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    Trying to help my sister with Vista Wireless Issues

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by GunsAndRoses, Sep 3, 2008.

  1. GunsAndRoses

    GunsAndRoses Newbie

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    My sister has a Sony VAIO notebook which she purchased at a Best Buy about 4-5 months ago. The laptop is unfortunately running Vista and she is having problems with her wireless adapter. Wireless was working fine, but now she cannot see any wireless networks. I think her wireless adapter is turned off because the small lighted switch used to enable / disable wireless on the laptop as well as a light which is usually on when the switch is in the 'on' position. The light is off and toggling the switch does not help. When she does the diagnostics, the message mentions among other things that the switch needs to be turned on. But the switch is already in the on position. Also, is it possible to install Windows XP Pro on the recent Sony laptops which came pre-installed with Vista or are there no drivers for XP?
     
    GunsAndRoses, Sep 3, 2008
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  2. plattnnum

    plattnnum Notebook Evangelist

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    go into device manger>network adapters> right click on the wifi link>enable
     
    plattnnum, Sep 3, 2008
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  3. shoelace_510

    shoelace_510 8700M GT inside... ^-^;

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    Yeah I think the above suggestion should do the trick. ;)

    EDIT: I would also like to add that for me not only have I had no problems with Vista's wireless compared to that of XP, but I actually like it a lot more. :) Not sure if this will change your mind about her Vista use, but I just thought I'd throw in my $0.02 anyway. :D
     
    shoelace_510, Sep 4, 2008
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  4. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Well on my mother's Medion laptop wireless under Vista was dreadful, on my Sony SZ it works fine.

    I'm just thinking - on the SZ you get this "smart network stuff", that'll allow you to turn on/off bluetooth or WLAN; WWAN.

    What laptop have you got? You may have that utility, switched off WLAN and somehow managed to hide the utility.
     
    DetlevCM, Sep 4, 2008
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  5. GunsAndRoses

    GunsAndRoses Newbie

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    I appreciate the help, but there is something else wrong as the device is already enabled. Here is the device as shown under Device Manager:

    LAN Express ASIEEE 802.11g PCI/E Adapter

    If I go under properties, the mfg = ATHEROS Communication.

    The properities window states that the device is working fine, but the LED light on the WIFI switch is still off. It lights up while the computer is booting, then after 20-30 seconds, shuts off. Any ideas what the problem could be?
     
    GunsAndRoses, Sep 4, 2008
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  6. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Hmm - have you contacted Sony and asked?
     
    DetlevCM, Sep 4, 2008
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