Do I need to replace my network adapter?

[Michelle_71]

Laptop suddenly stopped connecting (both wirelessly and wired) to the Internet. Tried a couple different routers, no go. Other devices work fine. Tried software troubleshooting, it's not that. Spent an hour with microsoft on chat. They couldn't fix it. Said it is likely a hardware issue. Best bet to replace the network adapter, or is there something else I should try?

 

[RealBeast]

What OS version? And which laptop model?

Can you see any network adapters (wired or wireless) in the device manager control panel? If so do they have a yellow exclamation or red X on them?

It sounds to me like you well could have something that has interrupted the access rather than two separate adapters dying simultaneously. So open a command prompt and type ipconfig (then return) to see what information you get for the adapters.

 

[Michelle_71]

Windows 10 (loaded many months ago). Dell Inspiron. Network adapters show up in the device manager list. I have updated drivers (as best I can without an internet connection), it didn't fix. When I type in ipconfig, it gives me Ethernet (Media Disconnected), Wireless LAN 12 (Media Disconnected), Wireless LAN Adapter WiFi (various info including ip addresses), Ethernet adapter bluetooth (Media Disconnected)

Nothing in the device manager shows a yellow exclamation mark or red x.

What OS version? And which laptop model?

Can you see any network adapters (wired or wireless) in the device manager control panel? If so do they have a yellow exclamation or red X on them?

It sounds to me like you well could have something that has interrupted the access rather than two separate adapters dying simultaneously. So open a command prompt and type ipconfig (then return) to see what information you get for the adapters.

 

[RealBeast]

Okay so Windows 10 and it just recently happened. It was very likely the recent AD (anniversary update) to Windows 10. That update broke a lot of drivers for devices on older desktops and laptops.

Which exact Inspiron model? And which Windows version was the original 7 or 8?

 

[Michelle_71]

Inspiron M531R, windows 8 originally, I think I installed 10 last summer. (purchased laptop 2014)

So, this may be a driver issue, not a hardware issue?

And, by the way, I don't know you, but you are officially my favorite person today! 🙂

Okay so Windows 10 and it just recently happened. It was very likely the recent AD (anniversary update) to Windows 10. That update broke a lot of drivers for devices on older desktops and laptops.

Which exact Inspiron model? And which Windows version was the original 7 or 8?

 

[RealBeast]

Thanks, and yes I think it is the drivers failing due to the AD that just happened.

Get the latest drivers from Dell support (there is a new wireless driver at least) and see if reinstalling them works. If not there are a few other things to try.

 

[Michelle_71]

So, I updated the drivers. The last update date on them on the dell site was july 2015, if that matters. It asked if I wanted to "repair" when installing, so I did that. It didn't fix it.

Also, I don't think I wrote this earlier, laptop say it's connected to whatever network (wireless router, iphone hotspot) I try to connect to when I open network connections.

Thanks, and yes I think it is the drivers failing due to the AD that just happened.

Get the latest drivers from Dell support (there is a new wireless driver at least) and see if reinstalling them works. If not there are a few other things to try.

 

[RealBeast]

Try installing them using the WIn10 compatibility mode, which is described on THIS Microsoft guide about half way down under Using Compatibility Mode to Resolve Driver problems.

 

[Michelle_71]

Ok, I followed the directions there. Tried it with windows 7, 8, and vista (just to make sure. LOL). I tried different drivers because I'm not sure which one is the problem (Dell has for the network drivers: Dell Wireless 1704 Bluetooth Driver, Dell Wireless 1703/1705/1901 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Driver, Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller Driver, and Dell Airplane Mode Switch Driver. I downloaded and ran all 4 driver updates, and then tried this troubleshooting compatibility with all 4 also.)

Try installing them using the WIn10 compatibility mode, which is described on THIS Microsoft guide about half way down under Using Compatibility Mode to Resolve Driver problems.

 

[RealBeast]

If you cannot install drivers in compatibility mode you won't be able to use the two adapters.

Dell will not release updated drivers for older laptops to fix issues created by the AD upgrade.

I would choose which adapter I needed more and buy a USB adapter that is Windows 10 AD compatible.

 

[Michelle_71]

I just got it fixed!!! Happy dance! I borrowed a external network adapter to see if that was the problem, and of course, it wouldn't work either...but I could troubleshoot that one (for some reason) and it came up with that the Diagnostic Policy Service was not running. Fixed that through the command prompt and now both the external and the internal are working. Thank you for all your help!

 

[RealBeast]

I just got it fixed!!! Happy dance! I borrowed a external network adapter to see if that was the problem, and of course, it wouldn't work either...but I could troubleshoot that one (for some reason) and it came up with that the Diagnostic Policy Service was not running. Fixed that through the command prompt and now both the external and the internal are working. Thank you for all your help!

Great! I really expected the troubleshooter to fix those drivers.