If your Dell TrueMobile WLAN Card appears to be functioning properly
but you cannot connect to the network, the problem may be that there is a mismatch
between the network key information used to configure the network profile on
the notebook and the network key information of the network you are
trying to connect to. As explained in Completing
the Setup, this information is case sensitive. Verify that the spelling
and case of this information are correct and that the network key information
settings are exactly the same on all computers on the network.
If you have verified that the spelling and case of this information are correct
and that the network key information settings are exactly the same on all computers
on the network, and you are still unable to connect to the network, see Performance
and Connectivity Problems.
Performance and Connectivity
Problems
Problem or Symptom
Possible Solution
The computers seem to be communicating,
but they do not appear in My Computer or in My Network Places.
Windows XP Environment
Windows 2000 Environment
Verify that File and Printer Sharing is enabled
on all the computers on your network.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel (Classic View).
In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections.
Right-click Wireless Network Connection and click Properties.
Click the General tab.
Under This connection uses the following items, verify that
the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks check box
is selected. If the check box is cleared, select it. If this item is
not present, click Install. Select Service, and then click
Add. Select File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
and click OK. Close Wireless Network Connection Properties.
Close Network Connections.
Verify that File and Printer Sharing is enabled
on all the computers on your network.
Click Start, point to Settings, to Control Panel,
to Network and Dial-up Connections, and then click Local Area
Connection.
Click Properties.
Under Components checked are used by the connection, verify
that the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks check
box is selected. If the check box is cleared, select it. If the check
box is not present, click Install. Select Service, and
then click Add. Select File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft
Networks, and then click OK. Close Local Area Connection
Properties.
Close Local Area Connection Status.
Close Network and Dial-up Connections.
Data transfer is sometimes very slow.
Microwave ovens, some baby monitors, cordless game controllers,
and some cordless phones operate at the same radio frequency as the Dell
TrueMobile WLAN Cards. When these devices are in use, they interferes
with the wireless network. Therefore, keep notebooks having the Dell
TrueMobile WLAN Cards at least 20 feet away from your microwave oven
and any other devices that operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz.
Data transfer is always very slow.
Some homes and most offices are steel-framed structures.
The steel in such buildings may interfere with your network's radio signals,
thus causing a slowdown in the data transmission rate. Try moving your notebook
to different locations in the building to see if performance improves.
Computers are not communicating with the network.
If your network has an access point, check all cables and
make sure the power LED on the front of the AP is green. Verify that all
of the wireless network properties settings are correct (see Viewing
the Settings of a Network Connection). Also, make sure that your notebook
is receiving a good signal from the access point. See Viewing
the Link Status of Your Wireless Connection. Verify with the network
administrator/AP installer that the TrueMobile WLAN Card in your
notebook is compatible with the IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard under which the
wireless network/AP is operating.
In the Windows XP environment, I see the following error
message: Wireless connection unavailable. In the Windows
2000 environment, I see the following error message: Network cable unplugged.
Also, there is a red X on the Wireless Network Connection
icon in the taskbar notification area (Windows XP environment) or in the
system tray (Windows 2000 environment).
This indicates that the radio is not enabled.
To enable the radio, right-click the Wireless Network Connection
icon in the taskbar notification
area (Windows XP environment) or in the system tray (Windows 2000 environment)
and click Enable Radio. On newer Dell TrueMobile enabled notebooks,
the radio can be enabled/disabled by pressing Fn + F2.
Network performance is really slow when the system is docked
to a docking station that has an active Ethernet port. NOTE—For
Windows 2000 environment only.
This condition occurs if you dock your system into a docking
station that has an active Ethernet port while your Dell TrueMobile WLAN
Card is still active and connected to an access point. This happens
because Windows 2000 must now handle two active network connections. Either
disconnect the Ethernet cable from your docking station or disable
the radio on your Dell TrueMobile WLAN Card. To disable the radio,
right-click the Wireless Network Connection icon
and click Disable Radio. NOTE—The radio is not automatically
enabled when your notebook next starts. To enable the radio, right-click
the Wireless Network Connection icon
and click Enable Radio.
Getting Help
Technical support is available online from Dell at http://support.dell.com
in the taskbar notification
area (Windows XP environment) or in the system tray (Windows 2000 environment)
and click Enable Radio. On newer Dell TrueMobile enabled notebooks,
the radio can be enabled/disabled by pressing Fn + F2.