Dell Inspiron Mini with 3G

medicnick83

medicnick83

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Hi guys,

Anyone know how to get the 3G part of this laptop to work?
No matter what program I load, be it the Dell Broadband Manager or Wireless Manager or whatever, it says there is "no mobile broadband modem" however, there is.

Also, if I goto modems (there is XP on the laptop) and do diagnostics on the "modem" it passes (says success!)

The sim is in (it only fits in 1 way and clicks nicely in) but if you take the sim out, put it in the E220 USB modem and load up the MTN Fastlink software, it works.

Any ideas?

I sat on the phone with Dell this afternoon for close on 2 hours and the guy made me do all the things I already know, check drivers, check software is installed blah blah blah.
 
Have you tried creating a dialup connection in Network Connections?
 
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Are you absolutely sure your laptop supports 3G and has a built-in 3G modem? Some models in the same brand will share the same chassis/casing, and you'll find that they all have a slot for the sim card, but the 3G hardware module (modem) isn't installed on all of them, so there isn't actually a 3G modem, just a slot for the sim card. It's a way the manufacturers cut down on costs. So double check this.

If the above proves to be false, then check the hardware switch for the modem. There is usually a button somewhere on your laptop to enable/disable the 3G modem. When it is disabled, Windows won't be able to detect it, and all other software programs will report it as "hardware not found". It could also be that the hardware switch isn't working correctly.

Tell me, are you using Windows 7? I know of a few people who have Windows 7 who have problems with the integrated 3G card. Sometimes it just disappears, and no amount of enabling or disabling the hardware switch helps. The only thing that seems to helps is to reboot, and/or remove then re-insert the sim card. It's probably a windows 7 driver compatibility issue.

What software are you using to connect your 3G modem? Try different software from different vendors. You can use Nokia PC suite (download from Nokia site) to connect your integrated 3G modem to the 3G network (you don't need a Nokia device to use it).

If all else fails, I would declare the 3G hardware inside as dead, and either return the laptop, or ask for it to be repaired.
 
Toxic, the modem is responding to the Windows modem diagnostics, so we can safely say that the modem is present. He's using Windows XP, so no disappearing modem problems. Might be that the specific modem is just not supported by the Dell software.
 
What model is it Mini 9, Mini 11?

What is the modem called under device manager?
 
Hi guys,

It's the Mini 10 (v model) I think. Says "Inspiron Mini 10" under it.
It has a place for a sim card to go, it even clicks in nicely.

I'm assuming the same thing that dj_jyno said which is: "just not supported by the Dell software." which makes more sense.

There is a button to turn the wireless / bluetooth etc on, and I've done that, disabled it, enabled it... still, nothing.

I've tried to create a dialup connection with minimal settings (dialing up to *99#) and it connects, says it's "registering on the network" and then fails with a 473 error (I think it's 473, but either way, it fails)

*Update: What we've done is put in a new HDD and reloaded it from scratch, loaded the drivers, still not working, the Dell Mobile Broadband software crashes on this news installation.
On the original installation when you load up the software it just says that the "device is not communicating" (doesn't crashes)
 
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gdiza said:
I've tried to create a dialup connection with minimal settings (dialing up to *99#) and it connects, says it's "registering on the network" and then fails with a 473 error (I think it's 473, but either way, it fails)
Click to expand...

Can you confirm the exact error code? According to this and this, there is no 473 error code for dial-up connections. If you have the exact error code, I'm sure we can find out what the problem is.

AFAIK, as long as the drivers are installed correctly, and as long as Windows picks up the modem correctly, you should be able to make a connection with any dial up software. So you don't have to use the bundled Dell Software to make the connection (which might not be working properly). You can download and install Nokia PC Suite, or Vodafone Mobile Connect, or the MTN Fastlink software, and use that to make your connection. It doesn't matter which network your simcard is on, you can use any of those software tools. Just make sure you use the correct APN settings, username and password (which should be blank I believe).
 
What I understand with the Dells is that the 3G cards are supplied by third parties. I would check with the supplier, if not Dell directly, exactly what make of 3G card, probably Mini-PCI or -PCIE, is in there. I doubt you could open it up to check, as you could with a laptop, but see if you can. SA Dell site doesn't show 3G in specs. I know in UK, for example, you get Dells with Vodafone cards in them, iirc.
 
Agree with rudimental.... I previously got one to work by using 3rd party software to "manage" the 3G device. OR what you could do is just uninstall the device in device manager and basically install it again using updated drivers ?
 
graytg said:
Agree with rudimental.... I previously got one to work by using 3rd party software to "manage" the 3G device. OR what you could do is just uninstall the device in device manager and basically install it again using updated drivers ?
Click to expand...

What software do you suggest?
I've tried both Dell's "Wireless Utility" and Dell's "Dell Mobile Broadband Manager" and those didn't work.

I have uninstalled the device and loaded up with latest drivers and software, each time I get told "the mobile broadband device is not communicating" :(
 
Hi guys,

Update!! :D

Problem has been resolved.
We called Dell again and someone else guided us to uninstall all the 3G related drivers and what not, then install a driver which came with the Mini 9 (910) laptop and bam, it worked.
:mad:
 
graytg said:
Cool. Glad you got it sorted!
Click to expand...

Very irratating that it was a driver for a completely different model that fixed it.
And the funny thing is, the Dell guy who helped me yesterday told me to download a similar driver and application, it was the one that he didn't recommend that worked. :mad:
 
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