Tech Help needed

[3Turner]

It could be one of the following: 1)the wireless card is bad, 2) the software drivers have either become uninstalled or corrupt or 3) the actual wireless card "switch" was turned off.

If on a windows machine, check in the device manager to make sure you see the card installed. It would be under "Network Adapters" and you would see the wireless card brand name and "wireless". For example, my laptop is "Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165".

If the laptop has a physical switch to turn off/on the wireless card, turn it back to the ON position. If you don't know where it is, google the manufacture and model number of the laptop with the phrase turn on wifi and it should bring up articles on how to toggle the wifi adapter. I have Windows 10, so i toggle mine in a tile from the taskbar.

If the wifi adapter actually crapped out on you...went bad....it can be replaced. But in a laptop, it usually entails a lot of laptop surgery to get to the adapter to replace (when replaceable) or it just can't be replaced because it's integrated into the motherboard....not removable.

So all is not lost. Last ditch effort....if nothing works, you can always use a Wifi USB adapter like the one in this link: BELKIN USB WIFI. I used one in my old desktop that did not have a WIFI adapter built in and I was using a Sprint cellular WIFI Hotspot. Worked great.

[gchucky]

In windows, go to View Network Connections to make sure it is not disabled.

Chucky

[Rubenandres77]

Originally Posted by The-EDSEL

MAJOR problem today with laptop today
It now refuses to see ANY wireless signal
Does that mean wireless chip is dead, disabled, ???
Can it be fixed or is it relegated to reading files only now???

It has happened to my old Lenovo R61 laptop for the past few months.
And now it happens every time I turn it on.

In my case, I right-click on the wi-fi/network connections icon besides the clock, and select "troubleshoot problems". After a while the problem is rectified and connects normally.

Don't know if that's the solution for you too, but worth a try.

[ShadowCory]

My experience, the troubleshooting is the same as 3turner describes. After checking drivers and Windows setting, I ended up with a usb thumb wifi device. Much easier to do that than have the built in replaced.
Also, I have been guilty of accidentally switching the wi fi off with the physical slide switch on the side of the laptop keyboard...

[The-EDSEL]

OK
I do remember a small Slide-Switch on the side of the laptop
and it was on the 'O' symbol
I have it now on the Tower/Antenna symbol
I will check shortly to see if that was the problem

I HOPE so
Did not want to see about returning it to who sent it to me to fix anything!!!

MANY Thanks for all the help!!
I am making an rtf file of the replies so I know what to try if/when this
happens again111

[The-EDSEL]

FIXED!!!!
Slide switch was Culprit!!!
Maby I need to find a way to Glue, Screw or tape it to Wireless ON position!!!

[3Turner]

Good to hear that it was an easy fix with the physical switch. I had a laptop with a switch on the side that would turn off and on just pulling it in/out of my backpack. I ended up putting a piece of blue painters tape over the switch. Never "lost" wifi after that. HAHA!

[ShadowCory]

Great to hear! Yeah, same here with the slide switch. If I picked it up with my left hand (I am left handed) the switch would get moved. What a pain.

[The-EDSEL]

Truthfully, Due to where it is I am surprised I have not hit it more often!!!
This was the FIRST time since getting the laptop, so........
Obvious why I panicked!!!!