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.
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.
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