Intel 3945ABG turns off following hibernation

[KingNeil]

I have Windows Vista Home Premium with a Dell XPS M1530 and the Intel PRO 3945ABG Wireless as my wifi. The current driver version for this wireless device is 11.5.0.32, which is the latest to my knowledge.

 

It works pretty much fine all of the time. When I fully shut down the computer and turn it on again, fine. All fine.

 

But when I switch off the computer using the default Hibernation mode, upon startup the wifi just cuts off altogether after about 5 minutes or so. I should point out that this only appears to happen when my laptop is running on its own battery, i.e. not plugged in. Whenever I have it plugged in, it actually seems to be OK after a hibernation. By the way, I HAVE unchecked "Allow this computer to turn off this device to save power" option under Power Management in the Device Manager.

 

So what do you think is the problem here? Thanks.

Edited June 16, 2008 by KingNeil

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Hi Neil

 

Welcome to FPCH

 

I'm just going to move your post to the Networking section and a member of the staff will deal with this shortly.

 

Please bear with us.

[KingNeil]

OK, sorry for posting in the wrong section. Hopefully someone can get this issue solved. It would be nice to be able to use hibernation without the wifi cutting off.

[KingNeil]

Come on people. I'm almost sure this is an issue over power management of some degree. The hibernation always seems to flawlessly work so long as I keep the computer plugged into the wall. It seems like the kind of problem that someone could easily solve.

[Goku]

Come on people. I'm almost sure this is an issue over power management of some degree. The hibernation always seems to flawlessly work so long as I keep the computer plugged into the wall. It seems like the kind of problem that someone could easily solve.

Hello and Welcome to FPCH Neil. :)

 

As Wolfey said, please bear with us as our Network specialist is not yet online and we don't have much expertise in the matter. For the time being, can you please reconsider downloading the driver. From what it states on the site, the newest version is 11.1.1.3.

 

Intel Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection

 

Please redownload the driver and reinstall it so that we may eliminate any possibility of driver corruption. Also, can you please download the following utility so that it may configure your current Vista power settings optimally.

 

Dell Recommended Vista Power Management Settings

 

Try both of the above and see if they solve the issue or not. Post back the results as soon as possible. :)

 

-- Goku

[KingNeil]

As I said in my original post, I already have the latest driver. And I already have an option to choose the Dell settings. Thanks anyway.

[Goku]

I tried to search something on the issue but it appears to be bug in Windows Vista that hasn't got a patch yet. Many people suffer from the same problem though some got it fixed by updating the firmware / drivers for their network cards. Since I already recommended to you, I cannot advise you anything more.

 

If you want, then you can wait till our Networking Specialist (Kelly) comes in and reviews your issue. Hope that helps. :)

 

-- Goku

[RandyL]

Hi King;

There seems to be a misconception here.

 

You said in your first post that you are using the driver version 11.5.0.32

 

The link Goku provided is the correct one for the DELL driver. Version 11.1.1.3

 

Keep in mind that Dell tends to use propriatary hardware and software so you may indeed have the wrong version for Dell. Try the driver that Goku suggested in his link as it may be the correct one since you do have a Dell computer.

 

As far as this being a power saving problem I can find no setting on my Vista desktop that can explain why this is happening only on battery power. I have checked the Advanced settings.

 

Since you stated that the connection does resume from a battery powered hibernation and cuts out after five minutes or so this leads me to believe it is something else.

 

Possibilites are numerous as we don't have all the facts about your computer or installed software.

 

1. Have you tried a different battery?

2. Is your Vista updated?

3. If so when?

4. Are you positive this does not happen when you are plugged in?

5. Have you checked the advanced options in the Vista power options?

6. Is your laptop under warranty?

7. Do you have a current antivirus program?

8. Do you have any software that is dubious?

 

A lot more information would be helpful. Such as.

 

Please let us know King. Thanks.

[KingNeil]

People, I think I have found the solution. It has nothing to do with drivers or anything of the like.

 

The solution is to edit all of the power plans such that the Wireless Adapter is always on Maximum Performance. By default, the wifi was only on Maximum Performance when I'm using the High Performance power option. So I changed it so wifi is on max when on Power Saving as well as Dell Recommended.

 

Check out my screenshot for more info, if you have this same problem:

 

2shared - download Power options wifi.JPG

[Goku]

Glad that you solved it yourself Neil. Sorry that we couldn't provide you with the solution earlier. Anyways, feel free to ask any questions or doubts that you may have. :)

 

-- Goku

[RandyL]

I sincerly hope you resolved your issue King. We appreciate the feedback and that you took the time to give us a picture too.

 

So do you you think this is a specific power management issue related to Dell computers as Goku was thinking?

 

Or do you think it's that the Wireless Adapter should always be set to Maximum Performance.

 

The picture you linked to suggests it's related to Dell's settings.

[KingNeil]

It's completely related to Dell's default settings. The driver and the hardware is perfectly fine. It's just annoying that Dell would set this by default, considering that Windows Vista shutdown is set to hibernate as default. This would pretty much affect every inexperienced customer they have buying this machine. Very poor testing by Dell.

 

All you have to do is go in and edit the power saving levels for the wireless adapter. Always set it to Maximum Power.

Edited June 17, 2008 by KingNeil

[Dalo Harkin]

This is common on most wifi adapters - It happened on my ABIT one and in the post that I previously deleted :confused: I said about the driver unticking the box that you mentioned in your first post should have worked.

On a laptop the power saving menus are a load of rubbish set the lot to max and never turn off the monitor - most laptops now just have an eco button that you can press that drops the power usage, so set the lot to max and then just using that button will do it anyway.