Old Dell laptop/not staying connected to the internet ...

I know that I just need to replace this old computer. But between having an Ipad, an Adriod phone, and constantly rotating computers are various times, etc., I just hate adding another computer to the many already added to my computer graveyard.

This computer isn't staying hooked up to my home internet. I'm not fond of my current internet provider but I'm stuck with ATT.

However, my other devices aren't having issues. This computer is.

I tried doing a google search and am not having desired results. Do I need to reinstall a certain drive?

Do some sort of cleaning of the hard drive? I know enough about computers to get me in trouble or completely destroy the machine.

I'm hell on technology but any suggestions would be appreciated.

I've better push publish before my internet gets disconnected again. Sigh. (First World problems, I know. Considering hurricanes here)

Based on your self-evaluation of your tech abilities, I would recommend that you just take it to some place that does computer repair. Best Buy, Staples, Mom and Pop shops. Any of them should be able to refresh it and improve its performance significantly. (Make sure you back up any data that is important to you before you take it in.)

If you have any regular clients who are tech savvy, you might be able to barter repair for services. For that matter you might even incorporate it into some kind of role play. Geek gets seduced by Mrs. Robinson, or something like that.

Punt the laptop. It's a Dell and none are worth keeping.

Punt the laptop. It's a Dell and none are worth keeping. Originally Posted by pyramider

^ This.

And he never mentioned 'taint.' Still true, though.

Sorry Elizabeth,
More worried about Triangle not asking for pics of laptop taint. ;-)

But, if an XP or Vista system, it's trash.
If win7, take it to a shop but plan on replacing it next year.

If newer, take to shop.

There's to many different things that your issue could be.

You need to tell shop exactly who your isp is and the modem equip type & model that isp gave you.

As to replacing machines, once win 10 releases another major patch is when my 7s get replaced. Maybe an Xmas present to myself.

Btw, anyone with win10 sould have applied the August 2017 patches which contained numorous security updates some of which involved 3rd party apps.

Easy way to determine if its the laptop or the wireless router and its chipset not liking the chipset in your Dell

How long does this laptop go before it drops connection? if its like 20 minutes or so then all you need to do is go to some coffee houses that offer free wifi and test there.. if it stays connected to theirs, then the wireless router and your laptop do not like each other. It is a known issue.. some chipsets do not like others.

If the issue happens at any wifi spot or if you have a friend who has the same ATT service and router they provide test it there as well..

Also I am wondering, if here phone would connect easier or if one of her friends could connect as well. Also does she have more luck when she is near the access point versus away from the access point. She just might need to be hard wired to access the internet with any consistency. However your answer is technically sound and justified with respect to the incompatible hardware and drivers. Also how many bars would she have in the corner as well?

On the bottom of your dell there is a service tag .

http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/suppo...04045428452435

Go to that site from any pc type in your service tag and it will tell you what the orig configuration was of your laptop and what drivers are available .

If you can still get on the web with the dell i recommend using it to go to the site .

I would download the broadcom wireless driver to the pc your on save it .then transfer it to a flash drive if you downloaded it to another pc than the laptop in question and then open the file on the laptop giving you trouble.

Install the driver and try again .

sould work better now .
If not its kinda hard to give a answer directly with out knowing your OS are configuration .

Hope this helps

^^^ on the right track. and ignore the neg comments on dell laptops. i have 2 still functioning one from early 2k.

one suggestion, do your driver updates while plugged in with ethernet cable.

lots of simple free steps you can go trough to rule out issues.

if you think signal is the issue, take the cover of the wifi cover and make sure the two antenna wires ate good.

new wifi cards are on ebay for 10 bucks or so.

there's a place in Austin that will refurb or exchange old dell laptops for like a hundred bucks.

Sorry Elizabeth,
More worried about Triangle not asking for pics of laptop taint. ;-)

But, if an XP or Vista system, it's trash.
If win7, take it to a shop but plan on replacing it next year.

If newer, take to shop.

There's to many different things that your issue could be.

You need to tell shop exactly who your isp is and the modem equip type & model that isp gave you.

As to replacing machines, once win 10 releases another major patch is when my 7s get replaced. Maybe an Xmas present to myself.

Btw, anyone with win10 sould have applied the August 2017 patches which contained numorous security updates some of which involved 3rd party apps. Originally Posted by Unique_Carpenter

Wanted to thank everyone for all of the really helpful advice. And thanks for the PM's, which I received several.

This is an old machine and I got it used from a client. The hard drive had been wiped clean but I've had this computer for over 3 years.

It's a Windows 7 and I'm using it now. For whatever reason, when I started this topic, suddenly the computer's internet started working better.

But I'm thinking of just getting myself a new computer ... maybe for the holidays.

Not sure what to get, though. I'd love to finally try one of those expensive Apple laptops, but I'll probably do what I often do, go to Frye's and just pick something out.

Might try doing more research this time around.

I really don't wish to get another Dell although Dell has served me well in the past. Not sure what to get.

Would love one of those nice Apple laptops but to spend that type of money on a laptop isn't the direction that I usually go.

Again, thanks for all of the advice!!!

Sincerely,
Elisabeth