Network adapter loses driver

This is a Sony Vaio computer with WLAN running Vista, 32-bit. If you turn on the computer and try to access the wireless network, you will get "no network available." I tried reinstalling the driver, checking for hardware, all of the right click options listed under the Device Manager/Network Adapters. It is an Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG. It also states the device is working properly, even though it isn't.

I finally tried the uninstall and then restarted the computer and it showed it reloading the driver, and then the network can be accessed and it works, well until you turn off the computer or restart it, then it is GONE. Does someone know how to fix this so I don't have to always remember to "uninstall" the driver before turning the laptop off? What is causing the driver to not be there?

Thank you.

When the laptop reboots, can you bring up a command prompt and try and ping www.google.com or www.bbc.co.uk ? Do you get a response ?

Could be a DHCP issue. Try using the following commands at the command prompt:

Nothing on the ping www.google.com

I did the ipconfig /release and then the ipconfig /renew and the message comes back
"No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection while it has its media disconnected"

This is providing I did it right.

Yeah, you will have done it correctly - was just my first thought!

Have a read at this link and do the steps at the bottom for Windows Vista.

That didn't seem to work either. Thanks for the tip though.

I wonder if this could be a conflict between Vista and the IntelPRO programs trying to manage the wireless card. Have you tried using/configuring both of them?

Have you tried downloading the latest drivers from Intel's website? Uninstall the drivers and then install the new one.

It could possibly be that as part of Windows updates, it's 'found' a new updated driver and installed it

I did go to Intel and check for newer drivers. It didn't seem to make a difference. Everything tells me that it is the most up-to-date driver, just can figure out why it drops off when the computer is restarted and cold started.

Just a sidenote. I have a friend that says that their Verizon broadband card keeps disconnecting. You can hear the clunk, clunk when it does. Then he has to go back into the Verizon program and reconnect, several times a day. In that case, I have suggested he think about uninstalling the driver and turning off the computer and letting the computer reload the driver. I don't know a lot about drivers, maybe if I did, I could figure it out.

If the broadband modem is causing issues, re-installing drivers will have no effect.

Just install the latest driver software,make your driver up to date.Then disconnect your modem,restart your computer ,after that connect your modem.