How to Troubleshoot When a Wireless Card Connection Drops on a Laptop
While many laptops have built-in Wi-Fi wireless adapters, some have wireless cards installed as upgrades in the PCMCIA slot. This is particularly likely for older laptops that did not originally come with Wi-Fi or for laptops that have been upgraded to a newer version of Wi-Fi. As with any wireless adapter, there can be many reasons why the wireless networking signal drops. Wi-Fi connections can be limited by distance, interference or structures like thick walls. Dropped signals can be especially problematic for laptop users who are moving around an area.
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Instructions
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Locate the wireless card on the laptop. Most wireless cards are installed on the side of the laptop and stick out from the edge. Check the physical connection by pressing firmly in on the card to make sure it is well seated in the slot.
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Verify that your wireless card is working correctly. Click on the Start menu in the lower right hand corner. Select "Control Panel" and click on "Performance and Maintenance." Click on the System icon. Choose the Hardware tab and click on the Device Manager button. Click the plus sign next to "Network Adapters" and look for a device that says "wireless" or has the name of the card manufacturer. Right-click on this and select "Properties" from the drop-down menu. Under device status, it should say "This device is working properly." If not, select the "Troubleshoot" button and follow the wizard instructions to fix the problem.
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Move closer to the wireless router. If you are moving around a house, building or property and your connection drops, you may have simply moved out of the wireless network range.
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Turn the antenna on the wireless router in the direction you want the signal to reach. If your wireless connection typically drops off in the same area, point the antenna in that direction.
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Remove devices that cause interference. Earlier Wi-Fi standards are more prone to interference from electronic devices like cordless phones and microwaves. Move your router away from these devices. If the problem persists, consider upgrading to a more recent Wi-Fi standard or replacing your cordless phone.
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Keep tabs on the strength of the wireless signal. Click on the Start menu. Choose "My Network Places." Click on "View network connections" under the Network Tasks menu on the left-hand side of the window. Right-click on "Wireless Network Connection" and select "View available wireless networks." The list will show which networks are available and the strength of each network. Look at the green bars near the name of the network you are connected to. More bars indicate a stronger signal. When the bars diminish, move closer to the location of the wireless router.
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Tips & Warnings
If you consistently have range issues with your wireless network, consider upgrading your equipment to a more recent wireless standard such as 802.11N for stronger overall performance.
References
- Photo Credit pc card insertion end image by Georgios Alexandris from Fotolia.com
