[GUIDE] to properly solve wireless connection problems on the M17x

The guide bricked my wireless. But I don't seem to be the norm. The broadcomm drivers posted a few posts up seem to have fixed it permanently though.

 

My problem is that when I unplug my ethernet, My Internet works via WLAN.

When I plug IN my ethernet, My internet does not work. The network and sharing center thinks that I am connected just fine via LAN and WLAN. but the internet does not work. when I startup my m17x wit the ethernet plugged in, network center knows the WLAN has an issue, but thinks the LAN is connected. But NONE actually work.

I just install the latest broadcom drivers. the issue still remains after restart and all that.

Im using the Windows 7 drivers which are automatically installed wit the OS. I did a clean Win 7 install

Im thinking the Windows 7 default drivers have the same rule that shuts off the WLAN even tho I cant find the rule in the device manager. SO maybe I have to download the newer nvidia drivers to at least access the rule to take it off.

 

can someone link me to an older driver without this feature that is not actually implementing the rule or conflicting?

"I.b. Install different (older) drivers that don't have the Device Sleep on disconnect feature."

 

Well, it worked for me and others. But there may be more about it.

I haven't experienced the same problem you're having myself, so I can't say for sure, but here are some things you could try. It almost sounds your problem is with the Ethernet connection, not the wireless one, as you can connect fine with the latter. Do you have the option "Disable on Wired connect" enabled in the WLAN driver Advanced Properties by any chance? That would cause the WLAN card to switch off and the Ethernet adapter to take over. If the Ethernet card isn't working/configured properly, then you might not have an internet connection. The same could be the case if your Network Connections -> Change Adapter Settings -> Advanced (hit alt to make the menu appear to see it) -> Advanced Settings have your Ethernet connection listed above your wireless connection. Also, did you install the nForce Network Manager or whatever it is called when installing Nvidia chipset driver? It can make your network act weird. Maybe try some different Nvidia Ethernet drivers. Maybe try to install the latest Nvidia chipset drivers including the Ethernet drivers and also the Dell wireless drivers or the newer Broadcom drivers listed in the guide (top post) as detailed in the guide and report back. Make a system restore point before you do that.

I already commented on this a couple of posts above. Use the Nvidia Chipset drivers provided on Dell's Windows Vista 64 driver download page for the M17x. You should be able to find a link to that page in the M17x stickies.

Yeah, I've been running the new Broadcom drivers as well and they seem to be working fine so far. Some might have better success than with the Dell Wireless 1510 ones.


On a side note, I got a new Router today (D-Link DIR-855) as my old one just died. I noticed that when I connect to the 5GHz Draft-N (my previous router only had 2.4GHz) I'm having an extremely poor connection and low speeds. 2.4GHz works fine and I got better speeds and connection quality than with the old router, but 5GHz is bad. My friend has a laptop with a Intel 5300 WiFi card and 5GHz works with better speeds than 2.4 on my new router for him.
I'm beginning to think these Boradcom cards are rather crappy. I wish the M17x had Intel WiFi 5300 cards instead, as it appears to be so much better than this piece of garbage.

 

you can buy them super cheap

 

I updated the all the nforce drivers with "15.49 nforce winvista win7 64 bit" drivers. Installed everything including network, storage, smbus,... EXCEPT Nforce network manager.
Disabled the device on sleep disconnect. then reinstalled broadcom wireless adapter to be safe.


problem remains. when WLAN is on and LAN is on, internet dont work. Once i disconnect or disable the LAN, internet works. Networks diagnostics are useless. Windows Doesnt find the problem.
I just found out If I disable my WLAN, the LAN works. So my problem is only one or the other can be enabled at a time for the internet to actually work.
But on the other hand, I still can share my files through the Homegroup when the both are on.
now I just realized I have 2 wireless Network Connections.

WLAN Disabled

WLAN enabled
it seems to just be some "virtual wifi stuff" that im to leave alone in its disabled state. Ill assume it has nothing to do with the problem.

I changed the order. Restarted. Same problem. but at least i learned how to do that lol.

I made sure NOT to install the nForce Network Manager at all as I had problems with it on a previous PC.

I use acronis True image so goind back to the beginning is not a problem. This is just taking waaaay too long.

