Acer wifi problem!!!!

dan_yorkshire

dan_yorkshire

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Dan
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Hi guys,

I have had my Acer Aspire 5750 for a couple of months now with no
problems.... until now.

The laptop has stopped connecting to my wifi even though it can see it
(sometime it does connect after numerous restarts but drops out soon after)

I have so far tried:

Renaming the wifi modem.
Putting a new password on the wifi modem.
Making the wifi modem free of security so no password access.
Deleting and re-installing the driver for the WLAN card.
Done a full factory reset of the laptop (advised by acer to solve the
problem)

None of the above works. The strange thing is our other laptop and both our
phones still connect fine and I have taken my laptop to a couple of mates
houses and it has connected fine to their wifi so seems like and issue
between laptop and wifi at my house, although it does connect fine with LAN
cable.

I have rung talktalk and they are sending me out a replacement wifi modem
but still not too confident this will solve it.

Anyone had a similar problem or know of anything that might work?

Cheers in advance.

Dan
 
My 5750 used to do that all the time, for some reason it would just suddenly stop seeing the router. I was forever changing settings and reinstalling drivers, it never seemed to make any difference though.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
My 5750 used to do that all the time, for some reason it would just suddenly stop seeing the router. I was forever changing settings and reinstalling drivers, it never seemed to make any difference though.
Click to expand...

The thing is it always sees the router, it just doesn't connect to it 95% of the time.

Doing my head in!
 
dan_yorkshire said:
The thing is it always sees the router, it just doesn't connect to it 95% of the time.

Doing my head in!
Click to expand...

Ah, mine just effectively switched it's wifi off all the time. Out of interest (as thinking about it this was the problem with mine) is there any difference between when it's on battery or plugged into the mains?
 
I had a similar problem with my netbook at a motel once. right next to their router in reception and would not connect properly. Never got to the bottom of that either. Worked fine every other stop before and after. Other people connected no problem.

Anyway the fact that it works elsewhere a change of wifi modem might sort it :)

Only other thought was to check for a bios update for your laptop. Sometimes makers fix problems that way.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Ah, mine just effectively switched it's wifi off all the time. Out of interest (as thinking about it this was the problem with mine) is there any difference between when it's on battery or plugged into the mains?
Click to expand...

No difference whether power or battery no.

Do you think a new router might work when it arrives?
 
RobertP said:
I had a similar problem with my netbook at a motel once. right next to their router in reception and would not connect properly. Never got to the bottom of that either. Worked fine every other stop before and after. Other people connected no problem.

Anyway the fact that it works elsewhere a change of wifi modem might sort it :)

Only other thought was to check for a bios update for your laptop. Sometimes makers fix problems that way.
Click to expand...

Cheers Robert, fingers crossed a new router works.

Don't think a laptop update will work as it stopped working from one day to the next... And the laptop had no updates that day.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Are you definite on that? The reason I ask is mine kept defaulting to power saving mode and what that did when it was unplugged to save the battery was disable the wifi....
Click to expand...

Yeah definite as I have to unplug the power to take the laptop to the router to plug in by LAN and I've tried numerous times sat next to the router before hard wiring the network connection so tried both.
 
Last edited:
bios update is normally something you do from a file on the makers site. it will not come via normal updates.The bios is what loads everything at power on. Bios update is also an opportunity to turn your computer into a doorstop if you don't follow the instructions completely.
 
is the router on auto channel mode?

it may be worth trying it on a fixed channel, somewhere down the low end of the numbers. reason i say that, for some reason my sisters HP laptop would never connect to a wireless network over channel 9.

if its on auto it may have recently shifted channels and caused the same problem?
 
neil_g said:
is the router on auto channel mode?

it may be worth trying it on a fixed channel, somewhere down the low end of the numbers. reason i say that, for some reason my sisters HP laptop would never connect to a wireless network over channel 9.

if its on auto it may have recently shifted channels and caused the same problem?
Click to expand...

When I logged into the router last night I seem to remember it was set to 9, dont think its on auto though. Never considered changing that.
 
Last edited:
Is this Windows 7?
 
admirable said:
Is this Windows 7?
Click to expand...

