I recently purchased a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop for my daughters Grad
and cannot maintain a connection with my Linksys WRT54G for more than
a few minutes. Network sharing center shows the connection
disappearing and then it retries to connect. Sometimes it's
successful, other times I have to boot.

The best minds at Dell support have been unable to help in any way,
and apparently because the 30 days have elapsed since the purchase (27
of which the laptop was gift-wrapped and hidden in my closet), Dell
refuses to consider my offer to exchange my Vista Home Premium license
for a Windows XP license

Please let me know what I can do to help trace this problem. I was
about to install a copy of Windows XP Pro that I have in an attempt to
fix the laptop, but I would prefer to get the Vista problem solved.

Thanks,
Steve

On Wed, 04 Jul 2007 11:24:09 -0700, SteveO wrote:

I recently purchased a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop for my daughters Grad
and cannot maintain a connection with my Linksys WRT54G for more than
a few minutes. Network sharing center shows the connection
disappearing and then it retries to connect. Sometimes it's
successful, other times I have to boot.

The best minds at Dell support have been unable to help in any way,
and apparently because the 30 days have elapsed since the purchase (27
of which the laptop was gift-wrapped and hidden in my closet), Dell
refuses to consider my offer to exchange my Vista Home Premium license
for a Windows XP license

Please let me know what I can do to help trace this problem. I was
about to install a copy of Windows XP Pro that I have in an attempt to
fix the laptop, but I would prefer to get the Vista problem solved.

Thanks,
Steve

Steve,

What's in the neighbourhood, and what signal strength are you getting? Measure
objectively please.
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/06/analyse-your-wifi-environment.html
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/0...vironment.html

What WiFi Client are you running? Only run one.
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/01/stabilise-your-wifi-use-only-one-wifi.html
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/0...-one-wifi.html

Since you've been talking to Dell, did they make sure that you have the most
current drivers?
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/driver-updates-from-microsoft-please.html
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...ft-please.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

If disabling the wireless security, can you have a good connection? Or this link may help,

Vista Wireless IssuesPost Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:26 am Post subject: Vista: Wireless connectivity issue ... The wireless connection may drop when you use battery power. ...
http://www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistawireless.htm


Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"SteveO" wrote in message oups.com...
I recently purchased a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop for my daughters Grad
and cannot maintain a connection with my Linksys WRT54G for more than
a few minutes. Network sharing center shows the connection
disappearing and then it retries to connect. Sometimes it's
successful, other times I have to boot.

The best minds at Dell support have been unable to help in any way,
and apparently because the 30 days have elapsed since the purchase (27
of which the laptop was gift-wrapped and hidden in my closet), Dell
refuses to consider my offer to exchange my Vista Home Premium license
for a Windows XP license

Please let me know what I can do to help trace this problem. I was
about to install a copy of Windows XP Pro that I have in an attempt to
fix the laptop, but I would prefer to get the Vista problem solved.

Thanks,
Steve

Intel 3945 wireless?
If yes, there are lots of folks with issues with this NIC.

try this
http://support.us.dell.com/support/d...&fileid=203417

On Wed, 04 Jul 2007 11:24:09 -0700, SteveO
wrote:

I recently purchased a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop for my daughters Grad
and cannot maintain a connection with my Linksys WRT54G for more than
a few minutes. Network sharing center shows the connection
disappearing and then it retries to connect. Sometimes it's
successful, other times I have to boot.

The best minds at Dell support have been unable to help in any way,
and apparently because the 30 days have elapsed since the purchase (27
of which the laptop was gift-wrapped and hidden in my closet), Dell
refuses to consider my offer to exchange my Vista Home Premium license
for a Windows XP license

Please let me know what I can do to help trace this problem. I was
about to install a copy of Windows XP Pro that I have in an attempt to
fix the laptop, but I would prefer to get the Vista problem solved.

Thanks,
Steve
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

Comments inline below:


What's in the neighbourhood, and what signal strength are you getting?
Measure
objectively please.
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/06/analyse-your-wifi-environment.html
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/0...vironment.html

I have a 2 yr old Inspiron 1600 running XP Home with Wireless and it has
worked flawlessly since the day I bought it. I also have a Nintendo Wii and
a Linksys Media Center extender - same thing - absolutely no problem with
wireless after it is configured. The dialogs in Vista show 5 green bars. I
have no trouble getting a connection, just maintaining it.


What WiFi Client are you running? Only run one.
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/01/stabilise-your-wifi-use-only-one-wifi.html
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/0...-one-wifi.html

I believe the laptop uses a Dell 1390 WLAN minicard - so whatever ships with
their Vista Home Premium config



Since you've been talking to Dell, did they make sure that you have the
most
current drivers?
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/driver-updates-from-microsoft-please.html
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...ft-please.html

Yes, we did update the driver to the latest version, and I even obtained
hotfix Q935222 again to no avail.

haven't tried that yet, but will try later as a test and report back

I did try configuring a static IP and setting the ArpRetryCount registry value to 0 (both suggested in other postings in various blogs and newsgroups).



"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" wrote in message ...
If disabling the wireless security, can you have a good connection? Or this link may help,

Vista Wireless Issues Post Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:26 am Post subject: Vista: Wireless connectivity issue ... The wireless connection may drop when you use battery power. ...
http://www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistawireless.htm


Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"SteveO" wrote in message oups.com...
I recently purchased a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop for my daughters Grad
and cannot maintain a connection with my Linksys WRT54G for more than
a few minutes. Network sharing center shows the connection
disappearing and then it retries to connect. Sometimes it's
successful, other times I have to boot.

The best minds at Dell support have been unable to help in any way,
and apparently because the 30 days have elapsed since the purchase (27
of which the laptop was gift-wrapped and hidden in my closet), Dell
refuses to consider my offer to exchange my Vista Home Premium license
for a Windows XP license

Please let me know what I can do to help trace this problem. I was
about to install a copy of Windows XP Pro that I have in an attempt to
fix the laptop, but I would prefer to get the Vista problem solved.

Thanks,
Steve

"Barb Bowman" wrote in message
...
Intel 3945 wireless?
If yes, there are lots of folks with issues with this NIC.

try this
http://support.us.dell.com/support/d...&fileid=203417

No I have the Dell 1390 WLAN Minicard with the latest drivers.

Disabled network security - no difference.

Tonight I used the brand new 3.1 version of Netmon to capture the
event.

I have a 16 MB capture showing the connection to the wireless network,
working briefly ( 2 minutes), then it freezes, and ultimately drops
the connection and reconnects (but the connection will still not
transfer any data via the web)

If anyone at Microsoft is monitoring this post and is interested in
reviewing my capture, if you set up a workspace and forward the
details to me I will upload the file.

Thanks
Steve Smith

Check if the Linksys and wireless adapter have a new driver or firmware. Or this post may help,

Frequently unable to get an IP via DHCP with Vista
http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums...opic.php?t=974

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"SteveO" wrote in message ups.com...
Disabled network security - no difference.