Intel PROSet/Wireless 3945ABG Cannot Enable

[woter324]

Hi All,

I am hoping against hope that someone may be able to shed some light on my issue. I have a feeling it is a hardware fault.

I have just purchased (from eBay) a refurbished Dell Precision M4300 laptop. I installed Server 2008 in 'workstation' mode. Everything was flying until I got home and tried to connect to my WiFi network. (Yes the Win2K8 feature is installed). To cut a long story short, the laptop is now running Windows XP pro (32-bit).

No matter what I do, under Network Connections the Wireless Lan connection remains disabled and won't enable. As a result, the Intel utillity cannot find any wireless networks. (My other laptop can currently find eight and it's a foot away).

Device manager can see the card and reports everything normal.

I've checked in device manager that no power software is killing the card.

I have upgraded from the BIOS form A04 to A13 and back down to A08.

I have upgraded and downgraded the drivers and Intel App until my wrists hurt, used Windows built in tool too.

There is a WiFi light on the hinge cover that I have never seen on.

In the BIOS, the hardware switch is set to switch on/off All radio devices. The interesting thing is that if the laptop boots with the switch off, Intel's app shows hardware switch as on but if the laptop boots with the hardware switch off, Intel's app shows hardware switch as off. Turning the hardware switch on or off with the laptop on makes no difference to Intel's app, however bluetooth turn on and off as expected. Flicking the switch to WiFi Catcher mode does not bring up the Intel Catcher Utillity.

In the BIOS I have tried setting WiFi to be permantly on regardless of hardware switch, but no difference.

I removed the physical card and turned on the laptop. As expected, Intel's app reported no wireless card.

I have got another Dell laptop with the same card in it. Tonight, I shall change over these cards to see if I can prove one way or the other if it is a faulty card, or something else. I just can't see it can be software. Might be something in the BIOS.

If one of you kind people has experianced somthing simmilar and found a solution, or have any other suggestions of things I may be able to try, I should be very grateful if you would share it with me.

Many thanks

Woter. (Very frustrated)

 

[woter324]

Ok. I have now swapped out the card in the problem laptop (Laptop P) and put it into another laptop (Laptop F)that I know works.

The only difference is the revision number on the mini PCI cards. The one from Laptop F is Rev A02 and from Laptop P, A03.

Results:
Putting A03 card into Laptop P. Everything works as it should. So the card cannot be faulty.

Putting A02 card into laptop F. The WiFi light now comes on, however the Intel App and device manager both report that there is no Wireless Adapter installed.

I have also set the BIOS to ignore the hardware switch totally, and made sure that WiFi is on.


Any ideas? Anyone?

Many thanks

 

[wahnula]

...The one from Laptop F is Rev A02 and from Laptop P, A03....

...Results:
Putting A03 card into Laptop P. Everything works as it should.

A little confusion here...I thought Laptop P was the problem child, and came with A03. Regardless, it sounds like your thorough troubleshooting proves the original card from Laptop P to be faulty, despite what the utility and DevMgr say. If you can get Laptop P to work with an alternate card, then buy another wireless card. They're under $30:

http://www.directron.com/wm3945agm1wb.html

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[Grenage]

Have tried dabbling with drivers? Since you know both cards are working, it's either going to be a software/driver issue on 'Laptop P', or a physical problem on 'Laptop P's mainboard's connector.

Try a live CD or reinstall the OS, if drivers aren't helping.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area" - Major Mike Shearer

 

[woter324]

Sorry, Didn't mean to make it confusing. LaptopP = Problem and LaptopF = Fine. Yes, I had confused myself. Sorry :-(.

It's reasuring that Tony came to the same conclusion as me, that it's a fault on the mainboard or something other than the card. I have sent the laptop back. Just hope they don't get it working with software alone. Otherwise it'll cost me £85! eBay for you :-(.

I'll let you know the results when it's returned.

Thanks

 

[jetstyle5]

Hi woter324!

Ive just done the same thing bought the same machine from ebay and am having the exact same issues and have done the same things as you have to try and resolve it... what was the eventual outcome after you sent the laptop back please?

ta!

 

[woter324]

Intereting. What was the sellers ID?

I sent it back to them at my own cost (£55) and then they agreed it was faulty. They returned the money less my return costs. I asked for a replacment item but they declined. Wasn't happy as it was a good laptop at a good price.

Does it have a dell tag number? They removed it, even from the bios. They told me this was due to their agreement with dell.

Anyway I ended up getting an HP 6510w.

HTH

WOTER

 

[jetstyle5]

hiya, it was bought from mcscomuk who has a very good seller rating so had no reason to doubt them... cant live without wifi so really need it fixed and dont want to send it back also at my cost if i can help it and dont want to loose it either as its a good machine... mine also doesnt have the service tags... i may very well have your old machine they resold if its the same people!

 

[woter324]

Hi,

Yep same eBay ID and probably same laptop. It looks as though they go to extraordinary lengths to remove all ID from the device. I've never heard of Dell making a company remove the tag number. I've bought several Dell laptops from eBay and never had a tag removed.

I think we should report them to eBay. What do you think? I am still a little annoyed that I lost £55. I wonder how many more people they have sent this same laptop to. I am wondering if there is a scam involved. I can't work out how as the courier was nothing to do with them and all the money was refunded.

I don't see why they don't get it fixed. It must be a pain for them to keep getting it returned and risk negative feedback.

Unfortunately I didn't leave any feedback and I have lost the chance now.

Let me know if you want me to do anything. I suggest we copy eBay in on the post. Doubt they will do anything though.

As you have a broken device from them I don't want you to risk having problems getting your money back so I won't do anything unless you ask.

I suppose you could have a go at ringing Dell to see if they will entertain fixing it, but without a tag #, I think it will be a job. Last time I had a fault with an out-of-warranty laptop, they wanted to charge the earth and send an engineer. They wouldn't send just the part. If I knew what the faulty part was (probably the main board) I might have had a go odering one. But I wasn't sure and it was easier to send it back.

Thanks

Woter

P.S. The CD-ROM drive was also faulty.

 

[jetstyle5]

Thanks for writing back I cant believe i found a post from you with the exact same laptop! right im gonna email them saying that they sold me a broken laptop that they sold to someone previously, shall i put your userid so they know im not lying? £55 thats unbelievable im gonna ask for a replacement of equal value and equal spec and see what they say this is unacceptable they have sold the same broken laptop twice and if they dont like it ill email ebay about it, hehe

Thanks for your help mate!

 

[woter324]

You can do if you like. My eBay ID is the same as this forum. Original!!

I'd email them a link to this forum too.

Thanks