thai
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Posts: 164
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Post by thai on Dec 14, 2017 21:55:50 GMT -5
The password for the wireless connection? Since the wifi was ok for 3 weeks, and now it comes and goes, I am pretty sure the password is correct.....shouldn't it be?
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drcard
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Post by drcard on Dec 15, 2017 19:03:48 GMT -5
Hi thai,
If it works at all, then the password should be OK. The reason I asked about the password is if your WiFi had been hacked, the first thing the hacker does is change the password to lock you out and prevent him from using your WiFi.
The working and then not working usually indicates a signal strength problem and many users have reported signal strength problems after Windows 10 updates. How close is the laptop to the router? When it is working note where the laptop is at. I've seen laptops being able to connect in one part of a room and lose that connection 10 ft away in the same room. If you see that you can connect in a specific area and not in other areas and go back to the a connect area and it connects again proves it is a signal strength problem.
If it is a signal strength problem, then there are things we can do.
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thai
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Post by thai on Dec 15, 2017 19:59:53 GMT -5
Hi Dana,
Don't think signal strength is the issue as the laptop sits on a table 24/7 about 12 ft away from the router. It always worked there, randomly didn't work there one day and when it did work earlier this week, it was sitting in its same spot!
Thai
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thai
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Post by thai on Dec 20, 2017 6:47:02 GMT -5
**bump**
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drcard
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Post by drcard on Dec 21, 2017 4:22:09 GMT -5
Hi thai,
I'm still with you. I was waiting on what you found out from running the troubleshooter. Appears we got side tracked with the working/not working part of this problem. Run the troubleshooter and report what it says, and then we will proceed to the next step.
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thai
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Posts: 164
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Post by thai on Dec 21, 2017 7:02:53 GMT -5
Hi Dana, Sorry, I got caught up on the password portion of your post and overlooked the troubleshooter! So I ran it, and.... "problem with wireless adaptor or access point"
Which I guess means it's the wireless adaptor, since the access point works for other devices? I'm sure if this deduction is wrong, you'll be the first to let me know....lol.
Thai
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Peter
Software Review Panel
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Post by Peter on Dec 21, 2017 23:18:20 GMT -5
Hang in there thai! I'm following this step-by-step process with great interest, as buggy Internet problems are part of my experience -- and probably many others aw well!
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drcard
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Post by drcard on Dec 22, 2017 13:00:34 GMT -5
Hi thai,
The troubleshooter’s results helps narrow down the problem.
Your deductions are correct from that message; the trouble lies with your wireless adapter. The message is a generic one for many different problems and means a “connection” can’t be made because of unreadable or no output from the wireless adapter or no signal from the router. Since you know the router is working, that leaves the wireless adapter.
There are several components of a wireless adapter of both hardware and software that could cause the wireless adapter to fail. The working one minute and not working one minute does provide an interesting aspect in determining the exact problem, because both hardware and software could cause it.
If hardware is the cause, then replacing the wireless adapter on a laptop is a big deal and expense. Because so, it is best to fix all software possible causes before deciding it is a hardware problem.
The instructions below are steps to take. Take one step at a time and reboot and see if the step taken works before proceeding to the next possible solution.
Step 1: Increase performance of wireless adapter Wireless adapters have throttle switches because a wireless adapter operating at maximum can draw enough energy to decrease the run time on a battery operated device such as a laptop. Below is how to check or edit your wireless adapter performance setting in Windows 10. Click in the Start menu box and enter Edit power plan and you will see it above. Click it to open this control panel app. In the Edit Plan Settings window click Change advanced power settings which will the Power Options window. Locate Wireless Adapter Settings and click the + to expand. Click the + next to Power Saving Mode to expand the power options for the wireless adapter. The current power options will be displayed. For laptops there will be two options – On battery and Plugged in. If both options say Maximum performance, then no changes need to be made. If both options are not set to Maximum performance, then click the dropdown arrow to the right of the setting listed and select Maximum performance. Click OKs to close windows and save your changes. If you made changes, reboot and test to see if you see an improvement. No changes or no improvement, proceed to the next step.
Step2: Increase signal reception: Wireless adapters have settings to increase their reception of wireless signals. Like the performance settings, most laptops default is set to low or medium to increase battery life. The instructions below are how to adjust your wireless adapter’s reception strength. In the Start Menu type Device Manager, which will display above and when clicked will open the Device Manager control app. Click > next to Network adapter to expand. Locate your wireless adapter listed, right click and select Properties to open the Properties window for the adapter. Click the Advanced tab. Look in the Property: box for Roaming Sensitivity level or Roaming Aggressiveness and click it to highlight it. The Value box to the right will display the current setting. Click the dropdown arrow to the right of the value listed and select High or Highest. Click the OK button to save your changes.
Reboot and test to see if it improves the connection.
There are more steps, but I’ll split them up so this post won’t get too long. It will be interesting to see if these changes can increase your up time. Post back when you finish the above two steps and then we proceed to the next steps. All the steps are not hard and take longer to explain than to actually do.
