Looking for some PC tech help

[pandorazellas]

My knowledge on computer hardware is pretty out dated, which is putting me at a massive disadvantage while trying to fix my current wireless networking problem. The Acer website only seems to offer the advice of "re-install everything!! or call us". And since they were really patronising the last time I called them, I'm refusing to do it again. So I'm turning to you lovely people for help!

I bought an Acer Aspire 5749 back at the start of the year and in the last 2 weeks I've found that my wireless connection is dropping about 15-20 times a day (no joke, in the time it's taken to write all this, it's disconnected twice)

Yesterday, while my other half was at work, I took his wireless USB adaptor and was able to use the internet for 11 hours without any problems. Which leads me to believe that it's something to do with the built in wireless.

The laptop is running Windows 7 Home Premium (SP1) - fully up to date

The wireless adaptor is a Broadcom 802.11n network adaptor - Drivers are up to date

My wireless router is a D-Link DIR-615 - Firmware is up to date

And if it's any help. I'm using Bullguard antivirus software

If anyone could offer any sort of suggestion on how I can stop the connection dropping so often I would really appreciate it. I have been through pages and pages of forum posts and support websites trying to find something that could help me and everyone suggests a driver re-install, which seems to be what works.

I really don't want to have to spend money on a usb adaptor when the problem might be easy to fix

[hydr0x]

You do know though that a wireless adaptor sets you back only 10€ if you want? Anyways, it's always hard to put the finger on the culprit in these cases. But as you say the drivers are correct and up to date, and a USB wireless adaptor works, there is a chance it really is a hardware problem with the internal wireless component. Which would mean an adaptor is the only fix. Might of course be something else entirely and the first thing you could indeed try is disabling the firewall software and see if it still happens. But it's sometimes very tricky to find and fix the actual problem in cases like this.

[Katsu]

Have you tried a connection via a ethernet cable to resolve any fickle internet settings? May help, I had a similar issue with my netbook

[pandorazellas]

Have you tried a connection via a ethernet cable to resolve any fickle internet settings? May help, I had a similar issue with my netbook

The only problem with doing that is the huge cable that would be running from the bedroom down to the livingroom

I think I'm just going to buy a wireless adaptor. Seems to be the quickest solution to my problem XD I'll pick one up when im in Birmingham on Wednesday cause I'm not going to be leaving the house before then :3

thanks guys

[k1ngarth3r]

It looks like

A: The wireless driver was updated as part of windows update and caused the issues - In which case you could use the "Driver roll back" feature in device manager to see if this resolves the issue.

B: Also are you allowing windows to manage your wireless connections or the wireless cards own software? If your using the wireless cards software you could try removing this.

C: You could try changing the broadcast channel of the router, even though the USB wireless adapter worked fine the Broadcom Internal adapter might prefer a different frequency.

[k1ngarth3r]

In addition how have you checked to see if your wireless adapter drivers are upto date?

Acers website says: Version: 5.100.82.63 (22/08/11)
Link: http://global-download.acer.com/GDFiles/Driver/Wireless%20LAN/Wireless%20LAN_Broadcom_5.100.82.63_W7x86W7x64_A.zip?acerid=634495960615694093&Step1=NOTEBOOK&Step2=ASPIRE&Step3=ASPIRE%205749&OS=ALL&LC=en&BC=ACER&SC=PA_7

I think the actual part is: FOXCONN WIRELSS LAN BROADCOM 4313 IPA 1X1 BGN
http://www.broadcom.com/products/Wireless-LAN/802.11-Wireless-LAN-Solutions/BCM4313

[Katsu]

Have you tried a connection via a ethernet cable to resolve any fickle internet settings? May help, I had a similar issue with my netbook

The only problem with doing that is the huge cable that would be running from the bedroom down to the livingroom

I think I'm just going to buy a wireless adaptor. Seems to be the quickest solution to my problem XD I'll pick one up when im in Birmingham on Wednesday cause I'm not going to be leaving the house before then :3

thanks guys

Not for permanent! Just so that the link to the router gets all the correct settings direct, do updates and then run via wifi as normal along with k1ngarth3r's suggestions. W7 is very problematic in my experience with minor updates & drivers
I have dual boot with linux on mine so its easier to see if its hardware or OS related?