Laptop kills my broadband

js58426

js58426

js58426

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3 May 2013
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I've got an Acer Aspire 6930G (spec below) and a BT Homehub 2. The laptop keeps killing my internet connection. The "Broadband" light on the front of the router flashes orange shortly after the laptop connects. I've got two other laptops and three phones that all connect to this router without causing this problem.

I've run avast and malwarebytes and deleted/quarantined everything that popped up. I've uninstalled uTorrent as p2p programmes sometimes cause issues with my router. I've even disabled the laptops wifi but the problem persists. I have to completely turn off the laptop in order for other machines to use the internet.

This laptop has had a lot of crap downloaded onto it over the years. All I can think is that there's something malicious on there that's avoiding the anti-virus/anti-malware software.

Does anyone have any ideas on what might be causing the problem?


Windows Vista Home Premium
Part Code - LX.AVB0X.001
Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 - 2GHz
Nvidia GeForce 9500M GS
Bluetooth
Wired network ports - 1x 10/100/1000
Wireless networking support - 802.11a/n
 
When you say you disabled the wifi, do you mean that its connected via LAN cable, or not connected to the router at all?
 
It's not connected at all. I've disabled the wifi adapter in network/communications centre (or whatever they call it in vista).
 
Then there's 3 possibilities:

1. The laptops wireless card is doing stuff even though disabled in software (Unlikely). Test this by flipping the built in switch if there is one. This kills power to the wireless card at the physical level.
2. The laptop is plugged into the same power source as the router and has a faulty power supply somehow interfering with the router (Very unlikley). Plug the laptop in elsewhere, or preferably run on battery to test this.
3. There is some external factor that is giving the impression its the laptop when its not.

The way I would test this would be to pull the power and see if the issue persists. Then shut down the laptop and pull the battery. Wait a while and check if the issue is resolved. Repeat a number of times (With a random delay between each test) to be absolutely sure. Assuming this confirms its the laptop at fault, re-install WiFi drivers, then Windows if that doesn't resolve it. If fresh windows install doesn't fix it, then the WiFi card in the lappy is dead at a fundamental level and you may have to write the laptop off. Obviously if you do have the hardware switch, test that first.
 
Thank you for the suggestions.

It's definitely not 2 or 3. I'm going to try updating my drivers. If that fails I'll think about looking for a physical switch.
 
Is there any way for me to test if the wifi adapter is working properly?

And, if the adapter is at fault can I just remove the adapter? Will I have to replace it with a new adapter even if I don't want wifi (i.e. will my laptop expect to see an adapter and will it malfunction if there's nothing there)?
 
Generally if you can connect to the net with wifi turned on, its assumed that its working correctly.

The wifi adapter will be a chip soldered to the motherboard, its not removable, other than attacking it with a soldering iron, which I very much doubt the laptop would survive.
 
Linkex said:
Generally if you can connect to the net with wifi turned on, its assumed that its working correctly.

The wifi adapter will be a chip soldered to the motherboard, its not removable, other than attacking it with a soldering iron, which I very much doubt the laptop would survive.
Click to expand...

http://forum.donanimhaber.com/m_27689540/tm.htm

It looks like you can unscrew and pull it out. My old Acer laptop had a removable wifi card.

It's fine to take out the wifi card. I would take it out and see if the problem still persists. If it does, then there's something else causing the disconnections.
 
Download Linux Mint, chuck it on a CD using IMGBURN, then boot from this with the laptop, test it in this mode.

If that works fine, then you've still got junk on your machine.

I'd just format it and get Windows 7 on there.
 
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