Yep windows 7. Have heard a few issues with 7 and routers.
 
It might be in the settings for networks. You need to allow the permissions in the home network setting. The reason it connects to your mates network is the setting for public networks must be ok.

sorry I can't tell you what they are as I don't have the details here but have a look at it
 
admirable said:
It might be in the settings for networks. You need to allow the permissions in the home network setting. The reason it connects to your mates network is the setting for public networks must be ok.

sorry I can't tell you what they are as I don't have the details here but have a look at it
Click to expand...

Ok will look into that cheers.

But still doesnt explain why my old laptop and iPhone etc connect ok.
 
Sorry, I meant the settings in the Acer for W7 networks not the router.
 
Have you tried a System Restore (if windows 7 allows you to, I use XP so not sure what 7 allows) of the laptop, back to a time when the laptop connected ok?

This way if it's a setting on the laptop that's been changed, it should revert back.
 
Apologies, i've just re-read the OP and I see you've done a full factory reset as advised by Acer, and that hasn't solved the problem.
 
I'm a bit late to this. BUT is there any chance that someone next door'ish has installed wifi. you may be using the same channel. It may be worth changing the channel in your router.


or its a dhcp issue try turning it on/off
 
Go into your routers settings and clear out all the MAC addresses related to your laptop that are stored in it, re-start the router and your laptop.

Try connecting again
 
mattyg said:
I'm a bit late to this. BUT is there any chance that someone next door'ish has installed wifi. you may be using the same channel. It may be worth changing the channel in your router.

or its a dhcp issue try turning it on/off
Click to expand...

Very possible will try changing channel tonight.

Am also going to try a reset of the router with a paperclip. Never know!
 
Keith W said:
Go into your routers settings and clear out all the MAC addresses related to your laptop that are stored in it, re-start the router and your laptop.

Try connecting again
Click to expand...

Where would I be able to clear MAC addresses from? Is it in control panel?

Cheers
 
dan_yorkshire said:
Where would I be able to clear MAC addresses from? Is it in control panel?

Cheers
Click to expand...

MAC addresses are stored in the router settings, there will be an IP address to let you into the menus for the router, something like 192.168.11.1 depending on the router make
 
dan_yorkshire said:
None of the above works. The strange thing is our other laptop and both our
phones still connect fine and I have taken my laptop to a couple of mates
houses and it has connected fine to their wifi so seems like and issue
between laptop and wifi at my house, although it does connect fine with LAN
cable.
Click to expand...

i'd say it sounds like a router issue - process of elimination. Either config wrong or it's just knackered.

Has new one arrived yet?
 
trencheel303 said:
i'd say it sounds like a router issue - process of elimination. Either config wrong or it's just knackered.

Has new one arrived yet?
Click to expand...

No only just ordered it via a very bad English speaking talk talk customer service guy last night, could arrive in time for Xmas
 
After all that a straightened paperclip into the reset button of the router has done the job.

Typical! Gotta reload all CS5 and lightroom 3 back on.... then all my photos!

Cheers everyone!
 
My Son has a e-machines netbook which is effectively an Acer machine.

When we spoke to the Customer Service dept they suggested we do a full factory system reset and the wi-fi has worked again without a problem since.

Just make sure you have everything backed up as it takes it all off!
 
wibbly said:
My Son has a e-machines netbook which is effectively an Acer machine.

When we spoke to the Customer Service dept they suggested we do a full factory system reset and the wi-fi has worked again without a problem since.

Just make sure you have everything backed up as it takes it all off!
Click to expand...

Thanks but have you read the post above? All sorted. Factory reset of laptop didn't work.
 
The paper clip to totally re-set the router would have also cleared... you guessed it.... the MAC address of your laptop.

If I were a betting man I would say that if you had just cleared your MAC address from the router, restarted both the router and your laptop that your problem would have been resolved
 
Keith W said:
The paper clip to totally re-set the router would have also cleared... you guessed it.... the MAC address of your laptop.

If I were a betting man I would say that if you had just cleared your MAC address from the router, restarted both the router and your laptop that your problem would have been resolved
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Depends on the router but most I've had it's just a soft reset.
 
