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    Dell Inspiron 1520 Wireless Connection Not Found

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by jmeuw, Sep 3, 2008.

  1. jmeuw

    jmeuw Newbie

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    Hey guys,

    First post here, although I have been reading for weeks some previous threads.

    Firstly, here are my specs:
    Dell Inspiron 1520 with a Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN mini-card
    Windows Vista

    My laptop has always worked wireless, no issues. I could always look up networks and connect if I had the password or if it was unsecured. But nowadays I cannot even see networks most of the time. But I know there are like 50 networks in range, all my roommates receive them and I live in a city. However, when I open up the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility and click Site Monitor, I can see all the networks constantly being refreshed. But I cannot see them inside the "Connect to a Network" screen. Eventually, if I leave my computer open for 30 minutes or so, it will find the network and connect and everything will work until I close the laptop.

    Does anyone have ANY ideas? I've never heard of something like this.

    Jason
     
    jmeuw, Sep 3, 2008
    #1
  2. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Have you done some maintenance to your computer lately? My be you need to clean some spywares or even viruses.
     
    Wirelessman, Sep 3, 2008
    #2
  3. jmeuw

    jmeuw Newbie

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    Upon reading your suggestion, I downloaded both AVG and Spybot Search and Destory. It seemed to have worked originally, but maybe I just got faked out. Any other ideas?
     
    jmeuw, Sep 4, 2008
    #3
  4. Bubbleboy78

    Bubbleboy78 Notebook Enthusiast

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    You could dump about $20 into a cheap pci wireless adapter card - that would be handy in determining if it is a virus/software issue or perhaps just a internal wireless card going on the fritz.
     
    Bubbleboy78, Sep 4, 2008
    #4
  5. ilikepcs

    ilikepcs Notebook Enthusiast

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    31 days from warranty end, my wireless decided to stop working. I called Dell and they are sending a replacement wireless unit. In the interim, I'm using a Netgear usb device for replacement.

    How long have you had your laptop? Wondering whether this device has some inherent issues?????

    Remember the capacitors??????
     
    ilikepcs, Oct 22, 2008
    #5
  6. ilikepcs

    ilikepcs Notebook Enthusiast

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    I should have quoted you first. Is it out of warranty?
     
    ilikepcs, Oct 22, 2008
    #6
  7. ilikepcs

    ilikepcs Notebook Enthusiast

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    How do you add a pci adapter to a laptop???
     
    ilikepcs, Oct 22, 2008
    #7
  8. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Should have a slot on one of the sides of the laptop where the adapter card just slides right in.
     
    Shyster1, Oct 23, 2008
    #8