Do most people use separate Wi-Fi software or the software provided in the operating system? I have a Dell Latitude E6500 running XP and the broadband connection only stays up for five minutes.
Rob Turrell
Up-to-date versions of Windows XP support Wi-Fi via the Wireless Zero Configuration Service, WZCSVC, and this generally works OK. Separate software is often provided with laptops and wireless cards, and may support extra buttons or offer other features. Independent Wi-Fi managers are also available. The alternatives will use a bit more memory, but I don't think people are bothered as long as they have something that works.
When it comes to disconnections, there's a tendency to blame the Wi-Fi router. Go through the set-up pages and look for something that tells it to "disconnect after X minutes". If you can try your laptop at a public hotspot and it doesn't drop the connection, that would point to there being a router or broadband problem.
It could also be the laptop's power-saving system that is turning the wireless card off after five minutes. Have a look at Ethernet Device Problem in Dell E6500.
