Intel PRO Wireless 3945ABG WiFi Radio Adapter Shut Off Randomly
On laptop or notebook computers that use Intel PRO Wireless 3945ABG built-in Wi-Fi network adapter in Windows Vista, the WiFi radio signal may just suddenly turns off, shuts off or disable randomly, with the Internet or network cuts off. The wireless network connection may still appear as active and connected with Excellent signal strength in Network Center, but the network status will change to Limited Connectivity. If the system has LED indicator for Wi-Fi wireless radio signal status, the LED light also turns off (may also stays on) and Wi-Fi radio power cannot be toggled back on with Function hotkey (such as Dell QuickSet), even though the software detects the toggling or pressing of keys with WiFi and Bluetooth logo pop up. It looks like the Wireless adapter card loses its power and are completely shutdown and powered off.
Even when the problem happens, the network device appears working properly and normal in Device Manager. The IP address auto-discovered by DHCP may be lost or gone. And there is no way to recover the Wireless radio signal other than restart the system. But the problem will happen again. Even changing configuration settings of roaming aggressiveness, transmit power, wireless mode (between 892.11a/b/g) or power-saving mode does not permanently resolve the Wireless network adapter off problem.
The notebook or laptop computers that affected by the suddenly auto shutdown of Wireless signal adapter include Dell Inspiron E1505, Dell Inspiron E1705, Dell Inspiron 6400, Dell Inspiron 9400, Dell Latitude D830, Dell Latitude D630, Dell XPS M1210, Dell XPS M1710, Dell Precision M90, Sony VAIO VGN-SZ430NB, Acer, ASUS S6Fm, HP Pavilion dv9000, Alienware Area-51 M5790 and many other Vista system.
The issue with the WiFi adapter is caused by incompatible Vista driver, as the problem does not happen under Windows XP system. Previously, users have used two workarounds as a temporary solution – “XP Fix” which uses Intel PRO Wireless 3945ABG driver designed for Windows XP, or rollback and switch back to Microsoft driver comes with Vista for Intel PRO Wireless 3945ABG network card. However, these workarounds have an drawback and disadvantage that the Wireless network or LAN is not optimized for fastest possible speed, instead opt for lower reliable speed throughput, and also have poor radio signal level problem.
Luckily, Dell has released a new updated driver supporting Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection and Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN. The driver version 11.1.1.22 dated 08/08/2007 comes from provider Intel, is packaged as R164259 (11.1.1.3) – A05 – August 2007 release. It fixes the following bugs (changelog):
- Addresses 3945ABG radio disable seen with some systems running with Bluetooth modules
- Addresses 3945ABG radio disable seen in some 802.11a environments after Standby or Hibernate
- Addresses installer upgrade behavior where Windows Vista Preferred Networks would be lost
- Addresses installer interaction with InstallShield Update Manager causing an unwanted prompt during installation
The new driver will likely to solve the Wireless cuts off problem in Vista. Download the driver version 11.1.1.22 from ftp://ftp.dell.com/network/R164259.EXE. It’s a Dell installer package, which should works on other brands too. Otherwise, simply extract the driver by using WinRAR and manually update the driver for the network card from Device Manager.
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Entries (RSS)
August 16th, 2008 17:59
The intel link is http://downloadcenter.intel.com/, look on the left under Wireless / WiFi Products / Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection. I downloaded 32-bit Vista driver 12.0.4.0 for Acer Aspire 7720 notebook which had this problem. Intel also provide instructions on how to optimise the Vista battery power settings.
July 18th, 2008 19:54
Loaded the driver from intel listed above, and I haven’t had the problem since.
So, the Dell Latitude D620, Win XP SP3, seems to be working now, with the Driver 11.5.1.115 – Date 3/13/2008 – look for the download dated 4/11/2008 on the intel download site.
July 15th, 2008 16:24
Yepp, this solved this problem for my D630. It works! Funny “feature” that this version is not detected by the driver update button.
July 13th, 2008 05:58
It may help if you uncheck the box “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” in the Power Management tab of the Properties tab for the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network adapter in the Device Manager.
