1 Rookie
•
5 Posts
0
1805
November 20th, 2023 17:51
Latitude e7440 can't see some networks
I have a rack of at least 15 dell latitude e7440 win 10 laptops that I gave up on two years ago because I had other options, but we need them now. They can find most networks but not ours.
I see a standard-looking intel dual-band wireless AC 7260 device. Driver version 18.33.0.2 installed 1/28/2016. I can't update it! The computer swears that it's the latest update. Pushing "update driver" simply looks around the computer, then it sort of kind of refers to windows update but windows update says there's nothing here to update.
Any way to force an update?
Yours,
Paul
No Events found!
PaulK5
1 Rookie
•
5 Posts
1
November 30th, 2023 16:11
Here's what I just found two minutes ago:
1. Right-click on "start", then click on "device manager"
2. Double click on "network adapters"
3. Double click on "Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260
4. Go to "Driver" tab
5. Now, at this point I did something dangerous. I can't remember if I uninstalled the device and (imprtant!) deleted the driver, or disabled the device and deleted the driver, or updated the driver and deleted the driver. The important part was deleting the driver. This sounds scary because perhaps the computer will never talk to the internet again and can't reload that driver, but I was hoping a better copy of the driver was reinstalled upon restart.
6. I restarted the computer. Boom! Up comes our network. Add password. I have internet on that test computer.
Now I need to remember that missing step for the other 15 or so computers. Scary.
ejn63
10 Elder
•
28.7K Posts
0
November 20th, 2023 18:39
The driver doesn't need updating unless no network connections work -- it's either a local setting on the system(s) in question, or it's a misconfiguration on the network access point. Windows 10 and 11 generally won't connect to an unencrypted access point -- is yours fully encrypted, with a valid key?
PaulK5
1 Rookie
•
5 Posts
0
November 21st, 2023 15:26
@ejn63
"Windows 10 and 11 generally won't connect to an unencrypted access point -- is yours fully encrypted, with a valid key?"
Won't connect to a (thing-um-a-bob?)? I'm assuming that the access point is the router, not something in the computers.
I'm using a relatively modern and standard tp-link router. All of my more modern Dell Latitude e7450 computers connect. My relatively ancient Dell Inspiron 15 computers connect.
PaulK5
1 Rookie
•
5 Posts
0
November 21st, 2023 15:31
This leaves "local setting" on each of the rack of 15 computers or so. I can get to device manager/network adapters/Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 settings. I see various settings under "advanced". Anything I should specify?
PaulK5
1 Rookie
•
5 Posts
0
November 28th, 2023 16:13
I seem to have stumped the community so far. A complete group of many separate Dell Windows 10 computers but not all, seem to permanently not work with some standard, modern routers but they work with other routers. The problem has so far been unfixed with no successful searches for the answer.
This isn't the best news for your company-wide reputation for quality, especially for a company built on manufacturing computers. I continue to be willing to work with you as a group, which is hopeful for you.
Yours,
Paul Klinkman
ejn63
10 Elder
•
28.7K Posts
0
November 28th, 2023 17:18
No manufacturer is going to offer support for systems that are ten years old as this one is.
Have you done a complete, ground up clean reinstall of Windows, all chipset drivers, and the wireless driver? If so, there may be incompatibility between 10 year old network adapters and your "modern" router/access point.
Since newer wireless cards are inexpensive, it may simply be cheaper to replace the wireless adapters than to chase the problem. That would be the final thing to try if a clean reinstall doesn't solve the problem.
Rat315
1 Message
0
August 19th, 2024 18:33
@PaulK5 Thank you so much!!!! My daughter's e7440 would not show the eduroam network at Clemson University and I tried everything I could think of and even ordered a new wifi card that still has not shown up. I found your post a few minutes ago and tried it and it worked instantly. I selected to delete the device and then on the popup checked the box to deleta all drivers and software for the device. Thank you!!!!!
(edited)
CK70
1 Rookie
•
2 Posts
0
December 5th, 2024 18:16
Finally found the solution in a post on Intel's Community board. There is a bug in the original and Microsoft drivers that won't allow connections to WiFi 6 routers. You must have the driver version v18.33.17.1. Then it works perfectly. Tried on multiple Latitude e7440's and it fixed it each time.
Original post:
https://community.intel.com/t5/Wireless/Intel-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC-7260-Driver-Update/m-p/1571741