NC 6220 connects to wireless, but won't go anywhere unless on battery only [ Edited ]

[AllisonNC6220]

Laptop is HP Compaq NC6220 w/ wireless and wired.

Internet is Verizon w/ Actiontech GT704WG Wireless DSL Gateway Modem/Router

Win XP PRO

1 gig memory on 2 512 modules

Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection (It's a Broadcom card, I believe.)

It was a business computer, refurbished and bought from a company on EBAY.

There is no problem at all when connected by wired LAN cable.  Nor was there any problem before when connected to the wireless LAN at the public library with the power plugged in, although I have not been there since I got the DSL.  I will try to check that out and let you know if it works.

My computer will find the wireless connection and connect, but if I have the power cord plugged in, it will not go anywhere on the internet.  It says it's connected, with great signal, but it won't GO anywhere - it just says "Page Not Found".  But, if I unplug the power and go on battery alone, it works just fine and that's the ONLY adjustment I make.  I can use the wired lan most of the time, but it would be nice to be able to use the wireless, also.  I discovered this by accident.  I wanted to sit by my brother's PC and use the wireless, as he was using the only lan cable in the room.  The wireless said it connected, but the browser and our LAN chat did not see the other computers on the home network.  I thought it might be something in between the router and my computer interfering, so I unplugged and took it in the other room.  It worked.  Then I took it back in by my brother.  It worked fine till I plugged in my power cord.  It does the same thing no matter where in the house I am, even right next to the router.

Now, this may not have anything to do with this issue, but my computer slid to the floor - not hard - awhile back - and since then it would occasionally beep three times and if I move it sometimes it will lock up - completely.  I have to power off to shut it down.  I have reset the memory (both modules) and the hard drive, and even switched the memory around.  It hasn't beeped, but it still locked up when moved, although less than before.  I finally cleaned the memory slots and reset the memory and blew out the computer today.  I just tried to get it to do either one - lock up or beep - and it will not co-operate, so maybe it's not a problem any longer.  And yes, I connected wirelessly at the library after this happened.

I'm not sure what to make of this problem.  I can use the computer on battery at home on the wireless, so it is not a major problem, but it IS a strange thing.

Message Edited by AllisonNC6220 on 07-26-2009 12:28 PM

[DrC51Si]

Having just had this issue I can tell you what I did to whats appears to fix this issue in hopes it can help somebody out there... Windows XP OS.

1st of all if it was like mine; when the wireless wouldnt connect properly I simply had to unplug the power cord, let it connect, then plug the power cord back in and the wireless sent/received packets as it should normally but that fix left me wondering what more I could do to alleviate.

Here is what I found that may help out.

Right click 'My Computer',

Select 'Properties',

Click 'Hardware' tab,

Click 'Device Manager' box,

Scroll down to 'Network Adapaters' and right click the 'Intel(R) PRO/Wireless #### Network Connection',

select Properties,

Click Advanced tab,

under Property: window scroll down and select 'Power Management',

more than likely the 'Use default value' box will be selected and the slidebar will be at the lowest setting.

Unclick the 'Use default value' and slide the bar over to just under Highest setting.

Click 'OK' box.

Close 'Device Manager' window.

Click 'OK' box to close System Properties window.

This setting adjust the amount of power the computer is allowing the wireless card to use. I understand that the value should be only if the notebook is unplugged but there must be a bug or something with this hardware because it has cleared the issues I was having. And I have done xero benchmarking on how much this will effect the battery life.

-Dean

[AllisonNC6220]

Will try it out, thanks!!!

[Larry_Stookey]

This fix worked for me, too. I had an old (ancient) Compaq running flawlessly off the same wireless network at the same time, but the nc 6220 would not connect wirelessly. Made the fix, and it not only works, but it brings up web pages faster than it did before. Thanks a bunch!