SOMEONE PLEASE HELP! I am begging. Wi-Fi Connecting problems.?

Question

I am sorry for all caps, but this is infuriating! I have a brand new laptop, Lenovo. When I am not connected with an Ethernet cord, my laptop disconnects from the Wi-Fi CONSTANTLY. If I'm on Skype, I'll disconnect 15 times in an hour, same if I'm playing a game. When I disconnect, my Xbox is still connected, my phone is still connected, my iPod is still connected, so please stop saying that I need a new modem. What happens when it disconnects? I look down at my signal and it has a red "x" over it and I have to then click it, scroll up to my network and press "disconnect," then I have to check mark "connect automatically," then I press "connect." Then, it connects me to the Wi-Fi again and continue for a little while and do the same thing when it reoccurs. It is beyond frustrating. When I connect with an Ethernet cable, I do NOT have this problem whatsoever. Tell me how I can stay connected to my Wi-Fi all day, every day without this ridiculous problem. I will be unbelievably grateful. Please and thank you.

Answer 1

this is usually a mismatch between Wifi chipset and router chipset.

this mismatch can be an incompatibility or it can be due to the fact that they have different capabilities.



things that help

1) change the security method to something old and simple WEP

2) all laptops use Power Saving. Do everything you can to force this NOT to happen. see Power Scheme, and some bios options.

3) and the ADVANCED setting for the properties of the Wifi. There will be about 50 of them and some are to do with altering speeds. These are often like multi choice settings which you can force one way or another to prevent the card being so flexible. If you know about any of these features and know you dont need some of the more flexible settings then try adjusting them(as a last resort only)

4) make sure the laptop is powered as that will prevent battery power saving features

5) inside the router each wifi device is given an IP. to prevent switching problems its HIGHLY DESIRABLE for each device to ALWAYS have that ONE IP value ALL THE TIME.

you do this by looking at the connected stations list(your devices) and usually this table has a box that says something like ALWAYS USE THIS IP. TICK THEM ALL.

The table is sometimes elsewhere, and cna be incorporated into the MAC Address Filter table. That is another security feature preventing others connecting to your wifi.

What this does is, when windows turns off the wifi, it has to turn it on again later. because you are continuously tripping up it re-allocates the device a new IP. this takes ages, causes a mismatch in security credentials and can give either

a) connected....but NO data flows

b) not connected , re-connects(dont work),reconnects(dont work)

so try and work out how to FIX the IP for each device.

Although you can also do this manually inside each device, most people screw that up and dont want that if they take their device to other locations.

Answer 2

1) This "new" laptop, is it really new of a factory refurbished? Either way, return it to the store, the wifi adapter may be defective??

2) How strong is the wifi signal? If marginal, the laptop adapter may be a poor quality one, and losing the signal

3) What security mode are you running? WEP, WPA, WPA2?? Notice there is a difference between WPA and WPA2. Some adapters may confuse between those modes (they are not compatible). You can try to reduce security, just as a test, to none, to see if you still disconnect. If you still disconnect with no wifi security, it is more likely your adapter and/or drivers for it. If it works with no security or none and WEP, then it is most likely drivers for the adapter (or faulty adapter)

4) You can always buy a cheap USB wifi adapter for your version of Windows and try that. If it still disconnects, then it most likely has to be your wifi source (modem/router). No solution other than changing that modem/router.

Answer 3

So it is just your laptop then. All right, have you updated the network drivers yet?



Go here and type in laptop model:



http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/default.page?selector=expand



Look for 'Wireless' and/or 'Network' drivers.



Download them, install them and then restart the machine.



Other than that, try getting as physically close to your router as possible and see if you still lose your connection. If you do, then take the laptop back to the place of purchase and ask for a refund/replacement as you may have a fault.

Answer 4

Go to power settings and be sure the laptop does not turn off the adapter to save power! Most laptops ship with that enabled, problem is if you are just watching something the laptop may turn off the wifi!

Answer 5

Unfortunately it is probably just your computer. I had a PS3 once that was like that. I hope you still have the receipt.