My Son has a Dell Laptop which he has screwed up, I have run the re-install disc, it works but I cannot get on the internet. It says no conection, it does'nt seem to be picking up the Wireless signal, do I have to conect via Ether cable first. On Windows Vista.

On my old laptop, it was very easy to switch off the wireless. Sometimes its something simple.

Depends on router, some prefer to set up over ethernet, like orange livebox.

Do you have all the bumph, wpa, ssid or whatever? Or is your network setup using a memory stick to transfer all the details?

My Son has a Dell Laptop which he has screwed up, I have run the re-install disc, it works but I cannot get on the internet. It says no conection, it does'nt seem to be picking up the Wireless signal, do I have to conect via Ether cable first. On Windows Vista.

You should have a few different reinstall discs, the first is the Windows disc, then you will need to install the Drivers disc to get back to full function.

Nick, it has the standard button press to go wireless press to go off, Yes I have all the bumph but it is a second computer that used to just pick up the signal and hey presto on net. Mine has all the logging on stuff.

Mike, I have done the re-install and run the Driver & Utility discs through.

I still run XP and when I look at his Vista it seems totaly Alien, I know they are the same but that does'nt help.

Thanks DIANE

Have a look in Device Manager, see if there are any yellow triangles showing. If there are, reinstall the drivers for those devices. You'll find it in the same place as XP.

If after that it still doesn't work and there is a yellow mark against the wifi adapter, it may be a hardware fault.

Did the wireless work before the reinstall?

Also in device manager if there is anything listed under a yellow ? category of unknown device then you have drivers missing and that could be why the wireless does not work.

A windows update (when on your wired connection) will normally drag in all the drivers for a Dell machine. The hardest bit can sometimes be getting the NIC drivers on to do a windows update in the first place.

Edited 25 May, 201115 yr by mbames

Could try changing the channel on the wireless card? Your wireless network might be set to a channel that is not within the card range.....