Vista network quirk

[liam858]

Hey guys, i'm looking at laptops for my sister for christmas (Off to college...any excuse) and noticed with a HP model that the reviews mentioned a "Dreaded wireless connection problem" where the connection keep dropping out and having to re-authenticate, which takes it's sweet time.

Just wondering if this is a problem specific to certain hardware, or Vista itself, and it it was a "known" bug and whether it has been fixed/patched/worked around yet? If it is specific to the lapper then i'll convince her to get a different model, she picked it based on cosmetics anyway...."Ooooh look at that silver one!"

TIA.

Liam

[jenae]

Hi Liam don't know about the model so can only guess I have not experienced this as a general rule on HP laptops. I find for some reason that you can switch from the inbuilt intel wireless to windows zero this can help. To do this in vista you have to turn on services that are set to manual by default and turn off the intel wireless, don't believe this is an HP thing.
To start Wireless Zero Configuration in Windows Vista you need to log in as an Administrator.
Click on Start and Control Panel
Select Administrative Tools and then Services
In the Services box scroll down the list of Services (Local) until you find the one labelled Wired AutoConfig and double click it.
In the Wired AutoConfig Properties (Local Computer) box change the Startup type to Automatic
Click on Start and once the service has started click on OK
Now find the service labelled WLAN AutoConfig and double click it.
In the WLAN AutoConfig Properties (Local Computer) box change the Startup type to Automatic
Click on Start and once the service has started click on OK
Go to File and Exit to close the Services window

[Train]

I have had problems with NetGear and D-Link wireless routers. Can not pick them up and get on them, [lack of a better way to say what the problem is].

Seems to be a Vista thing and motel/hotel owners are switching wireless router brands to fix it.

Run into it again the other night. Maybe the new G series will have it fixed.

[jstanek7]

I have a compaq laptop with Vista on it and it works with my Dlink a friends linksys a Trendnet and a netgear so far.

[Train]

Maybe those routers are new enough then.

[jdc2000]

HP has had an issue with the built-in wireless network adapter on their latest models of laptops. As to whether they have found a solution yet, I have not heard I'd do some searching on Google, ZDnet and TechRepublic before buying one though.

[jstanek7]

the dlink is an old 713p that is B compatible also the netgear is only B so they are older than dirt.