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    No Wireless on 7730Z with XP

    Discussion in 'Acer' started by jed_99, Mar 25, 2009.

  1. jed_99

    jed_99 Newbie

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    So, first, this isn't my first rodeo - I've downgraded plenty of units, and installed XP literally hundreds of times. I got a Aspire 7730Z, with Vista Premium SP1 and b/c of a backward compatibility issue, figured I'd put XP on it. Reformatted with XP Home SP2, after changing bios to deal with IDE, all went ok. Started with Intel chipset drivers, went to video, nic, etc, all the way through, Device Manager showed no problems or conflicts.

    But, the wireless will not connect - its as if theres a switch turning off the wireless. To troubleshoot, I swapped out the wireless with another similar chipset, then tried an Intel 3945. Same thing - wireless will not enable.

    So something is preventing the wlan from working. I then installed DotNet and the Acer stuff. Acer eNet showed that I could enable the wlan, but it never sees any wireless networks. Again, as if a switch is turned off, but there is no physical switch here.

    Tried the bios update but it changed nothing. Got another laptop in, and same thing.

    I had ghosted the HDD before starting, so I went "back" to Vista and wireless is working again.

    Any ideas on making this thing happy with XP?
     
    jed_99, Mar 25, 2009
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  2. ATG

    ATG 2x4 Super Moderator

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    Which wireless card? Aspire 7730Z comes with 4 different ones.
     
    ATG, Mar 25, 2009
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  3. jed_99

    jed_99 Newbie

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    Came with the Atheros AR9281 (QMI), but I've tried a Broadcom and Intel 3945 too.
     
    jed_99, Mar 25, 2009
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  4. bigozone

    bigozone JellyRoll touring now

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    do you have the XP version of LAUNCH MANAGER loaded it shows the resultant changes when pressing one of the quick keys (like the key that enables and disables the WIFI)

    then there is the setting inside windows networking connnections... right click on the WIFI connection and verify that it is ENABLED... (do not disable it)
     
    bigozone, Mar 26, 2009
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  5. ATG

    ATG 2x4 Super Moderator

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    Yeah I think BigO is right, check that launch manager out. The extra buttons on some models doesn't work if you don't install the launch manager.
    ftp://ftp.work.acer-euro.com/notebook/aspire_7730/vista/Drivers/LaunchManager_v2.0.05.zip
    bigozone Hey man, nice to see you :)
     
    ATG, Mar 26, 2009
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  6. jed_99

    jed_99 Newbie

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    I'll check out the Launch Manager - ended up wiping it again after verifying once more that the unit works with Vista, so it'll be later on today. Thanks!
     
    jed_99, Mar 26, 2009
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  7. jed_99

    jed_99 Newbie

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    Connect! Thanks guys - the Launch Manager did it! Rep Power added!
     
    jed_99, Mar 26, 2009
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