I don't know so much, I have had a few laptops at work that have displayed similar symptoms as described by the OP and that was the fix each and every time.... remove MAC address and they started connecting properly again.
 
The router is Huawei. It has an on/off switch but this was the hidden reset button.

Just wish I'd tried it before i'd wiped my laptop but never mind.

Cheers again.
 
Good to hear the problem is sorted and I'm too late to offer my 2p worth. But your problems were:

1. Acer laptops are badly built to a (very low) price. Pushed hard by PC World etc as they do make a good margin on them, even at the low sales price. They can exhibit wireless problems, so my first suggestion would be to see if the laptop would remain stable on another wi-fi connection.

2. Talk Talk. Allegedly getting better at talking to their customers, but again they are selling too much too cheap. The routers which are given away by all broadband providers are worth a couple of quid. The routers that work are worth £70. Spot the difference.

The router channel was the best suggestion for this type of issue, but I am very surprised Acer suggested a full restore to factory defaults. The router reset was much quicker, much simpler and much less likely to go wrong, so would be the very very obvious first step. Factory Restore of the laptop is too fraught with danger to your data to be undertaken lightly.
 
PhotoMonty said:
Good to hear the problem is sorted and I'm too late to offer my 2p worth. But your problems were:

1. Acer laptops are badly built to a (very low) price. Pushed hard by PC World etc as they do make a good margin on them, even at the low sales price. They can exhibit wireless problems, so my first suggestion would be to see if the laptop would remain stable on another wi-fi connection.

2. Talk Talk. Allegedly getting better at talking to their customers, but again they are selling too much too cheap. The routers which are given away by all broadband providers are worth a couple of quid. The routers that work are worth £70. Spot the difference.

The router channel was the best suggestion for this type of issue, but I am very surprised Acer suggested a full restore to factory defaults. The router reset was much quicker, much simpler and much less likely to go wrong, so would be the very very obvious first step. Factory Restore of the laptop is too fraught with danger to your data to be undertaken lightly.
Click to expand...

From my very basic understanding of routers etc I didn't think it would be the router due to other devices being able to connect as they always had.

Whilst I appreciate Acers may not be the mutts nutts this one cost more that double my old Samsung so am surprised at the wifi probs.

At least Acer customer service was correct when he told me it was 99% not a problem with the laptop and more likely the connection or router..... even if a laptop factory reset was an excessive suggestion.

We should all just go back to desktop pc's and LAN network cables!! Haha
 
The price of an Acer is no guide, I'm afraid. Ask any PC Pro and they'll say the same. I avoid anything beginning with "A" - Acer, Asus, Advent - and Packard Bell as they are owned by Acer. (Apple doesn't count here.)

Wireless is still full of problems, which aren't always obvious (unless you're tried wireless printers). It does seem strange that some devices connect and some don't. That would obviously seem to point away from the router, but the cheap routers are the first suspects in my book. This is a common issue with Sky routers as well.

I often leave clients with a loan router to prove the point. They get to use it for a month on a sale or return basis. I've yet to have one returned - at £70 a go.
 
To be honest I've never had any problems with sky routers, iPad, htc, various laptops, iPhones all first attempt.

The asus with the sandy-bridge chipset, Andy (another A... Pfffft ;)) will be along in a bit to clarify which, is supposed to be very good though so I wouldnt tarnish every A brand.
 
PhotoMonty said:
The price of an Acer is no guide, I'm afraid. Ask any PC Pro and they'll say the same. I avoid anything beginning with "A" - Acer, Asus, Advent - and Packard Bell as they are owned by Acer. (Apple doesn't count here.)
Click to expand...
Well, looking at the homebuild PCs here, and they all have motherboards beginning with A. Well, when I say all, I mean nearly all... ;)

neil_g said:
The asus with the sandy-bridge chipset, Andy (another A... Pfffft ;)) will be along in a bit to clarify which, is supposed to be very good though so I wouldnt tarnish every A brand.
Click to expand...
Nothing to do with me pal... I'm a pure D with my laptop.. Dell ;) :D
 
Can't remember.... (my excuse is age ;)) :(
 
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