Intel 6230 driver 15.2.0.19 test

[idata]

Hi there,

Is there a changelog published for Intel 6230 Centrino Wi-Fi card drivers anywhere ? Thank you

I have DELL XPS 502X running Win7 Ultimate 64bit (with the latest updates) and Intel 6230 Centrino Wi-Fi card (HW 2.1.213) and since I bought this laptop in January I always had a problem with Wi-Fi connection to my Billion 7800 N+router or Thomson TG 585 v7.

Intel 6230 network adapter would not connect to my Router for first 5-15min at start up or from sleep. I've goggled the problem and been to all forums I could find on the first 5 Google pages and tried all suggestions for past 6 months (e.g. changed all settings in the network adapter properties…bands, modes, power settings in Windows and Network adapter…). Sometimes it looked as if connection was established quicker, but the behaviour was never consistent after start-up/resume from sleep.

Windows System Event logs were reporting several Event ID 5002, 5005 errors every seconds coming from NETwNx64 service. It looked as if the driver could not enable TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service and/or Computer Browser service. And when it finally did after 5-15min, all was working OK. Even if I started them (which they are set to start Automatic by default anyway) 6230 Network adapter would not connect.

I was surprised to see, finally, improvement in 15.2.0.19 driver… what a change that is, but still a few issues… I was thinking of returning my laptop back to DELL to get me a new Wi-Fi, but now I may just wait.

First change I noticed in the properties page of Intel 6230 adapter, there are 2 advanced tabs. Not sure what they are for, but the additional tab just describes what all the settings are, maybe developers forgot to remove the old Advanced tab?

Where can I see improvement? Every time there adapter is disconnected from Wi-Fi or disabled, TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service and sometimes Computer Browser service are being forcibly closed and then started when you try to connect to the Router or just enable the Wi-Fi adapter, however in many cases TCP/IP NetBIOS is not started unless I hit "Diagnose Connection Problem" button in IE and all is working OK.

However, there is one new problem introduced. Any changes to Intel 6230 adapter properties settings will result in Application Error with details below.

Faulting application name: rundll32.exe_devmgr.dll, version: 6.1.7600.16385, time stamp: 0x4a5bc9e0

Faulting module name: Netwcw00.dll_unloaded, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x4f3e8f52

Exception code: 0xc0000005

Fault offset: 0x0000000010041f30

Faulting process id: 0xb34

Faulting application start time: 0x01cd6abb8f89f145

Faulting application path: C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe

Faulting module path: Netwcw00.dll

Report Id: d4e4acc7-d6ae-11e1-b6c6-88532e930304

Fault bucket ,type 0

Event Name: BEX64

Response: Not available

Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:

Problem Event Name: BEX64

Application Name: rundll32.exe_devmgr.dll

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[idata]

You mentioned that you installed version 15.2.0.19 which was released by Intel on 07/20/2012 but at the end of your message under network adapter diagnosis shows driver version 15.1.1.1, which was released in Mar 2012. I am confused about it.

I am also having the same delayed connection problem after wake up from sleep mode with my current driver from Dell released in Dec 2011. I tried the 15.1.1.1 from Intel website but it did not fix the issue. So how is the new driver version 15.2.0.19 working for you?

[idata]

hi Venkat,

I also found it strange that the details about network adapter diagnosis said 15.1.1.1 was installed, but the drivers files were definitely installed and on its place. I even unpacked the executable and extracted all the files from the installer and uninstalled the old drivers and installed new drivers a few times.

However, I was too excited about 15.2.0.19 driver (if it is correctly installed of course). I does seems to be connect faster, but I still see the same problem.

From your other post I see you have tried to contact DELL, have you managed to resolve it with DELL or with new drivers in the end ?

Regards

Dusan

[idata]

I spent some time yesterday playing with the drivers and noticed, that although the Diagnostic software reports about the Driver information being 15.1.1.1, this is because it looks into C:\Windows\INF\oem3.inf rather than C:\Windows\INF\oem32.inf, but both files apart from HongKong localization and Driver version are identical, so I don't think it is important.

I had 15.1.1.1 driver and upgraded to 15.2.0.19 which I can confirm by checking the WiFi 6230 Driver's property page. Windows keeps both drivers in INF folder as a backup so I can rollback if needed.

The other observation is I no longer get above error and don't see the 2nd Advance tab (the one that had descriptions for each feature)

Yet, still connecting takes minutes after reboot of from sleep. I can't believe DELL / Intel doesn't have solution for it. I would be interested to know if there is anybody with the same DELL XPS L502X machine and the same WiFi card and doesn't have this problem.

[idata · Accepted solution]

I installed Windows8 and the same problem with WIFI association from restart/sleep. The Intel WIFI Event logs captured the following error numerous times before I got associated to WIFI.

18,S24EvMon,01/16/2013 22:46:14,Success,Driver,SYSTEM,RxAssocResp 00:04:ed:26:c8:c4 13 -33

19,S24EvMon,01/16/2013 22:46:14,Success,Driver,SYSTEM,RxAuthSuccess 00:04:ed:26:c8:c4 13

20,S24EvMon,01/16/2013 22:46:14,Information,Driver,SYSTEM,ATC 00:04:ed:26:c8:c4 DH-WIFI 13 RSSI=-33

21,S24EvMon,01/16/2013 22:46:14,Information,Driver,SYSTEM,AddToExclude 00:04:ed:26:c8:c4 DH-WIFI 13 WEV_EXCLUDE_LIST_REASON_802_11_ASSOC_FAILURE

Just before my 1 year support ended I decided to contact DELL and I am glad I did. The DELL support is great. After initial troubleshooting where the problem was reproduced on fully restored machine they sent me a new card.

After inserting new card I instantly got connected (always on first try) on Win7 Home, Windows7 Ultimate, Win8, no above errors anymore neither Windows System Event ID 5002, 5005 errors from NETwNx64 service. I didn't need to change any settings.

I wish I contacted DELL a year ago. Problem SOLVED.

Model: 62230ANHMW

New card:

CN: 0XXG96-36214-2BA-0788-A02

TA: E97664-009

Old card:

CN: 0XXG96-36214-1BT-005A--A02

TA: E97664-006