Wifi Adapter Problem

Hello,
I have a terrible laptop, a Dell Inspiron 3148 with Intel i3 processor. It runs Windows 10, (ugh). I bought it to use as a portable laptop, which I transport with me. This thing has had a number of problems since I purchased it last Fall. The Dell Service Technicians repaired a few problems remotely. It has been sent in to a service hub, and a service technician came to me to work on it. In case you are wondering, they didn't tell me I could return it within a certain period of time, they just keep trying to fix it.

The main problem now is the WiFi connection. No matter where I go, the laptop either won't connect to the WiFi or disconnects within ten minutes. I then spend several minutes, either running the trouble-shooter, to reset the WiFi adapter, or restarting the laptop until I can get it connected again. After a couple weeks the Bluetooth adapters disappear from the device manager, under Network Adapters. The only thing remaining is the Dell Wireless 1708...

Dell has replaced the WiFi adapter twice and the antenna once. The TCP protocols have been reset. They have remotely worked on it and reset everything multiple times. They even installed Windows 8 to see if that made a difference. I contacted Microsoft for help and followed their instructions to,

Clear the DNS and manually configure the TCP/IP settings
Install the drivers in Compatibility mode
Run the Network Adapter troubleshooter
Check the Dependency Services of the WLAN AutoConfig
reset the winsock entries and TCP/IP stack


Dell Service Technicians have talked me through a few step as well. However,
I keep losing my WiFi connection, (everywhere). The error message I get when I run the trouble-shooter is mainly that the WiFi adapter requires resetting, which takes about 5 attempts to accomplish. The other message I have gotten is "The WiFi adapter does not have a valid IP configuration". That usually disappears after my first two attempts to reset the WiFi adapter.

Any thoughts or information would be greatly appreciated. My next step is to run it over with my car and see if that resets the WiFi adapter...permanently.

Thanks,

Melissa

 

Since you can't return it and it might not be great wasting time anytime you want to connect wirelessly because there is obviously something that hasn't been properly fixed, have you considered just using a wifi/USB wireless dongle instead of the semi-broken internal device?

If you buy one, read the reviews first to be sure it works with Win 10 and is easy to set up.

 

Thanks, yes I did buy one. I also considered installing Windows 7, because I am not the only one having this problem, with a Windows 10 operating system. I also saw a few posts on forums for Windows 8, with the same problem, but not like Windows 10.

 

The Bluetooth is on that same wireless card so either somebody did a lousy job of replacing it, the systemboard has problems, or the Dell drivers are bad..

From this thread about after a Windows 10 upgrade: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/network-internet-wireless/f/3324/t/19650630

"So I decided to remove the Dell Wireless 1708 WiFi driver and installed the Win 10 bundled driver - Broadcom 6.30.223.256 which seems to solve the problem for me. No more drop connection or erratic speeds."

 

Thanks...I miss that thread, but then I looked at so many, I may have skimmed it and not remember. I will try it and report back, for the sake of anyone else having this problem.

 

It seems to be working so far. I found one other similar thread under a Lenovo laptop. They did the same thing and it worked. Why couldn't Microsoft or Dell figure this out ? Lol.

Thanks again...really appreciate your help.

Melissa