pops up?

 

[WizeOne]

Re: WiFi function?

BruceB, I do not find a 'Start> Connect to>' link, but here is the latest. I googled "Dell Inspiron 600 wireless switch". I guess I am not the first one to be flummoxed by this deal.

A link said to do this: hold down the blue function key and tap F2. I did it and a little graphic box popped up, above the wireless icon in the start tray, and it showed a tower with radio waves. If you hit it again, it showed the same tower with a big red circle and a slash thru it. Toggle back and forth and the preceeding repeats itself.

Lo and behold, I now show two neighboring wireless networks, both protected and both with only one bar of strength, but there nevertheless.

This just blows me away that I cannot search Dell Help on the computer and find this information. Why it worked one time and not another, I have no clue. It p***es me off that we hauled this thing over 6000 miles and, in the end, could not get it to work when we most wanted it.

As usual, thanks for your attentiveness.

ps, which half of the 'republic' do you reside in?

 

[j_martin]

Re: WiFi function?

The tower with the red slash though it means that you bumped the little button thingie, probably on the front of the laptop, that shuts off the wireless adapter.

hope it helps
John

 

[WizeOne]

Re: WiFi function?

The tower with the red slash though it means that you bumped the little button thingie, probably on the front of the laptop, that shuts off the wireless adapter.

hope it helps
John

j martin, if there is a button thingy or other physical switch, I examined the sides and ends of that laptop with a fine tooth comb. I could find no semblance of a WiFi button. I know there are often times more than one way to skin a cat but Dell has not made those options user friendly.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: WiFi function?

How simple! My old laptop is a dell!! Shame on me, I should have known this!!!! Fn F2 turns on and off the wifi card. UGH!!

And Bruce, most drivers will work if run in compatibility mode. My old dell is an 2003 model and I found drivers for it, not for Win 7, but for WinXP. Installed them in compatibility mode for WinXP SP 2 and they worked great. Everything on the laptop is fully functional, including Win 7. Now a friend of mine has a Compaq laptop of the same vintage and drivers aren't his problem, the video card is.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: WiFi function?

Went through a big deal with a brand new wireless "G" network card on a Windows 7 OS. Even the manufacturer (Linksy) said it wasn't going to work. Most N types work though as the manufacturers have gone through the trouble of writing new drivers.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: WiFi function?

As usual, thanks for your attentiveness.

ps, which half of the 'republic' do you reside in?

Southern half in the San Fernando Valley

 

[WizeOne]

Re: WiFi function?

Southern half in the San Fernando Valley

Born and bred in Tarzana, myself. Lived in Van Nuys (now Lake Balboa) before pulling up stakes and getting out of Dodge back in '88.

On the WiFi note, I just noticed that the F2 key has a little blue radio tower on it with radiating waves. Who'da figgered.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: WiFi function?

Not to take this thread off topic, but I wanted to tell Bruce a recent experience I had with something similar to what he describes.

I installed Win 7 recently on this computer. Before, I had XP, and I had an all in one printer made in 2006. I couldn't find a driver to work for it for nothing, installing in every compatibility mode out there. I eventually called HP and they said that no, there are no drivers for it.

Frustrated, I put it up on ebay and bought a new one. Nobody bid on the old one. I was messing around one night reading the reviews of the old HP and came across someone who said they found drivers for it for Vista and Win 7. I downloaded them. I sold my mom the printer and the other day, a shot in the dark, I installed the drivers to my moms Win Vista computer. The printer works like new.

My point is that even if the manufacturer says there are no drivers, that doesn't mean there are truly no drivers on the planet for that product. It might take some digging, but you can find some!

 

[j_martin]

Re: WiFi function?

Born and bred in Tarzana, myself. Lived in Van Nuys (now Lake Balboa) before pulling up stakes and getting out of Dodge back in '88.

On the WiFi note, I just noticed that the F2 key has a little blue radio tower on it with radiating waves. Who'da figgered.

Just don't ask me how I know about the button thingie and the tower.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: WiFi function?

Just don't ask me how I know about the button thingie and the tower.

Ok, I'll bite?

There is no way that FN key and the F2 key got hit by accident. It is hard to figure how several times it showed available connections then all of a sudden, not, without tickling those keys in sequence.

 

[martine4161]

Re: WiFi function?

It is very interesting and helpful question for all. Wifi Means Wireless Fidelity. It is very good and easy feature to use. According to I think you have problem in your connectivity that why you can not show dialog box of wifi. Do one thing Remove your driver of wifi from control panel and install again in your laptop i m sure that it will be work.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: WiFi function?

Wifi Means Wireless Fidelity.

Of course this is very off topic but the term WiFi was never meant to mean Wireless Fidelity.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: WiFi function?

It is very interesting and helpful question for all. Wifi Means Wireless Fidelity.

No it doesn't. It is simply a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Don't think it actually "means" anything.

 

[j_martin]

Re: WiFi function?

Ok, I'll bite?

There is no way that FN key and the F2 key got hit by accident. It is hard to figure how several times it showed available connections then all of a sudden, not, without tickling those keys in sequence.

Often Ctrl F2 goes into diagnostics. FN F2 is just the next key.