i9300, wireless card 'sluggish' after format?

After installing the drivers for the wireless card in my i9300, it seems to be really sluggish. For example, before the format, it would connect about 2-3 seconds after windows loaded. Now, it won't connect automatically unless I view the available wireless connections and then manually connect it. And even after connected, it doesn't seem to have as high of transfer speeds as it did before.

Are there any other drivers I could download or options I could change to make it connect either before windows loads or immediately after?

 

what wireless card do you have? and what software are you using to connect ?

 

For the transfer speeds. Go into the intel prowireless card properties and boost the transmit power.

 

I have the 2200 b/g wireless card.

I had not installed the intel prowireless drivers yet, I had it running off of the dell wireless driver. I'm installed the intel prowireless ones as we speak.

 

That could be part of the problem. The intel card should have the intel drivers.

I'm assuming that you were using XP's service to connect. It sounds like you need to either add your network to preferred networks or make XP the default wireless manager.

Right click on the XP computer icon, and select "view available wireless networks". In the column on the left hand side, click on "advanced wireless settings", and go to the second tab. Make sure that "use XP to configure wireless settings" is checked. This will make XP the default wireless manager, and it will connect to your preferred networks if it picks up the signal.

To add your network so that it is preferred and automatically connected, click on "Add" under preferred networks on the same tab. You'll need to enter any security information like SSID, password, etc in there.

SG

 

Installing the prowireless helped a bit, but the card still connects pretty slowly. It will connect on it's own after about 15 or so seconds.

I saw something during the installation process of the prowirless that said something about the card connecting before windows logs in, any idea about what that is? It was the only option that had a red cancellation sign next to it, and I couldn't select to install that feature for some reason.

 

you can modify the settings so that feature is installed in add/remove programs-->intel proset-->modify.

If you don't use XP's fast user switch so you don't have to enter your pw in each time or have the accounts displayed, then you would probably like this feature. It bascially loads up and connects to a wireless network while you are typing in your password and doing the log-in to XP.

For me, it wasn't that good because I only have one account, so it was more of a pain for me to have to type my password each time and go thru the whole login process just so the proset wireless would be connected before I got there. I can't remember if it was connected by the time I was logged in or not.

If you try the feature and end up wanting to remove it, you just modify the settings in add/remove programs.

 

I think the wireless card problem is solved, thanks, guys.

One other question I have is about the fan that comes on periodically while using the laptop. This fan does not sound like an ordinary fan, a simple air blowing sound. This fan has a bit of a winding noise to it. It sounds kind of like it may be hitting a wire just barely or something like that. It doesn't sound like it's hurting anything, and it seems to be cooling the laptop sufficiently because it comes on for a bit and then goes off, so it must be cooling properly. It stays on during graphic-intense games like Call of Duty 2 and half life 2. I just want to know if the noise is normal for the 9300.

 

The gpu fan on the right side of the i9300 should be quiet when on high. The cpu fan on the left side of the notebook should sound like a blower, high sound, when on high. Both on slow should not be noticeable.

 

I do not hear a fan on the right side. I hear a semi-loud 'winding' type noise coming from the left. Is there a way to turn on the cpu fan manually to hear if that's the fan making the noise? If it is the culprit, i'll record the noise so you guys can tell me if it's normal.

 

( http://www.mckenziedev.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=26&func=select&id=2) Here is the i9kfangui program that I use. You can control the fans with this program.

 

Okay, big update. I downloaded the i9kfangui program, and when I manually control fan 1 using the "Direct Control", the fan winds when on low. I set it on high and was a bit worried because I have never heard it that loud before, but it sounded more like a fan.

I made a recording that will let you hear what the fan sounds like. First, the fan is off, then on low, then high, and then turned off again. You can distinctly hear the winding noise along with the normal fan sound.

here is the wav file:

http://rock.jazzerace.com/fan.wav

Let me know if that fan noise is normal, because although it performs properly, it just doesn't sound normal.

 

That doesn't sound right. Maybe it could be a bad fan to begin with. The only wires that looks to be near the fan are the power wire for the fan.
Image of the fan.

 

What would be your suggestion for getting the fan fixed, then? Is it something that I could do, having built a number of desktop pc's and repaired my own a few times? I it's as simple as opening it up, unplugging the old fan and replacing it, I could handle it I think.

 

If you can get Dell to come out and do it for free, I would do that.

 

I wish I could, but unfortunately I don't have an on-site warranty plan.

 

Well...in that case it should be easily replaced as long as you have the service manual. Found here:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins9300/sm/index.htm

It should be pretty easy.

 

Would I have to order this fan from Dell, or could I buy it somewhere else cheaper?

 

I would call dell parts department for your fan.

 

Well I took apart my laptop, and I must say it was alot easier and the laptop itself was alot sturdier than I expected. I finally got to the fan after removing 4 or so other parts, and took a look at it. I took it out and blew on the fan to make it spin, and I heard the noise. I could not tell what was wrong with the fan, but it made a slight buzzing noise. I took out the smaller GPU fan as well and blew on it and it made no sound whatsoever. I think I'll just order a fan from the Dell parts department and hope it doesn't make the noise. I find it strange that I couldn't see why the fan was making the noise that it does. I tried to take the fan itself apart but I couldn't find a screwdriver small enough.

At least now I know how to take the laptop apart and that it isn't as fragile as I believed it would be.

 

Could be a bearing inside the fan...I think that is what they use in the I9300.

 

Yeah, I remember seeing a set of bearings in the center part of the fan. If I had a screw driver small enough to unscrew the rediculously small screws on the fan I would have taken it apart. How much do you think a fan will cost from Dell? I'm hoping around $20.00.

 

Sounds about right. You can check their spare parts department or call them and ask. If it is more than $20 it would be nuts.