Intel3945 network card - keeps disconnecting

My network card keeps disconnecting every few minutes. It reconnects within 10-15 seconds, but it's a proper pain as it makes streaming or radio quite annoying.

- Nothing wrong with the router, signal is 100%, has worked fine in the past and works fine on other laptops.
- Updated to latest Intel driver
- Power settings: unchecked the "allow comp to turn off to save power"

Have got Windows Vista (32) on a Dell Inspiron 1520.

Anyone got any clues what to do? Think I saw somewhere that a generic Microsoft driver would work better than Intel's. Anyone know if this is true? Or where I can find such a driver?

 

Does the router have the latest firmware? And what brand/model is it?

 

The router is a D-link, DIR-635

Find it weird that it should be a router issue, though, as it's worked very well all along, up until the latest Windows Update on my laptop.

 

Well if that's the case, I would do a System Restore. If that doesn't fix the issue, I would update the router to the latest firmware (what ver. firmware are u currently using?). If it was still having issues I would then reset the router.

 

First of all, Hello and welcome here.
Secondly, the router has some feature that would change the key or something at fixed intervals, we had the problem at the university, or it might just be poor connectivity.

 

On your power settings, these are normally located in 2 locations. You found one, the other is in advanced port properties. The second one allows it to reduce power. You want this set to MAX at all times.

 

Thanks for the welcome!

I'm pretty sure it's not poor connectivity, as it's always on 80-100% whenever it doesn't suddenly disconnect.

And I haven't touched any settings on the router, so it sounds strange that it all of a sudden changes to such a feature.

OK, I'll look into that when I get back home.


Cheers for trying to help, everybody!
Seems it's not just me that's having problems with this one, though it seems there are different type of problems around with the card and Vista:
http://www.amazon.com/review/produc...86546-3328064?_encoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

I've used this card on Vista without problems along with the 4965 card.

Have you checked the power management? Have you checked drivers?

 

Yes, tried the newest driver, as well as some older ones. Don't make any difference.

Had tried the power settings, but not the plentiful ones in the Advanced tab. Tried tweaking those now, and it seems to have worked so far (admittedly only the last 5 minutes, but here's for hoping).

Thanks for all the help, everyone!


Edit: Sadly, it was too good to last, of course. Just disconnected again. Driving me mad...

 

You may need to contact Dell and see if they have a driver that will work. Sometimes the early drivers are better than the new ones. Just remember to un-install the drives before installing.

May try deleting the driver then use your wired port and go to MS update site and see what MS recommends and try it.

 

Cheers.
Did two things which seemed to work:
1) Tweak the advanced power settings for the network card.
2) Chose the Microsoft driver.

Seems to work flawlessly now!


Thanks for helping out, guys!