Dell latitude D510 wifi problems

1

I recently did a fresh Windows XP install on a Dell Latitude D510 (It's not mine, im only "the tech guy"). All fine, it just wouldn't use its wireless card. And by that I mean nothing is happening, like it's not recognised, or something.

  • Checked BIOS, it's enabled.
  • Been looking for a wifi switch on the sides for hours, found none.
  • Discovered Fn+F2, did nothing.
  • Googled Dell latitude D510 wifi driver, found 3 possible drivers, installed. Nothing.
  • Found out about Quickset, installed. Now Fn+F2 shows, wether it's on or off (the hardware LED is still dark though)
  • Device manager sees some mystical Ethernet driver and Network driver (with a yellow question mark) under Other devices
  • Under Network adapters, there's this: 1394 Network Adapter

Any help is appreciated.

Sakknekedro

Posted 2013-08-23T14:46:31.300

Reputation: 23

Seems like a driver problem or a MAC address problem. Try to change the MAC address of the wireless card manually on Device Manager. The MAC address of any computer that you know is accessing the Internet should work. – Doktoro Reichard – 2013-08-23T14:47:48.260

What do you mean it "wouldn't use it's wireless card?" What behavior are you seeing vs. what are you expecting? Your last bullet makes it sound as if the card isn't recognized; what's shown under the Network Adapters node? Did you try the official Dell drivers? Do you know for sure that the card is what Dell shipped, and not something someone else added?

– ernie – 2013-08-23T14:53:46.670

@DoktoroReichard The system doesn't even recognise the card being there, I hardly believe I could change its address. – Sakknekedro – 2013-08-23T14:54:02.490

@ernie I will update the question – Sakknekedro – 2013-08-23T14:54:52.337

Have you tried any of the drivers mentioned in the Dell driver page

– Doktoro Reichard – 2013-08-23T14:54:54.570

Note that that official drivers page has drivers for both a Dell card and two different Intel cards/chipsets . . . you'll need to figure out which one you have before installing the drivers. – ernie – 2013-08-23T14:55:57.897

actually, the 3 drivers mentioned are from that page (the 'recommeded' ones). – Sakknekedro – 2013-08-23T14:59:22.467

Did WiFi work before you reinstalled XP? Does a wired network connection work? Are all Windows updates installed? – CharlieRB – 2013-08-23T15:23:44.850

Answers

3

Couple of issues/suggested steps:

  1. 1394 is another name for FireWire
  2. The lack of anything else under network adapters suggests you're missing drivers
  3. Did you install the chipset drivers from Dell's driver page? Generally, that's the first thing you should install on a fresh Windows install as that'll contain the drivers for the motherboard, and some of it's integrated components.
  4. Sounds like you'll need to install the Broadcom drivers to get the Ethernet working
  5. Instead of installing 3 different (wireless?) drivers, identify the wireless card itself. You could do this by opening the system, and checking the card, or you can try looking up the laptop using it's service code on Dell's support website, which may contain a shipping manifest. You mention installing the recommended network drivers - I see four recommended, with one being for Dell wireless, another being for Dell Bluetooth, and two for the Broadcom Ethernet NIC. If you want wireless, install the right wireless driver.
  6. Finally, after identifying the actual wireless card, then install the correct drivers and go from there.

ernie

Posted 2013-08-23T14:46:31.300

Reputation: 5 938

Well, turns out it wasn't under "Modem/communication" but "Network", an 'urgent' driver. Shame on me...

– Sakknekedro – 2013-08-23T15:25:31.043

Asked: 2013-08-23T14:46:31.300

Viewed: 5 135 times

Active: 2016-02-17T18:26:11.897