Can't connect to WiFi on Dell XPS Studio 1640

IndieP · 16 May 2017

My laptop is nearly 7 years old and came with Vista. I upgraded to Windows 7 Professional then to Windows 10 in August 2015. Now all of a sudden, it will not connect to WiFi, at home, or in a public place. My other laptop, iPad and Samsung Note 8 Tablet have no issues.

Device manager says all is well and working properly with Intel Wireless Link 5100 adapter.
I've performed an upgrade (keep files and apps) but to no avail.
Executed certain commands in Command Promt, but no luck.
Computer recognizes the router but after entering security key says "cant connect to this network."
Even downloaded via other computer updated driver but when executing install, doesn't change the original.
Can't run driver update from Intel due to no connection

Is the Intel Wireless Link 5100 adapter an embedded chip on the computer with a driver being a part of the Windows 10 operating system, (2 separate things), or is the Wireless Link 5100 the driver itself? In other words, is a driver added to the embedded Wireless Link 5100 Adapter to make it work?
Thanks

bro67 · 16 May 2017

You need to go into Device Manager and remove device and driver then reboot and let Windows install the default driver. If you went to Creators Update as an upgrade, you may have to do a clean install with the Windows 7 Pro license when asked for it during install.

IndieP · 16 May 2017

I had already tried that and it didn't work, but tried it again just to make sure, but still no success.

bro67 · 17 May 2017

You need to install the latest Intel Proset driver for Windows 8.1 or the Windows 7 driver.

IndieP · 17 May 2017

I'd already ran both the Intel

Wireless_17.0.3_De164
Wireless_19.50.1_PROSet_Win10

But again, no luck. I assume these are self installed, but perhaps they are not the correct ones, or, I'm not doing something correctly.

bro67 · 17 May 2017

That is the correct driver if Windows installed it. The package that shows on Intel's website does not necessarily mean that they have updated the driver. Especially for a older wifi card. If it is a mini-PCIe card. You should be able to swap it out for the 726x series. You will not get Bluetooth, but it will work. Now if you want something better, just disable the internal Wifi card and use a USB adapter for wifi. I doubt that it could run the internal 8000 series PCIe mini-cards.

You may want to check to make sure that the card did not get disabled on the bios or the Fn key get pressed to turn off the wifi.

Samuria · 17 May 2017

Can you connect to an unencrypted network old cards carnt understand new encryption but will connect to open networks or wep ones

IndieP · 17 May 2017

I'll give these things a try a little later when I have more time.
Thanks guys.

IndieP · 19 May 2017

OK guys, nothing I seem to do works. In fact I've just completer a clean install of Windows 10 Pro, but the problem remains.
Just to be clear;
1 Throughout this problem, all the available networks are shown by clicking on the Wi Fi icon.
2 After entering the security key, it says, "Can't connect to this network."
3 I even tried pushing the button on the router. The computer says it's trying to get the settings from the router, then the
Same message, "Can't connect to this network".

Fafhrd · 19 May 2017

Can't connect to WiFi on Dell XPS Studio 1640-image.png

It is a Mini card adapter - deprecated because it is old now, but still should work unless it has a fault.

It could have become unseated (unlikely), or the contacts could have corroded due to condensation or atmospheric deposits, or just a component on the adapter or on the motherboard may have failed.

The simplest action is to remove the back of the laptop, and gently clean the adapter card's contacts using a pencil eraser, or with a Q-tip and electronic contact cleaner fluid.

Youtube has plenty of videos showing disassembly, and the search has links to Dell service manuals that describe the process:

Dell XPS Studio 1640 disassembly - Google Search