Laptop WiFi reception is horribly unreliable. Help!

P

Papasmurf89

Member
Hey guys,

So, I just moved to a new place for the summer and my laptop (msi GX640 from 2010) gets terrible WiFi reception. Sometimes I get it and sometimes I don't. And the times that I do get it, it's pretty slow (compared to the other people that I'm living with). The people that I'm living with have no problem maintaining a consistent connection.

Anyone know what might be going on? Is my laptop just too old and outdated? Unfortunately the WiFi is broadcasted over the area that I'm living so I can't physically plug into the router.

Any help would be greatly appreciated since I definitely need the WiFi this summer for work I need to do. Thanks.
 
Do the other people you live with have no problem in the same location? My first assumption would be that the wireless coverage is simply too weak in your area, but if others use it fine that may not be the reason. Do you have a USB wireless adapter hanging around that you could test with to see if it's the built-in wireless NIC?
 
Everyone I live with is able to use the Wi-Fi without problem. Unfortunately I do not have a USB wireless adapter.

Could it possibly be that my wireless drivers are outdated? Do you know where I might find the most current version?
 
If can get me the actual device id number we can determine what exact wireless card you have and get you an updated driver hopefully. Go into device manager under network adapters and right click on the wireless adapter and click on properties, then click on the details tab. You may have to change the property ID to hardware id. Then give me the 4 digit vendor and device ID Numbers. They look like this. ven_xxxx and dev_yyyy where x and y are 4 alphanumeric digits.
 
So I think I did it right. When I look under Network Adapters, I see 3 options:

1) Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN
2) Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
3) TAP-Win32 Adapter V9

I'm assuming that the WiFi Link 5100 AGN is the right one. This is what I found under the details tab:

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_4232&SUBSYS_13018086&REV_00
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_4232&SUBSYS_13018086
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_4232&CC_028000
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_4232&CC_0280
 
Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you. There is no updated driver and I have the same card in my dell laptop and signal quality sucks unless you are in the same room. I can't use it in hotels unless I'm out in the breakfast area. I would try looking for a different model wifi card or get a usb wifi and try it.
 
Dang. Thanks JohnB.

I was thinking about getting a new laptop at the end of the summer so I might have to move that purchase up a few months. I was hoping to wait until Windows 10 came out and it was standard on computers though.

A few questions...

How much would buying a different model WiFi card or USB WiFi cost? Are there any specific ones that you would recommend? Do you think it would significantly boost my ability to receive a WiFi signal?

In regards to buying a new laptop, do you think it's worth waiting for Windows 10?

Thank you!
 
You can get usb wifi sticks pretty cheap.

example - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...yMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

You can even get something like this if you don't want to be bothered by the antennae next to the laptop. Has a decent amount of cable so you set stand on desk if thats where you have laptop.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166056&ignorebbr=1

Or you can go to local walmart and pick something up cheap.

I would try a new adapter before buying a new laptop.
 
Thanks for the reply. A few questions...

Do you think it would significantly increase my WiFi reception? If so, this does seem like a great, affordable option.

Also, do you think it's worth waiting for Windows 10? I'm planning on buying a new laptop at the end of this summer anyways (was going to wait for Windows 10 to come out) and if Windows 10 isn't going to be worth waiting for, I might as well just buy a new laptop now. What do you think?

As always, thanks so much JohnB.
 
Papasmurf89 said:
Thanks for the reply. A few questions...

Do you think it would significantly increase my WiFi reception? If so, this does seem like a great, affordable option.

Also, do you think it's worth waiting for Windows 10? I'm planning on buying a new laptop at the end of this summer anyways (was going to wait for Windows 10 to come out) and if Windows 10 isn't going to be worth waiting for, I might as well just buy a new laptop now. What do you think?

As always, thanks so much JohnB.
Click to expand...

You could always install the Win10 upgrade when it drops. The mobile Skylake platform won't be available until later this year, so hardware wise you aren't missing out too much of your timeframe was based around W10.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top