Dell Laptop won't stay connected to home WiFi.

[upscumbag]

After months of online sleuthing I've decided to ask for help.

Nearly two years ago my Dell Studio laptop started to intermittently disconnect from my home's WiFi connection. Sometimes it would disconnect multiple times throughout the day, sometimes just once a week. When this happens, there is no single way to get the laptop reconnected. Sometimes restarting the laptop is the only way to reconnect. Sometimes unplugging/replugging the modem and router is the only way to reconnect. Sometimes I have to perform both of those actions before it will work. Sometimes (about 1 in 20) going through the troubleshooting wizard works. Basically, there is no reliable way for me to reconnect my laptop to the WiFi. I have to keep trying all the above options until one finally works.

This issue has gotten worse in the past month. Tonight, for instance, it took me nearly 45 minutes of restarting/unplugging/disconnecting/etc just to reconnect to WiFi. And then I lost the connection again 10 minutes later.

I have tried everything the Internet has told me to do:
-reinstalled the network drivers.
-updated the drivers.
-updated the firmware on the modem
-disabled firewall
-increased the number of allowed connections to my router
-recently purchased a new modem (still haven't purchased a new router yet).
-disabled the option that allows the laptop to disconnect from the internet to save power
-about a dozen other things that I've forgotten by now

This issue is only happening with my laptop. My fiancee's laptop, all of our various mobile devices, my smart TV, even my NEST thermostat have no issues with connectivity. Also, my laptop had no issues connecting to family's WiFi networks, or even hotel networks over the past 2 weeks.

I am almost certain that the issue is Windows 7 related. I have Ubuntu on the same laptop, and I'm able to connect to the Internet almost immediately. But when I restart into Windows I'm still not able to connect.

I really don't want to reinstall Windows 7 until it is my absolute last resort. So I'd like to ask for any other suggestions anybody might have for me.

 

[Guest]

If you feel that the problem is your windows, why not reinstall? You could just get another hdd and install it there to check if the problem is solved without doing anything to your own hdd.

 

[upscumbag]

If you feel that the problem is your windows, why not reinstall? You could just get another hdd and install it there to check if the problem is solved without doing anything to your own hdd.

I'm trying to save the reinstall option as a last resort. And as good as a suggestion as installing a new hdd is, I don't have the money right now for that.

 

[zer0c00l587]

Is your wireless adapter configured to IPV4 and IPV6 protocol?

If not it can cause disconnection or complete inability to find any wifi signals.

 

[upscumbag]

Is your wireless adapter configured to IPV4 and IPV6 protocol?

If not it can cause disconnection or complete inability to find any wifi signals.

Right now, both IPv4 and IPv6 are set to obtain addresses and DNS server addresses automatically. Should I enter in specific addresses? I'm not sure I'd know what to type.

 

[zer0c00l587]

Is your wireless adapter configured to IPV4 and IPV6 protocol?

If not it can cause disconnection or complete inability to find any wifi signals.

Right now, both IPv4 and IPv6 are set to obtain addresses and DNS server addresses automatically. Should I enter in specific addresses? I'm not sure I'd know what to type.

As long as its enabled in windows is that is need with regard to ipv settings.

To check:
1. Press "start" button and then click on "control panel"
2. Type "adapter" in the search bar on top right hand corner.
3.Under " Network and Sharing Center", click on "View network connections".
4. Now right click on the problematic network connection and click on "properties"

Now you should see if ipv 4 and ipv 6 is enabled.

Now with regard to DNS, make sure both ipv4 and ipv6 are set to gain address automatically.

Highlight ipv 4 and then click on properties in the box, when its highlighted the "properties tab" will no longer be grey indicating its unusable. Do the same for ipv6, make sure both are set to obtain addresses automatically.

 

[upscumbag]

Is your wireless adapter configured to IPV4 and IPV6 protocol?

If not it can cause disconnection or complete inability to find any wifi signals.

Right now, both IPv4 and IPv6 are set to obtain addresses and DNS server addresses automatically. Should I enter in specific addresses? I'm not sure I'd know what to type.

As long as its enabled in windows is that is need with regard to ipv settings.

To check:
1. Press "start" button and then click on "control panel"
2. Type "adapter" in the search bar on top right hand corner.
3.Under " Network and Sharing Center", click on "View network connections".
4. Now right click on the problematic network connection and click on "properties"

Now you should see if ipv 4 and ipv 6 is enabled.

Now with regard to DNS, make sure both ipv4 and ipv6 are set to gain address automatically.

Highlight ipv 4 and then click on properties in the box, when its highlighted the "properties tab" will no longer be grey indicating its unusable. Do the same for ipv6, make sure both are set to obtain addresses automatically.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I looked at both IPv4 and IPv6. Both were already enabled and both were already set to obtain addresses automatically.

 

[zer0c00l587]

Check if your wifi is turned off in the bios.

 

[upscumbag]

Check if your wifi is turned off in the bios.

Wifi was indeed already turned on in the BIOS.

 

[zer0c00l587]

Try using one of the following channels 1,6,11 on your router.

 

[upscumbag]

Try using one of the following channels 1,6,11 on your router.

I changed the channel a few days ago. I will monitor the connection over the next week or so and report back. So far I have not experienced any connectivity issues. So, fingers crossed!