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    VGN-Z21 and Intel 5100 AGN drops under Windows 7

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by DanielUK, Nov 18, 2009.

  1. DanielUK

    DanielUK Notebook Guru

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    Hi guys.

    I have managed to finally resolve my problems with my Windows 7 installation by redoing the upgrade, everything now seems great and all the original drivers/software (FN buttons etc) are working great. So far, Windows 7 looks great!

    One problem I'm noticing and I've also found links on Google of other users complaining about the same is that the Intel 5100 AGN wireless seems to drop quite often. This never happened under Vista.

    I use IRC quite a lot, and it's so frustrating with my Internet constantly dropping. Other laptops connected to the same AP (NETGEAR WNR2000) do not encounter this. The drops are extremely brief.

    Has anyone else found this or know any solution?

    Thank you.
     
    DanielUK, Nov 18, 2009
    #1
  2. sniper_sung

    sniper_sung Notebook Evangelist

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    I've been running Windows Server 2008 R2 x64, with the driver provided by Windows, neither from Sony nor from Intel's website. Having been running for like months I never had a single disconnection.

    If you try to google those "disconnection" problems with any other type of wi-fi card I'm sure you can find loads of cases. I assume it's not the bad of 5100.
     
    sniper_sung, Nov 18, 2009
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  3. DanielUK

    DanielUK Notebook Guru

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    Thanks for your reply. If I simply uninstall the Intel driver, will Windows install its own so I can give that a try?

    Thanks!
     
    DanielUK, Nov 19, 2009
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  4. sniper_sung

    sniper_sung Notebook Evangelist

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    I think Windows 7 should be able to find a driver for 5100 automatically so yes I think it will install its own upon uninstallation of the intel one.
     
    sniper_sung, Nov 19, 2009
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  5. DanielUK

    DanielUK Notebook Guru

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    Thanks again for your reply.

    I have no idea if this is a coincidence but I read that the "homegroup" feature of Win7 causes problems, and as I will never use it, I have 'left' the homegroup and disabled it from services.msc.

    Since this it hasn't dropped.

    Coincidence or any truth you know about? :)
     
    DanielUK, Nov 19, 2009
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  6. DanielUK

    DanielUK Notebook Guru

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    I have just noticed my last drop matched my "DHCP renewal" date/time exactly as in the wireless 'details' button. This didn't happen under Vista.

    :( Any ideas? Thanks.
     
    DanielUK, Nov 19, 2009
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  7. DanielUK

    DanielUK Notebook Guru

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    Changing to a static IP instead of using DHCP *seems* to have resolved this issue. Still really odd though why this happens under 7, but not Vista.

    Has anyone else experienced this/knows the cause?
     
    DanielUK, Nov 20, 2009
    #7