Problems with connecting to the internet

I live in the UK we have talktalk internet. I have a samsung R730 laptop and when i turn it on I often have problems connecting to the wireless network. I have windows 7 and the internet icon in the bottom right hand corner always shows connecting and then most of the time it will then have an icon that looks like a gold star and in order to connect I have to right click and select troublshoot problems. Sometimes I have to do this a few times before it connects. The laptop is in my bedroom and the router is downstairs, and sometimes to get it to connect I have to move it just a couple of feet across my bed or lift it up slightly. I have tried other laptops in my room and my smartphone and they always connect no problem so don't think it's just a case of bad signal. Could it just be that the network adaptor on my laptop isn't very good? Is there a way of improving the connection

 

A couple of things come to mind. Have you tried to update the driver for your wireless card? Can you connect your laptop as 802.11g? Sometimes the range of 802.11n is a little weak.

 

The driver is up to date. Sorry, I don't really know much at all about computers. I have no idea what you mean when you say 802.11g. Sorry for being so ignorant!

 

When I run into connection problems with laptops, I usually find that it is the manufacturer software that is the problem. I've actually lost count of how many HP laptops that had such an issue.

Ordinarily the way the connectivity problem is solved is by eliminating the OEM software, and let Windows Wireless Zero do the job. That is to say, uninstall the Samsung software which uses that little star icon, and allow Windows to do the job.

 

Thanks. Any chance you could talk me through how to do that

 

From the Start Menu, click on Control Panel then Uninstall a Program.

You will need to look at the list and determine which program is the Samsung Wireless software, or let us know what you suspect it is from the list. Once that OEM program is uninstalled, Windows will take over after a reboot by default.

Also, I can teach you how to use the mspaint program to take a screenshot(s) of the installed programs list if need be.

 

I have attached a print screen of the installed programs as I'm not quite sure which one it is. Is it Intel ProSet wireless WiFi software? I might be already using the windows wireless, how would I tell.

 

That Intel program you have highlighted appears to be a likely culprit. However, there is also the "Easy Network Manager" which could also be suspect.

I would start with the latter, and if you still have trouble knock out the Intel software suite.

 

Ok so i deleted the easy network manager, it seemed to work ok for a while but then the next day it wouldn't connect. Then i deleted the intel software and it connected but then the connection was lost. I did the windows network troubleshoot and it came up with the following which has never come up before. Not sure how easy it is to read so i have attached a print screen.

 

OK.

Shut it all down, hardwire it to the network, and let Windows install the driver when it boots. You will then have the driver, sans the software, and Windows Wireless Zero should take over.

 

Are you referring to WLAN AutoConfig. As this is enabled on my computer. I have attached a print screen of the services to show it is running

 

Nah, too complex and digging too deep. Idiot me was pretty tired the other night, and missed the obvious.

Did you click on "Windows Firewall is preventing connections to your computer"?

 

Yeah and i think it said it had fixed it. It has never done that before and it is eventually connecting, if not initially. It came up with it after i uninstalled easy network manager but has not come up since. I have also uninstalled the intel wifi software. How would i tell if the fiewall is preventing it connecting

 

Have you tried Start> Control Panel> System and Security> Windows Firewall and clicked on "Restore Defaults"?

 

I have restored the default settings for windows firewall. Just turned my laptop on now and it didn't connect. Right clicked and clicked on troubleshoot problems. The troubleshooter started and it coming up asking me to verifly the network key. It then came up with the network properties and the network key was already entered so i clicked ok. It wouldn't connect and came up telling me to investigate router or access point. I then tried the troubleshoot again, this time lifting the laptop of the bed a bit and it connected saying problems detected, Windows cannot connect to the network, and then problems fixed, problem with wireless adapter or access point

 

It's time like this I would love to have the laptop in front of me.

The last thing I can think of trying is going to Device Manager, and uninstalling the network Wi-Fi card. Reboot, and let it reinstall the driver.

There is the possibility there is an issue with the card, or the bus on the motherboard, but let's work through the above steps first.

 

I uninstalled the wireless network adapter and rebooted. It was saying connected to the network but the yellow warning triangle was showing so i had to do the troubleshoot again and it connected. What is the next step

 

Getting rid of the yellow triangle.

Is it still there, or has it been corrected?

 

no the yellow triangle has gone. It has often come up with that before and it says limited connectivity. It disappears when i troubleshoot and the connectivity has been restored

 

Are you still dropping the wireless connection?

 

well it's connected now, but even after reinstalling the driver it still didin't connect automatically

 

What is your exact model Intel Wi-Fi card?

 

It is an Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter

 

This is a program I haven't used in a LONG time. It will let us know your signal strength, other nearby networks, and what channel they are on so as to determine if they are creating any interference. There is no Atheros OEM diagnostic program, so this will have to do.

Please post the report when you get the chance.

http://www.xirrus.com/Products/Wi-Fi-Inspector.aspx

 

Speed test results http://www.speedtest.net/result/2583725983.png

Quality test results
http://www.pingtest.net/result/78598539.png

Connection Test Results


Test Address Summary Result
DNS Reachable 192.168.1.1 Ping: 5 of 5, 6 msec latency Pass
Gateway Reachable 192.168.1.1 Ping: 5 of 5, 3 msec latency Pass
DNS Lookup www.google.com IP address: 173.194.67.99 Pass
Internet Reachable 173.194.67.99 Ping: 5 of 5, 50 msec latency Pass

 

Please run Xirrus.

 

What else is it you want me to upload. I have done the quality test again as I realisedit didn't work the first time. The first ping test i did was with the laptop placed on the bed. these are the results
http://www.pingtest.net/result/78709439.png

I then did the ping test again with the laptop raised in the air, like i have to do to connect it and the results seeme to differ greatly

http://www.pingtest.net/result/78709439.png

I have attached the network settings

 

Here is the link for Xirrus:

http://www.xirrus.com/Products/Wi-Fi-Inspector.aspx


Please download and run this program, not the gadget:

Wi-Fi Inspector v1.2.1.4


There is also a tutorial video if you'd like to watch it. This will show far more than simple connection speed, and line quality. It will show the signal strength in decibels, surrounding networks, and what channnels they are on.

 

Is this what you want to see

 

I'm ready to say card showing age, or condition, or just bad location in the chassis for use on beds. The latter is hopefully most applicable. You could try channels 3 and 8 instead of 7 and 11 with the D-Link software. Your signal strength and decibel readings are ok (better than -70), and the two channels you are using do differ from the other local networks by one. If that doesn't work, there are other options.

If you have a friend with a USB WiFi adapter, you could try giving it a test drive to see if there are any monumental changes. If can't get your hands on one, get one you can return it if not completely satisfied. . 300 mbps is recommended, and you can get a 450 for $35 from Rosewill. Just remember to disable the Atheros card if/before you do.