Wireless Router and Vista

[jerryok]

Just got a new Dell Desktop with wireless card pre-installed. I have an
existing wireless router that all three of my other machines (XP) can see and
connect to just fine. No matter what I seem to do, the Vista machine tells me
there are no networks available. I've tried re-booting, re-freshing the
Network list, waiting and re-freshing, turning off various automatic
features, etc. Nothing seems to work and I need to connect to the Internet to
update the PC with the numerous security patches Vista needs when first
starting up.

Help!

 

[Mick Murphy]

1. Will it connect wired?

2. Do you have the Wireless SSID network and Security Key already setup?

3.Do you allow the SSID to be broadcast?

 

[jerryok]

1. I haven't tried yet to connect wired, this pc is in a different part of
the house from where my router is (and yes, other pc's do connect fine via
wireless in the room the pc is currently in).

2. Yes

3. Yes, it broadcasts just fine. In fact, there are several around my
neighborhood that broadcast and that all of my XP computers see. This PC does
not see any of those networks either.

 

[Mick Murphy]

A normal prob would be having to update the firmware in the router to make it
work with vista.

Also, updating the Network adaptor in your vista laptop.

It is strange that you can see NO neighbourhood wireless Networks.

Ok, you might think this is stupid, but I have come across it with customers!

Some laptops have an ON/OFF wireless switch on them; and it HAS to be
clicked ON
###################################################

 

[jerryok]

The system in question is a new desktop (as in brand new). It was an issue
with the wireless card somehow. I disabled and re-enabled the card, then it
decided it would work. Found my router and successfully attached to it!
Problem solved.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Mick Murphy]

Haha. Jerry, we'll put this one down to a legit "computer glitch"

 

[Eric]

I am having this same problem. I bought a new Dell Desktop with a Broadcom
802.11g Wireless card already installed. I have never been able to detect
any networks with this machine, but there are 5+ that broadcast in my area.
On my XP machine, I can view several networks and connect with no problem.

I've tried disabling and enabling the device several times like jerryok did,
but that did not work. I've tried manually connecting using my SSID, even
though I know it is broadcasting, but that doesn't work. I have
"uninstalled" the device, only to have it reinstalled automatically by Vista.

I have plugged in a USB Wireless Adapter, and I'm currently able to access
the internet with that, but I want the internal card to work.

I have uninstalled the drivers, but Vista will just reinstall them
immediately. The drivers for the internal wireless card are dated 2006 so
they MUST be old. So, I downloaded some that were dated 2007, but Vista
won't let me install them. It says that my drivers are up to date for that
device.

I also tried turning off IPv6, but I had no luck there either.

I ran a "netsh wlan filter ..." command in Command Prompt.
It displayed all available networks that my USB device sees and their
related info.
For my internal device it simply said that there were no networks detected.

 

[Bob F.]

--
Regards, BobF.

I am having this same problem. I bought a new Dell Desktop with a Broadcom
802.11g Wireless card already installed. I have never been able to detect
any networks with this machine, but there are 5+ that broadcast in my
area.
On my XP machine, I can view several networks and connect with no problem.

I've tried disabling and enabling the device several times like jerryok
did,
but that did not work. I've tried manually connecting using my SSID, even
though I know it is broadcasting, but that doesn't work. I have
"uninstalled" the device, only to have it reinstalled automatically by
Vista.

I have plugged in a USB Wireless Adapter, and I'm currently able to access
the internet with that, but I want the internal card to work.

There's the clue right there. There isn't much of a difference between
having a card in a slot and operating the built in one. Looks like your
wireless inboard hardware is faulty. Needs replacement. If you just got
it, I'd suggest calling Dell.

 

[John Lee Brown]

--
Regards, BobF.


There's the clue right there. There isn't much of a difference between
having a card in a slot and operating the built in one. Looks like your
wireless inboard hardware is faulty. Needs replacement. If you just got
it, I'd suggest calling Dell.

Have you turned the wireless switch off and back on to make sure it is on.
My wife has turned hers off several times because of the location on her
Dell.

 

[Eric]

Have you turned the wireless switch off and back on to make sure it is on.

My wife has turned hers off several times because of the location on her
Dell.

Is this possible on a Desktop? If it is possible to turn one on and off on
a Desktop then I suppose I should verify that it is on. In Device Manager it
says that the card is working properly, but who knows. I thought it may just
be faulty at first, but it seems like there are a ton of problems with
Wireless Connectivity + Vista.

Several people have just said update the drivers. My Automatic Update just
reinstalls the same drivers though. Is there a way to prevent this from
happening automatically. I turned off Windows Update and unplugged my USB
Adapter (to disconnect from the internet) to prevent it from doing any sort
of auto update, but 2 seconds after I uninstall the Wireless Card's drivers,
Vista reinstalls them.

If I could prevent this, then I could try to install these other drivers
that I downloaded. Like I mentioned earlier, when I try to install them it
says the current ones are up to date. I simply don't believe it.