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thai
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Post by thai on Dec 25, 2017 10:50:07 GMT -5
Hi Dana, First of all my apologies for my delay in responding. Seems I have managed to acquire Type A influenza despite having had the vaccine! So have been quite out of commission for 5 days.
Second, a very Merry Christmas to you and yours and a great big thank you for all you do here. You have never failed to come to my rescue and I do so appreciate that!
My brain is still not functioning too well, so I will wait a few days to tackle your instructions. I will report back my results.
Thai🎄🎅🏼
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Peter
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Post by Peter on Dec 29, 2017 17:07:18 GMT -5
Hi Thai:
Whatever bug it is, it manages to get around. Many people hare are attacked by a merciless cold virus, which includes symptoms of flu. I don't know if it is an A type of nasty -- I would prefer it remain somewhere much further down the alphabet. Good luck in the recovery. I hope that it did not unmerry your Christmas too much.
Best wishes to you and all other members of the NNT Forum for 2018.
Peter
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thai
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Posts: 164
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Post by thai on Dec 29, 2017 18:50:35 GMT -5
Dana, Back on my feet and tired of looking at this enormously long Ethernet cable so decided to get to work. Followed instructions in Step One and VOILA!! I am connected wirelessly! Can this possibly be this simple? If so, thanks so much for your assistance in getting me back up and running. If not....you'll be the first to know....lol.
Again, my thanks. Thai
Edited to add....thanks Peter for your wishes to my recovery! Don't wish to spend another Christmas like that one for a while!
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drcard
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Post by drcard on Dec 30, 2017 20:22:38 GMT -5
Hi thai,
Sorry to be late in responding to you, but the H flu A has struck our area very hard; including me and everyone in my household. I agree with Peter upon wishing it was type B, C or D. Problem is the H Flu A (H1N1) and (H3N2) has mutated so the vaccines are not as effective as hoped. The CDC has issued notice that they estimate the effectiveness of the vaccine for Type A to be about 30%; however, reports from Australia who is coming out of their flu season the vaccine was only 10% effective. Sorry for the medical stuff, couldn't resist.
I'm glad it is fixed and yes, it can be something as simple as a setting change. This is why it is so important to address these network connection problems in a specific order...to prevent introducing more problems that mask what the real problem could be. How did it happened? It was working for a long time and suddenly stopped, but didn't totally stop and became intermittent. I'll explain what I think caused the problem.
WiFi is a serious security risk to any device and as such additional security must be introduced to keep your device protected. The approach of this additional security is called layering. Think of several sheets of paper with each sheet having a single hole in it. The placement of the hole is different on each sheet. Thus, the sheets have to be aligned just right so the holes line up and you can see thru all the sheets (let the signal get thru). As updates are applied to your system to strengthen your security, the amount work the adapter has to do to "align" the sheets is more than it used to do. As added security there is a time out function that basically allows a specific amount of time for the adapter to align the sheets. At the lower performance setting (to save battery time), sometimes your adapter finished alignment before time out and sometimes it didn't. Increasing the performance of the adapter allows it to finish alignment before time out. Chances are high that the problem started with a recent Windows update that added security features.
Bad news for the future. As new layers are added to increase security from "new' threats, a point will be reached where your adapter won't be able to complete the alignment before time out even on Maximum Performance. That will require a new more "powerful" adapter.
And yes, I plan on being here if you need help again.
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thai
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Posts: 164
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Post by thai on Dec 30, 2017 20:48:52 GMT -5
Hi Dana, I am sorry your family has fallen victim to the flu as well. As you will see by my Christmas Day post, I was very ill for several days. I did research on the effectiveness of said vaccine and was most disturbed to learn it was as low as 10%!! May I ask what area of the country you are in? I am a Camadian snowbird in central Florida, just trying to get a feel for how wide spread this is.
Thanks so much for your explanation as to my problem. Knowing the why makes it much easier to understand the how of the fix.
Feel better, Thai
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drcard
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Post by drcard on Dec 30, 2017 22:36:29 GMT -5
Hi thai, My area is Texas and as with most contact epidemics, increased numbers (and risks) are seen in densely populated areas. Simple math = one sick person only meets five people in a day, only 5 can get sick; but one sick person on a commuter train "meets" 30 people on the way to work and a different 30 people on the way home, 60 could get sick (not counting coworkers and passers by on crowded streets). The only states not reporting the highest classification of Widespread are the states with the smallest populations. On the positive side, the antiviral drugs in use against the flu seem to be working quite well. The link below is the CDC's epidemic map. It's updated weekly. Brown = Widespread (which means that confirmed cases have been reported in over half of the counties of that state) Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update
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thai
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Posts: 164
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Post by thai on Dec 31, 2017 6:35:03 GMT -5
Wow....I knew it was a bad year but didn't know it was THAT bad!!!
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