June 21st, 2008 21:42
There is a new update released on 4/11/08 to the Intel PRO Wireless 3945ABG. It fixes the issue for XP users. Go to the intel downloader site and get it! If you search for this update through the Device Manager, it will NOT find it, so you have to go grab it yourself and unzip the file.
Btw, power supply options were NOT the problem for me…
XPS M1210
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 2
June 18th, 2008 22:05
so i have that version 11.5.0.32 released 11/8/2007 installed on windows xp…and its still doing the same thing.. i have a dell inspirion 6400/ e1505 and suggestions? thanks.
May 15th, 2008 22:44
ive got that probalem on my dell d620 latitude runing vista – turns off (just when u need it the most), tried the drivers menioned above, had the disconnections but the light didnt turn off, untill a few days ago…and now does it a few times a day..Back to square one!
March 17th, 2008 06:53
I have exactly the same problem with my Acer Aspire 1692WLMi, running Win XP Pro. Because of that, I sent it back for repair by the guarantee. Acer returned me the notebook last week. The first day, everything was OK. But on the second day I started to have the same problem again: max signal, no internet pages opening, light turned off randomly… I guess I´ll have to send this link to the qualified personnel of Acer Portugal and see what they can do. I’m sick and tired of this annoying situation.
February 19th, 2008 23:17
Carlos
Did you have any luck in resolving the problems with the d630 and xp?
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?docid=16332F52585B367AE0401E0A5517117B&journalid=BC50966C27EA11DB96E995E8363E7F84
December 11th, 2007 06:23
You should try version 11.5.0.32 released 11/8/2007. Works like a charm!
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=2259&DwnldID=13001&lang=eng
December 11th, 2007 03:51
Have Dell D830 w/ Vista and Intel 4965AGN with 8/8/07 drivers (latest) and still have same problem on some 802.11b networks.
October 14th, 2007 20:37
They work perfectly on my Asus F3JR! The setup will fail because it’s not an Dell notebook, but you can easily install them manually using the device manager. My wireless connection is finally stable under Vista! Thanks!
September 29th, 2007 00:04
You’re the man! Cheers, mate!
September 25th, 2007 05:02
We purchased 24 Dell Latitude D630 with XP and almost all of them are experiencing the problem. I updated to the lastest Dell August driver release and did not solve our problem. We still see computers going off the wireless… Can any of you tried to go to a previous driver version 9 or 10? Thanks.
September 20th, 2007 18:41
I have installed on Amilo pi 1536 with Vista. Let’s see if it solves the problem…
September 19th, 2007 07:16
Great! Just come across this and realize the issue I had (Dell 1405)for a few times was caused by the driver. Trying out the new driver now and see if it works.
September 17th, 2007 15:31
The update from my link above solves the problem for me.
September 17th, 2007 11:45
Seems It happens on my Toshiba Satellite M200 (Vista Home Premium) too.
September 16th, 2007 23:41
Here is a link to dells own support site about the problem and where to download drivers:
Dell support
At the moment I’m downloading myself and I will return when I have tested if it helped.
September 16th, 2007 23:18
I have the exact same problem on a Dell Precision M4300 with Win XP Pro – so it seems not to be limited to the Vista system.
Usually it takes more than an hour or so before it turns off.
Any help for us XP guys?
September 16th, 2007 04:52
I had the same problem with an Acer Aspire 5672 on XP but it turned out to be a ventilation problem. Check if all fans are working and if air is actually flowing through the case.
September 15th, 2007 21:25
No, this is specific for Vista, and also it’s not for ‘power saving’ where network may shutdown if computer left idle for a long time.
September 15th, 2007 19:23
The same problem occurs on HP dv9324 with Windows XP! Does the patch work on XP also?
September 15th, 2007 18:56
Hi there.
Same problem found on a ASUS
September 15th, 2007 15:24
Wow! Thanks for this. I’ve been getting sick of my connection dying minutes after i went to sleep while letting my stuffs download. I hope this fix the problem permanently.