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    m17x R2 wired and wireless networks gone

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by ausjoe, Jun 24, 2011.

  1. ausjoe

    ausjoe Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi everyone. I had a Dell tech on-site to swap my R2's optical drive (which involves pulling most of it apart). Ever since they reassembled the notebook I have lost all networking.

    I've since had a second tech in whom I trust the competence of more. They not only pulled everything and reassembled, but swapped in a new (well, probably refurbished) motherboard "just in case". Didn't help.

    Symptoms unchanged despite motherboard swap:

    1) Ethernet (Intel 82577LC Gigabit) seems broken. Windows Device Manager shows it with a yellow exclamation mark, and just gives "This device cannot start. (Code 10)". I have installed and scanned new hardware. It finds it, tries to install the driver, and fails. I have uninstalled including deleting the driver, reinstalled latest OEM driver from Dell - didn't help. I've done the same with the latest generic driver from Intel - also didn't help.

    Remember the Ethernet is integrated onto the motherboard and this symptom has persisted despite a motherboard swap. The (second, good) Dell tech was sure this would be a driver issue but I can't see what else to try with drivers. Ideas for moving forward or for what might have killed it?

    2) Wireless (Intel Ultimate-N 6300) doesn't show up in Windows Device Manager at all. Scan for new hardware doesn't show it and neither does show hidden devices. I have tried putting in the latest OEM driver from Dell and also the latest generic driver from Intel ("just in case") but as far as Windows 7 is concerned, this notebook just doesn't have wireless anymore.

    I'm getting a third service call after the weekend to put a new wireless card in. I'm hoping that will fix it... but any ideas if it doesn't, or for what may have caused it?


    My R2 is less than six months old, and is now on its 3rd motherboard, 2nd set of RAM, 2nd optical drive, 2nd set of fans, and is about to get its 2nd wireless. Is this a typical service history? Do I have a decent case for return/replace yet? m17x R3 would be a downgrade in CPU and a downgrade to single GPU... does that mean it's reasonable to ask for a m18x??

    Thanks in advance!
     
    ausjoe, Jun 24, 2011
    #1