Fix for Remote Desktop Blank Screen Bug when using the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility

by APIJunkie 5. February 2008 09:51

I've recently encountered an annoying bug when trying to connect to a dell laptop using Remote Desktop..

Every time a remote desktop connection will be established to the laptop machine and the laptop was using a wireless connection, the following would happen:

1. The remote desktop logon screen would appear on the connecting side.

2. Entering the logon info would lead to a power down of the wireless card on the remote laptop machine.

3. The connection will be broken on the laptop side.

3. A blank remote desktop screen would appear on the connecting machine.

4. The remote desktop connection will eventually time out on the connecting machine.

The problem seems to be related to power saving options but cannot be resolved using the advanced parameters available with the wireless card.

The problem only appears when using the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility.

This problem was produced on a dell laptop running Windows XP SP2 with a dell wireless 1390 card.

To solve the problem disable the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility and let Windows manage the wireless configuration.

To do that:

1. Open Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility in the Control Panel.

2. Uncheck the "Let this tool manage your wireless networks" check box.

3. Configure your wireless connection using the standard Windows wireless utility.

If any one else had a similar problem on their dell laptops please drop me a comment below so I can collect more data to send to Dell regarding this bug.

Sponsored link:
Terminal Services and Remote Desktop Software

Tags:

PRB | Dell | wireless | Remote Desktop

Comments

4/3/2008 1:28:34 AM #

wil

I have this problem with DELL Latitude D430.
Its an intel proset card - whwn I put it to "let windows manage my card" I get to
log in but the conection is droped after a few sconds so nt much better ...

wil

4/3/2008 6:55:22 AM #

APIJunkie

Hi wil,
In many cards it is possible to completely disable power save mode.
If it is possible with your card, try to disable power save mode.

APIJunkie United States

7/2/2008 11:57:12 PM #

MIG

I am sorry but this one did not help... Maybe this is cause I don't have the Dell Wireless Card utilitz installed ;). I have tried to remove the Intel Pro Set application but that didn't help.
Would you recommend installing the Dell Wireless Card utility and then disable it as a work-around?
Thanks.

MIG

8/20/2008 5:11:18 PM #

pp

Thanks for posting this. I would have had no clue otherwise. I just turned off my wireless switch, as my laptop is always cable connected to the internet.

pp United States

8/20/2008 5:15:32 PM #

pp

Thanks for posting this! I had no clue this was it!

pp United States

1/26/2009 8:24:19 AM #

Suzanne

I have the same problem with my Latitude D531.  HOwever, turning off the utility has not fixed the problem.  I have also turned off power-save, to no avail.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Suzanne United States

3/9/2009 8:24:08 AM #

Jamie

I did have this problem before and unchecking that box fixes any issues I've had before. However, I have encountered a new issue and that is I cannot uncheck "Let this tool manage your wireless networks". The option is grayed out... anyone else having this issue?

Jamie United States

8/28/2009 5:52:26 AM #

george tepes

Hi, nice work! I got to the point where I could notice that the wireless card was being disabled upon connection and then I got to your fix Smile good job!

george tepes Romania

5/13/2010 12:59:22 PM #

Bob

Thank you so much for this.  It wasn't enough to just disable the Dell WLAN program. I had to uninstall it, but now I can RDP to my laptop wirelessly

Bob United States

8/7/2010 1:00:49 PM #

Don

I've been dealing with this for 6 hours until I finally got the answer here. I had to use a LAN cable and shut the WAN card off. It didn;t matter if I used Windows, the DELL card was still the hardware. Thanks.

Don United States

Add comment


(Will show your Gravatar icon)

  Country flag

biuquote
  • Comment
  • Preview
Loading



About the author

Name of author

My name is Bacon…James Bacon.

I am an API wars veteran. I was wounded by x86 assembly, recovered and moved on to C. Following a long addiction to C++ and a short stint at rehab I decided to switch to a healthier addiction so I am now happily sniffing .NET and getting hooked on Silverlight.

I am mainly here to ramble about coding, various API’s, Junkies(me especially) and everything else that happens between coders and their significant other.