 

I did the dell driver thing install and I still get wireless connection problems on my main wireless connection T_T

 

Try the latest broadcomm drivers linked above. That did it for me, although my reported connection speed went from 130Mbps to 72Mbps. Not really a problem per se, as I doubt I'll be able to connect to anything at 72Mbps in the first place.

 

Folks, I won't be able to update this guide any longer as I've changed my M17x' wireless card to a Intel Ultimate N WiFi Link 5300 A/G/N half-mini card.
I must say it works a lot better than the broadcom card, great speeds on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz band, doesn't crash my wireless router like the Broadcom one did, no need to jump through hoops to get it working in Windows 7.

 

Gizmo...

I know you said you won't update this guide anymore, but the links for the Dell Wireless drivers version 5.60.18.8 are not working anymore...

Just wondering if you could update it....

The guide helped me BTW.

 

Hi, thanks Gizmo for this guide.
The Broadcom drivers suck indeed...

For the new drivers (the one I used):

Download here: Dell Wireless WLAN 1520 Half MiniCard

 

Alright. Is the guide accurate for this or do you have to choose a different adapter from the list when installing? I can't check it anymore, so the exact name of the device in the device manager would be nice.

 

Yeah, you can still pick the 1510 from the list. It's still accurate.

 

Soo easyyyy..

Thanks man!!!!!!

 

Gotta say after taking Glzmo's advice and switching to Intel 5300 my internet has been nothing but blazing fast. Finally my speeds are back up to par with my old 802.11n Windows XP card. Futhermore, Windows 7 now reports 300.0 mbps when checking the status of the connection.

THANK YOU SO MUCH GLZMO FOR THE ADVICE! I highly recommend anyone with a M17x, switch from that crappy Broadcom and get the Intel. It rocks

 

Tired of screwing around with my worthless 1510 card so just ordered a 5300. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

Hi all,

I have just bought intel ultimate-n 6300 wifi card. I bought 3th antena from here http://www.allegro.pl/show_item.php?item=936743031.

Could you tell me what is the best place for 3th antena?
Can i install under the keyboard?

Maybe as 3th antena i use bluetooth antena and new i connect to bluetooth and glue under the keyboard?

Thanks for replay.

ps sorry for my English

 

where u bought the n 6300..?

 

On ebay

http://cgi.ebay.pl/GENUINE-INTEL-Centrino-Ultimate-N-6300-633ANHMW-Wifi_W0QQitemZ320483858513QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4a9e539851

ps Could somebody help e with install 3th antena?

 

u have M17x r2?

 

No. R1 with 1510.

 

I have M17x-R2 with the 6300 card, and my internet is really unstable! My downloading speed on the same item can range from 20k to 1.1mb, but mostly goes only at 100k, and my uploading speed normally stay higher than my downloading speed.
Any drivers out there for the 6300 working better than the dell ones ?

 

Install this: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/T8Clearance.aspx?sType=&agr=Y&ProductID=&DwnldID=18748&url=/18748/eng/ICS_Ds64.exe&PrdMap=&strOSs=&OSFullName=&lang=eng

The newest driver for 6300 from 26 february

 

Updated the guide with new links and added step-by-step instructions for installing a new Wireless LAN/WiFi card in the M17x due to popular demand.

 

Wowowow. That's why my wireless card wasn't seeing any available wireless networks even though I'm surrounded by them!

And now I don't have the R-1 anymore! rats!

 

Thank you

 

My N6300 card just died (I believe). My R2 is only 3 days old. I did a fresh instal of W7 the day I got it. Everything worked perfectly for 3 days, then my internet connection was on, off, on, off, on off. I tried rebooting, did the power cord/battery re-install thing.... Same thing intermitent internet connection. I then uninstalled the drivers through Device Manager, reinstalled the latest and then my Ethernet Controller Driver was gone. I installed the Gigabit LAN Controller Driver off the Dell web site and that cured that problem, but now I can't connect at all. When W7 diagnoses the problem, it says "Adapter Isn't Connected". Under "Device Manager" all looks fine.

3 other computers connect to the same wireless router perfectly, so the router is fine. The 17X sees the router with full signal, but won't connect.

The initial on, off, on, off signal problem is what makes me believe the card
went bad.

Did I get a bad 6300 card? Thoughts?

Thanks

 

Perfect guide. My wireless card hasn't been working since I updated my network adapter. I love people that know what they're doing. Thx.